By outdoor-nature-child.com The “Chang’an Lantern Festival” made its grand debut in Arcadia, Los Angeles, attracting countless visitors. Among the vibrant crowd, many Chinese women in stunning traditional Hanfu attire moved gracefully through the shimmering lights, evoking the grandeur of China’s Tang Dynasty from a thousand years ago.
On October 18, the festival opened its doors at the Arcadia Race Track and will run until November 17, with hours from 4 PM to 11 PM daily. This month-long lantern art expo has become a hot topic among the Chinese community in San Gabriel Valley, with many eager to experience it firsthand.
On the opening night, traffic jams were reported on nearby roads, as excited attendees flocked to the event. Linda Wang, a local resident, shared, “It’s only about three miles from my home to the race track, but it took me half an hour to get there. The roads were packed with cars heading to the festival, and it felt like we were stuck in a bottleneck on Huntington Drive.”
Nancy Fu, adorned in a striking red Hanfu complete with intricate accessories, enjoyed the night with friends. “The theme of this year’s festival is ancient Chang’an, and I happened to have this outfit at home—wearing it feels perfectly in tune with the atmosphere here,” she said. Nancy also noted that the event exceeded her expectations, while her friend Chloe, visiting from Nanjing, praised the festival’s quality, comparing it to renowned lantern displays in her hometown.
The festival features a total of 66 lantern displays, with 70% of them reflecting Tang Dynasty culture, including giant dragons, dragon maidens, and zodiac lanterns. The centerpiece is a massive dragon lantern at the city gate, measuring 40 feet high and 132 feet wide, creating a spectacular welcome for guests under the night sky.
According to Carissa Ye, the festival’s organizer, the lanterns were shipped in 50 containers from China and blend Eastern and Western elements to attract a diverse range of visitors. “We named it the Chang’an Lantern Festival because Chang’an was the capital of many Chinese dynasties and a hub of traditional culture. We hope this festival introduces people to the richness of Chinese cultural heritage,” she explained.
Notably, many lanterns are interactive. The lantern at the city gate features a spinning ball, and the dragon’s eyes blink; children can stand on a large piano keyboard to jump and ‘play’ along, drawing cheers from a delighted audience. The dinosaur park, with its lifelike displays of dinosaurs and lions enhanced by lights and sound, also captivates attendees. In addition to the lanterns, the festival offers a variety of culinary delights, artisan stalls, and engaging entertainment, ensuring that visitors leave with unforgettable memories.