Foreword
Welcome to Online Exhibition Worlds of Dazzling Sichuan Lanterns
Worlds of Dazzling Sichuan Lanterns has been put online by the China National Tourist Office, Sydney (CNTO) and the Sichuan Tourism & Culture Department since 24th November. The selection of pictures and videos showcases outstanding craftsmanship of color lanterns from the Zigong City of Sichuan and dazzling experiences to the Zigong Lantern Show.
The making of color lanterns in Zigong started in the Tang and Song dynasties and reached its prime in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Spanning an 800+ years history, the city’s color lanterns are warmly received beyond Zigong in modern times. In themed groups, the lanterns appeal to the eyes through vividly illustrating Chinese fine folk customs, Chinese Classics, myths and legends. Their layouts are particular works of art, as the big families of lanterns are so well integrated and interactive, featuring the high end of China’s color lantern culture. Moreover, an interesting wide variety of materials are applied: ceramic tableware, glass bottle, silk cocoon, thin bamboo strip, tie-dyed cloth and silk, to name just a few.
The Zigong Lantern Show creatively combines modern fashion with traditional culture, and presents to the world handicraft heritage amplified by today’s technology. The grand and exquisite rainbow exhibits have significant aesthetic and folklore values, and it’s fair to say there’s no match to their kind anywhere else.
Renowned as a national intangible cultural heritage, the Show has attracted numerous attentions as a fine folk culture event in China. It has consistently beaten hundreds of other lantern shows nationwide and thus won the title “The Best Lanterns”. Through its thousands of years’ history, Zigong has been crowned as “Land of Dinosaurs”, “Capital of Salt”, and “Lantern City of South China” due to its natural and man-made assets. So far, Zigong’s popular signature lantern show has traveled to over 50 foreign cities and reached out to more than 100 million global visitors.
