As the Year of the Horse approaches, the 40th Qinhuai Lantern Festival is set to open in Nanjing City. A variety of intricately designed lantern installations have been put in place at key exhibition areas, including Confucius Temple, Bailuzhou Park, and the Laomendong area.

With a history spanning around 1,700 years, the festival is more than a visual spectacle along the banks of the Qinhuai River; it is a celebration of culture, community, and heritage.

Over centuries, lantern-making craftsmanship has developed a distinctive style in its forms, production techniques, materials and themes. It was one of China's earliest national-level intangible cultural heritage.