The Ziyuan River Lantern Festival began with the ancient voyages along the Zi River. From the Tang and Song dynasties through the Qing era, this river was a bustling highway linking northern Guangxi with Hunan. To honor the spirits of those who had lost their lives on the water, and to pray for safe journeys ahead, villagers and merchants would set glowing lanterns afloat. Imagine it: tiny lights bobbing on the dark river, like stars drifting across the water. Each lantern carried both memory and a wish—solemn history wrapped in childlike wonder.