It is Chinese tradition to enjoy lanterns displays during the Spring Festival. It is no exception this year. Recently it is learned from relative office that the preparation for the forthcoming lantern show now is underway.

This is Nanhu Park in Shenyang, capital of northeastern China's Liaoning Province. In these two years citizens are used to enjoying lantern shows in Nanhu Park. This year it once again becomes one of the 5 sites for the 2nd Shenyang Spring Festival Lantern Show.

At present, working staffs are busy choosing lantern materials. To improve the quality of the lantern show, the preparation office specifically invited a professional lantern production company from Zigong City in South China because Zigong City is famous for the lantern production. In the next few days, these lanterns are to be installed and a primary outlook of the lantern show will be given. At the same time, work in another 4 open lantern sites is also undergoing smoothly and busily.

It is learned the lantern show this year is larger than the previous ones. Number of lanterns will be three to five times of that in last year. The visitor number is estimated to some 6 million people.

Beside the large scale, the lantern show this year will have a longer display period. In Nanhu Park, the show will last for over 20 days. In another 4 sites the show time will be 6 days. In this way, citizens may enjoy the lantern show to their hearts' content.

(Northeast Network December 23, 2003)