Edinburgh zoo 2019— Giant lanterns of China

Edinburgh Zoo’s 2019 Giant Lanterns of China festival brought the theme “Evolution of Life” to life with over 600 dazzling lanterns, from towering dinosaurs to interactive light displays.

Combining Chinese lantern artistry with Western cultural elements, the event created a dreamlike celebration that raised awareness of endangered species while delighting visitors during both Chinese Spring Festival and Scotland’s Burns Night.

Special Design Features:

Giant lanterns focus on the “Evolution of Life”. Using intangible cultural heritage (ICH) lanterns as its carrier, it pioneers the integration of Chinese and Western cultures and builds a complete light and shadow narrative chain spanning from the “Origin of Life” to the “Ice Age”. By combining “ancient dinosaurs” with “modern creatures”, it delivers a time-transcending visual impact to visitors.

Festival-Friendly:

While the Chinese Spring Festival coincides with the local Burns Night, the lanterns adorn the zoo into a dreamlike world of light and shadow. The vivacity of the dinosaur lanterns blends harmoniously with the radiance of the festive lighting. Audiences of different visiors of all backgrounds stop to admire and take photos, and the light and shadow are filled with the warmth and harmony of celebrating two festivals together.

Project Highlights:

1.This year’s lantern festival is larger in scale, with over 600 stunning lanterns, including a tyrannosaurus rex, a 32-foot-tall volcano, a gigantic 65-foot-long snake as well as some new interactive elements.

2.Raising public awareness of endangered species protection through prehistoric creature-themed lanterns, this exhibition’s purpose is highly aligned with the zoo’s educational mission.