Lantern Legends: Yu Garden by Night

#chinatravel Each year during the Lunar New Year season, Yu Garden in Shanghai hosts the dazzling Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival. For about 42 days—from New Year's Day through mid-February—the garden is transformed at night by hundreds of illuminated lantern installations, themed after animals, mythical beasts, forests and mountains drawn from the classic Shan Hai Jing text. Key spots like Central Plaza, Gold Plaza and the Nine‑turn (Jiuqu) Bridge glow with light projections, vivid colors, and traditional music, creating a festive folklore spectacle that blends ancient Chinese stories with creative artistry.