Transform children's imaginations into real, colorful lanterns.

At the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival, which opens in January 2026, a very special lantern display will attract visitors from all over the world.  This display will feature whimsical lanterns created through the third Zigong Children's Lantern Global Creative Design Competition.

                                                                                                                                                                          Sourced by Zigong Culture and Tourism Development Group

Zigong lanterns have a history of over 800 years, and how to maintain their vitality in the new era has always been a question pondered by those who carry on this tradition.  Collaboration with children worldwide has injected a youthful spirit into this ancient craft.

"Zigong lanterns, where dreams come true!" As Zhong Yi, the art director of the 30th Lantern Festival, said, every stroke of the children's paintings holds a pure and innocent story. When the award-winning young artists entered the China Lantern World and saw their artwork transformed into dazzling lantern displays by skilled craftsmen, their exclamation of "Wow! My painting has become a lantern!" was the echo of their childhood dreams being gently nurtured by the hands of tradition.

                                                                                                                                                                          Sourced by Zigong Culture and Tourism Development Group

While Zigong lanterns illuminate the dreams of children worldwide, we are witnessing an opportunity for this cultural phenomenon to transform into an independent brand.  A representative from the Zigong Cultural Tourism Development Group stated, "The children's lantern project is no longer just a part of the lantern festival, but a vibrant vehicle embodying three values: cross-border dialogue, intergenerational co-creation, and cultural inheritance. Developing it into an independent brand and building a year-round lantern festival system is a dynamic attempt to transform Zigong from a 'festival-based lantern display' to 'regular cultural tourism'."

It is reported that the Zigong Lantern Festival Global Children's Creative Art Competition has been successfully held for three editions, receiving over 12,000 artworks from children around the world. It has become an important bridge connecting children's hearts and spreading the culture of lantern festivals.