The Dragons and Lanterns Festival
The Dragons and Lanterns Festival is the result of a Franco-Chinese collaboration. The art of lantern-making originated in China nearly 1,800 years ago. Today, the festival is part of China’s intangible cultural heritage. The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration held on the 15th day of the first lunar month, during the first full moon of the year.
The Dragons and Lanterns Festival is inspired by the classic Chinese myth – Shanhaijing. Many mythological scenes and sacred animals will be presented to the Parisian public in the form of lanterns. To help French visitors fully understand these stories and legends, we have also prepared French-language explanations for all the lanterns, allowing the public to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. The creation process involved over 80 days of factory production, 60 days of sea transport, and 30 days of on-site assembly. More than 50,000 m² of satin, 30 tons of metal, and 21,000 LED bulbs were used to build over 2,000 lanterns. All the lanterns are entirely handmade, using techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. Rooted in Chinese history, this unique nighttime stroll offers a magical, entertaining, and cultural experience — a true journey through Chinese traditions and craftsmanship.
The Story Behind the Yuyuan Lantern Festival Installation：This lantern festival was co-organized and co-invested by my French client and Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. Creating Le Festival Dragons et Lanternes was one of the most rigorous projects in my entrepreneurial journey. This was due to the very high standards required in France, the meticulous attention to detail demanded by the Yuyuan IP, and the fact that the installation took place in the Jardin d’Acclimatation, which is part of the LVMH Group. This event was held as a tribute to the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. It is a true example of Sino-French cooperation. During the setup, the staff of the Jardin d’Acclimatation were extremely friendly and worked closely with us to complete the installation.
