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A giant dragon-shaped lantern is hung at the Hengtoujie Historical and Cultural Block in Haining, a county-level city in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

Lanterns, revered symbols of luck and beauty in China, take center stage during the Chinese New Year at the Xiashi Lantern Festival in Haining, a county-level city in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, with a history spanning over 1,200 years.

This year, the Hengtoujie Historical and Cultural Block in Haining hosted a lantern exhibition named "China in the Lights", featuring lanterns inspired by traditional culture. The exhibition aimed to showcase and preserve the local lantern heritage, as well as to provide a rich and enjoyable experience for visitors.

The Xiashi lantern was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2006. It had gained fame in Jiangnan–the southern region of the Yangtze River's lower reaches–during the reign of Tang Xizong, and was listed as an imperial tribute in the Southern Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Xiashi lanterns are known for their exquisite craftsmanship and eight-part technique: twisting, tying, knotting, mounting, carving, painting, stitching, and pasting.

As part of the festival, the Xiashi Lantern Museum at the Nanguangxiang Historical and Cultural Block also displayed the history and variety of Xiashi lanterns, and offered lantern training classes and activities for the public.