The annual Lantern Festival has come, and a variety of folk activities will be held across China to mark the event. At this time, people will try to solve puzzles on lanterns, eat Yuanxiao, or glutinous rice ball and enjoy a family reunion.

1. Watching Lanterns

Watching lanterns has been enjoyed by many generations since ancient China. Today it is still a popular entertainment. On the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, delightful lantern watching activities are held in temple fairs and parks. Different shapes of lanterns can be seen, and for this year, the rabbit is widely featured in the shape of lanterns.

2. Playing Lantern Riddles

The origin of lantern riddles can be dated back to the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period

(770 BC to 221 BC). At that time, imperial scholars thought of riddles to have fun and show their talents. Presently, it has become a national custom, and people from all walks of life, in different places in China like to solve interesting lantern riddles, for good luck and blessing for the New Year. Riddles are usually written on the lanterns. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns.

Place to have fun:

Beijing Garden of World's Flowers

The lanterns at this large botanical garden are featured mainly on flowers. An Olympic ring made up of 300 colorful tulip lanterns is the highlight of the entire garden. The lantern party is also environmentally friendly, since the 100,000 bulbs used in the lanterns are all energy-saving lamps. Besides admiring colorful lanterns, visitors can enjoy a gorgeous array of flowers in their greenhouse.

Time: February 17th to 18th Admission: 20 yuan Address: 200 meters north of Ma Jialou Bridge on the south 4th ring road, Fengtai District Bus 646, 377 will take you to the World Flowers Garden.

3. Having Yuanxiao, or sweet rice ball

The glutinous rice ball is called Yuanxiao in North China, and Tangyuan in South China. Chinese people have been eating Yuanxiao at the Lantern Festival since the Song dynasty (960-1279). Different stuffing, like sugar, rose, sesame, bean paste and nutlets are filled into the rice ball, but all of them are sweet, for the blessing of a sweet and happy life.

Places to buy Yuanxiao:

Daoxiangcun, Fangshan, Dasanyuan, Gongyifu, Guixiangchun, Dashunzhai.

4. Lighting Fireworks

Since the Lantern Festival marks the official end of the Spring Festival, a lot of fireworks and firecrackers will be set off against the backdrop of sparkling lanterns and shimmering stars.

(CRI February 18, 2011)