Yu Garden Lantern Festival

Experience the magical Yu Garden Lantern Festival that illuminates Shanghai's 400-year-old classical garden during the Chinese New Year period. Hundreds of intricate handcrafted lanterns in shapes of animals, flowers, and Chinese mythological figures transform the Ming Dynasty garden into a wonderland of light and color. The center attraction is typically a massive zodiac animal lantern representing the year's symbol in the Chinese calendar. Visitors can sample traditional festival foods like tangyuan (sweet rice balls) and enjoy cultural performances including lion dances, folk music, and shadow puppetry while exploring the garden's pavilions, rockeries, and ponds enhanced by the magical evening illumination.