Yesterday, the annual international lantern festival in Zigong kicked off in Sichuan province, southwest China. The event showcases the centuries-old art of illuminated lanterns. This year, the Lunar New Year falls on February 17th, marking the start of the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. Lanterns are a traditional feature of Lunar New Year celebrations, symbolizing good luck and success. During the opening night, crowds gathered to see over 200 handmade lanterns shaped like animals, mythical figures, and scenes from ancient China. Huang Yi (32 years old) said: "When I was a child, my parents would take me to the Zigong Lantern Festival almost every year." Now, I bring my child to see the lanterns. According to the organizers, producing the lanterns required about 1,200 workers for several weeks, with some lanterns reaching hundreds of meters in length.