A holiday festival of lights…with a twist.
We spent the Christmas Holiday with family in Raleigh, NC this past year. We spent a special evening taking in the Chinese Lantern Festival which took over several acres of a nearby amphitheater. What a treat.
We enter through a pagoda-like arched gate and down a red lanterned tunnel to where lanterns by the dozens reside.
The giant Chinese dragon is over 200 feet long and, fittingly, resides in a small lake.
The ancient art of Chinese lantern making began in the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), a significant period of science and innovation. Every year since, during Chinese New Year, families view colorful lanterns to symbolize respect for Chinese culture.
Each lantern is created by hand on silk fabric stretched over steel frames and then lit with upwards of hundreds of LED bulbs.
lynnsarda
14 Jan 2018These are fantastic, Ron. What an amazing festival….thank you.
fotograffer
17 Jan 2018Thanks, Lynn. It was a fun evening with the family.
Kenneth
14 Jan 2018Fantastic colors 👍📷
fotograffer
17 Jan 2018Indeed, and the LED bulbs used to illuminate made everything all the more vivid. Thanks.
maristravels
14 Jan 2018These are heart-stopping, especially the dragon. I’d gladly frame this one and put it up somewhere if I had an all white wall and a quiet, calm room. Imagine the impact!
fotograffer
17 Jan 2018You have me thinking. I should try printing it though it was taken with my iPhone. Thanks.
Linda & David
14 Jan 2018Such an amazing display. Can only imagine how awesome it is to actually see this in person. Thanks for sharing.
fotograffer
17 Jan 2018Thanks, Lida and David.
Mickey Sterling
14 Jan 2018The Chinese festival looks incredible. How I would have loved to see something like that. Thanks for the photos. Mickey Sterling
fotograffer
17 Jan 2018You are welcome, Mickey. Good to hear from you.
Marie
15 Jan 2018Wow. I am going to have to add this to my list of things to do someday.
fotograffer
17 Jan 2018Great. There are several around the country each year.