The Leisure and Cultural Services Department held the Urban Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza tonight (February 19) in celebration of the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival. The carnival enhanced the festive mood for visitors with its spectacular lantern displays and a variety of activities.
 
     Colourful lanterns are lighting up the piazza, providing popular spots for photo-taking and creating a joyful ambience. The highlight is 11 palace lanterns with convex and concave shapes and a revolving lantern crafted by a local master. The illustrations on the lanterns are the creative work of local illustrator Stella So, and are inspired by the Chinese zodiac and intangible cultural heritage items of Hong Kong such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, Cantonese opera, the Hong Kong-style milk tea-making technique and more.

     Another thematic display, "Glittering Peacocks in Full Bloom", which runs until February 24, showcases eye-catching peacock lanterns including a giant peacock lantern over 5 metres tall and 15 metres long, with long glittering tail which forms an archway between two pools.
 
     Carnival-goers are also enjoying a series of performances and activities including spectacular ethnic songs, dances, martial arts, a circus show, anecdotes and a lantern riddle quiz corner. Demonstrations of Chinese folk crafts such as Xiguan copperware making, Luxi murals, juci (ceramic repair), guqin making and dough figurine crafting are also being well received.

Ends/Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Issued at HKT 21:52

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