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In Chinese New Year, lantern show holds a special position of the Chinese.
The 2024 Xinzhuang Lantern Show officially lit up on the Chunshen Lake in Minhang, Shanghai. What really catches the eyes is the hundred-meter-long dragon which soars and roars showing extraordinary momentum bringing blessings of the New Year to people.
A Visitor said, “I think the lantern exhibition here is very well organized of high quality and it integrates well with traditional culture. I think this is very good. Plus, it's right at my doorstep.”
Chen Xinli, the staff of Xinzhuang Town Cultural and Sports Center introduced to the journalist, “On the lantern group, we have also added some different installations such as the dragon's mouth opening and closing and it will also emit some smoke. We have also added some sound devices, hoping to make it more interactive.”
The theme of the 2024 Xinzhuang Lantern Show is “Vigor of the Dragon and Horse”, using the dragon totem as the design concept. One of the citizens’ works depicts an elderly person teaching a baby dragon to crochet the character for ‘Fu’ in Xinzhuang’s intangible cultural heritage.
The designer, Zhai Yushun told the journalist, “This story describes an elderly woman who is a crochet artist, teaching this cute young dragon to crochet the character for ‘Fu’. The entire character for ‘Fu’ is in an inverted position, conveying the idea of coming fortune.”
The Xinzhuang Lantern Show has accompanied citizens through eight years. This mother and son dressed in Hanfu come to watch the show every year.
The mother said, “Back then (eight years ago), it was lively with crowds of people and there was that feeling of ‘Music vibrates from the flute, the moon sheds its full light while fish and dragon lanterns dance all night.’ I think Shanghai has been developing rapidly as well as Xinzhuang. Our lantern show gets better every year including this Year of the Dragon. Since we all are the descendant of the dragon, this Lantern Show looks especially lively.”
The son recalled his experiences of Xinzhuang Lantern Festival, “When I was younger, there were also many people at the Xinzhuang Lantern Show. But maybe it wasn't as advanced and our transportation wasn't as convenient as it is now. So now it's more convenient to come here to participate in the Lantern Show.”
Chen said, “The dragon is an image deeply loved by the ancient people. It represents power, status, strength and courage. So, this year we focus on the image of the dragon and we have put a lot of effort into the design of the dragon.”
The strong festive atmosphere of the Lantern Show enables all residents to experience rich traditional culture and the vibe of the New Year.
2024年莘庄灯会，在上海闵行莘庄春申湖上正式亮灯。一条正扬天长啸的百米长龙令人瞩目，气势非凡，将新年的祝福送给人们。
观众王李翔告诉记者：“今天这边的灯展我觉得办得很好，质量很高，也有和传统文化相结合，而且就在我家门口。”
莘庄镇文体中心工作人员陈欣立介绍：“在灯组方面，我们增加了一些不同的装置，比如说龙的嘴会开会闭，也会吐出一些烟雾。我们还做了一些发声的装置，希望它更具有互动性。”
2024年莘庄灯会主题为“龙马精神”，以创造龙图腾的故事为设计理念。其中一幅市民作品展现了一位老人正在教导龙宝宝用莘庄非遗钩针编“福”字的景象。
设计者翟羽顺告诉记者：“这个故事描述的是一位老奶奶，她是一名钩针编结艺术家，她正在教这名可爱的幼龙钩‘福’字。然后整个福字是呈倒着的状态，传达福倒好运到的想法。”
莘庄灯会已陪伴市民度过八个新春佳节。这对穿着汉服的母子，年年都会到场参观。
观众黄勤说：“那时候（八年前）也觉得很热闹，而且人山人海，就是有那种凤箫声动，玉壶光转，一夜鱼龙舞的感觉。我觉得我们这个上海城市发展是非常快的，莘庄这边也是发展非常快。我们灯会也是一年比一年更好了，我们是龙的传人，所以今年这个灯会看上去是特别的热闹。”
观众李宁远回忆道：“小时候，莘庄灯会人也很多，但是就是可能没有那么先进的，我们交通也没有现在那么方便。所以现在来这边参加灯会也会更方便。”
陈欣立表示：“今年正好是甲辰龙年，龙是一个我们古代深受百姓喜爱的一个形象。它代表着权力、地位，也代表着力量和勇气。所以我们今年就是重点在龙的形象上、龙的设计上花了很多心思。”
灯会的浓浓年味让所有的市民都能够感受丰富的传统文化和过年氛围。
莘庄灯会将持续至2月26日，春申湖主会场每天有三场水幕激光喷泉表演（18:30/19:30/20:30），感兴趣的市民还可以去打卡哦~
Edited by Wu Wangtiancheng