Firelight fancies

Xu Bin is devoted to innovative lantern making. Featuring 2,000 fabulous traditional-style lanterns shipped from China, the French Yuyuan Lantern Festival, developed by Yuyuan, the well-known traditional Chinese-style garden in Shanghai, has kicked off the 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. In keeping with the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, the makers of the traditional-style lanterns have been inspired by a variety of Chinese dragon totems and mythical creatures from the ancient Shanhaijing, says Chen Jia, chief cultural officer of Yuyuan Inc that is in charge of the show. "The white deer, phonetically associated with 'hundred blessings' in Chinese, carries auspicious and abundant connotations, while the overall lantern design provides a tranquil and delightful visual experience, conveying the kindness and benevolence at the core of Chinese culture," Chen says. "Such elements as the flying dragons are commonly seen in ancient paintings and sculptures, so are the coiling dragons from traditional Chinese architectural pillars and cornices," Chen says.