The reporter learned from the Xiamen Tourism Development Office that the 2026 Xiamen Lantern Festival Tourism Carnival is about to kick off, featuring over 500 vibrant cultural and tourism activities to accompany citizens and tourists in celebrating the festival.
Tourism Carnival Launches Seven Ways to Play
According to reports, the event encompasses seven major activities: intangible cultural heritage celebrations, lantern displays, trendy activities, performances, flower viewing, academy visits, and a sea voyage for the Lantern Festival. It deeply integrates traditional Minnan Lantern Festival customs with modern trends and technological elements, and invites intangible cultural heritage projects from Guangdong, Jiangxi, and other provinces, as well as Zhangzhou, Longyan, and other cities in southwestern Fujian, to gather in Xiamen, allowing citizens and tourists to enjoy the Lantern Festival in an immersive experience.
The carnival illuminates Xiamen Island with lanterns, with the Xiamen Garden Expo Park Lantern Festival kicking off the event. A core area spanning 270 acres features 31 large-scale themed lantern displays, weaving together waterfront lights and light and shadow art to create a premier nighttime cultural and tourism destination in Xiamen. Lantern festival activities will be held throughout the city, including the "Lanterns and Roses: Joyful Spring Festival" garden party at the Xiamen Botanical Garden's Rose Garden, the Chinese-style fantasy-themed Spring Festival lantern festival at Xiamen Fantawild, and the first-ever national intangible cultural heritage bench dragon lantern parade at Xiamen Joy City. These events allow citizens and tourists to enjoy lanterns, solve riddles, and experience the lively atmosphere of the traditional Lantern Festival.
Immersive experiences at scenic spots and attractions have been fully upgraded
It is worth mentioning that during the 2026 Xiamen Lantern Festival Tourism Carnival, the immersive experiences of various scenic spots will be fully upgraded, from the elegant gatherings at academies to the night cruise on the sea with lanterns, from flower viewing and garden tours to festive delicacies, unlocking new ways to enjoy the Lantern Festival in diverse scenarios.
Jinsha Academy, centered around its "Flowers Bloom Immediately" and "Spring Flowers Bring Blessings" themed light art installations, offers immersive experiences such as a fish lantern parade, a Nanyin (Southern Music) performance, and a robot flash mob. Visitors can participate in free intangible cultural heritage experiences and lantern riddle guessing activities. Su Song Academy's Song Dynasty-style gathering creates an elegant festive atmosphere with a Lantern Festival tea party and a traditional Chinese culture reading club. Amidst the vibrant spring scenery of Xiamen's mountains and sea, the thousand-acre rapeseed field at Xiyan Mountain, and the cherry blossom festival at Miaogao Mountain and Baijiaoci Village in Tongan combine flower viewing with Lantern Festival markets and lantern riddle interactions, making garden visits even more enjoyable. Meanwhile, at sea, Yujian Xiamen Maritime Tour offers a sea lantern parade, lantern riddle guessing, and Lantern Festival food tasting activities, allowing visitors to experience a unique maritime Lantern Festival on the Lujiang River. Lantern riddle interactions are also held simultaneously at Wutong Passenger Terminal and the Xiamen-Gulangyu ferry route, adding festive fun to the journey.
Peng Jun, head of the publicity team of the Tourism Development Office of Xiamen, said that the 2026 Yuanxiao Lantern Festival Tourism Carnival will highlight the integration effect of "culture, business and tourism". The major business districts will focus on creating Yuanxiaoconsumption space. The business district fairs and performance spaces will work together. The Zhonghua City and Dadeng Town will integrate intangible cultural heritage, good things from Fujian and Taiwan, and good things for praying, so that citizens and tourists can enjoy Yuanxiao in a one-stop way.
