Xiashi Lanterns of Zhejiang
Needless dance,light streams, Jiangnan's clever craft in every gleam.
🏮Introduction
Xiaoshi Lanterns: special lights made with needles! Artists prick thousands of tiny holes in soft paper — when you light one up, whoa — the shadows twinkle like stars! Bamboo and wire hold them together, and every lamp wears a different outfit: flowers, birds, storybook heroes. They light up parties and festivals — and guess what? They’re the best storytellers of old Jiangnan!
📍Stories
Qin Emperor’s Lantern Show
Long, long ago, Emperor Qin came to Haining. He saw a mountain called Xiashi and thought it had “royal magic.” So he told people to cut the rocks open. At night, the place was full of glowing lanterns, shining like stars! From then on, villagers loved to make lanterns and watch them together, turning the emperor’s lights into a happy festival.
Tang Dynasty’s Festival Hit
A long time ago, in the Tang dynasty, the lanterns of Xiashi were already super famous in the South! Every festival, people just had to light them up. It was like the “holiday hit” of ancient times—one night of lanterns, and the whole land was glowing with joy.
Song Dynasty’s Lantern Gift
In the Southern Song dynasty, the lanterns of Xiashi were so amazing that they were chosen as gifts for the royal court. They were sent all the way to the capital, Lin’an, for everyone to see. It was like the emperor’s “official stamp of approval”—the palace loved the lanterns, and the people felt proud that their lights had become royal treasures!
Qianlong’s Lantern Contest
In the time of Emperor Qianlong, the lanterns of Xiashi were super lively! People loved to “perform lanterns,” “follow lanterns,” and even “battle lanterns.” Huge lantern towers and sky-high pavilions lit up the nights. It was like an ancient “lantern contest show,” where everyone tried to make their lights the brightest and most dazzling!
Dragon-Boat Lantern Party
In modern times, the lanterns of Xiashi became even cooler! People made giant dragon-boat lanterns and lotus-boat lanterns that floated on the water. They even used electric lights to make them shine brighter. It was like an ancient “water light show,” with lanterns drifting on the river, sparkling and amazing everyone!
Nine-Dragon Wall: Heritage Star
In 2024, the lanterns of Xiashi showed a giant work called “Nine-Dragon Wall” at the big Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo. It mixed old traditions with new ideas, shining like magic! It was the lanterns’ “super star moment,” stepping out to the world stage and making everyone clap with joy.
🎊Lantern Spectacular
A glowing dragon warship
It sails in, sparkling like a superstar!
A fiery dragon coils over the water
Twisting and turning, showig off its super strong vibe!
A six-sided lantern,solid and bright
crowned in red and gold,
fit for a king.
Painted on its sides? Ancient heros,
whispering royal secrets or tales of brave wanderers.
A boat painted in rainbow colors,floating gently.
Lotus lanterns twinkling all around.
It looks like a messenger,sailing straight out of a water fairyland!
Layer upon layer of green roofs,
glowing from within
Like a nighttime palace, softyly lighting up without a sound.
🎬Journey into the Lantern Wonderland
Follow the light, chase the glow-- let's go explore the lantern show!
Endless Lights, Timeless Stories
Xiaoshi Lanterns: every single one glows with love — love that took a thousand tries, and stories that traveled a thousand years.
Next light? It’s waiting for YOU to shine!
📚Source:
Baidu Baike
Wikipedia
China Intangible Heritage Network
ZJU-UIUC Institute
Central Television Museum
China Lantern Museum
Sohu