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Watch 11 large-scale lantern installations light up Victoria Park for 32 nights — a giant panda against the Hong Kong skyline, Sanxingdui bronze-style figures, a double-decker tram lantern, and 300,000 visitors moving through it all.
In September–October 2023, the Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival Organizing Committee launched the "Chuan Lanterns Shine in HK" exhibition — a 32-day public event across 8,000 square meters within Victoria Park.
This 85-second video captures the nighttime atmosphere of the exhibition, featuring 11 large-scale custom light installations. Themed around Hong Kong identity and Sichuan cultural heritage, the installations included a double-decker tram, a panda with bauhinia flowers, a traditional junk boat, and recreations of Sanxingdui bronze artifacts.
According to the organizing committee, the exhibition welcomed 300,000 visitors over 32 days and generated over 100,000 social media shares. A 16-person installation team completed the on-site setup in 15 days, securing every piece with counterweight bases and wind rope systems — no ground penetration. A 2-person maintenance team remained on-site for the full run.
A giant panda lantern sits among large pink and purple lily flowers, with the Hong Kong skyline in the background. A visitor stops to take a photo. The camera pans across a walkway where two visitors look out toward the harbour. A white opera-mask lantern is visible in the frame.
Large bronze-style Sanxingdui mask and totem figures appear, lit in teal and gold. Next, a seated laughing money god beside a flute-playing female figure — a recreation of an Eastern Han pottery drummer. A warrior figure holds a treasure bowl filled with firecracker and gold-ingot motifs, bringing Sichuan opera and hotpot culture into the installation set.
The event's most photographed piece: a large orange double-decker tram lantern decorated with passenger silhouettes, framed by glowing white floral lanterns. Visitors gather to photograph it from multiple angles. Cut to two rabbit lanterns — one playing a guitar — flanking a full moon, with star-shaped lights scattered around them.
A wide water reflection shot captures a pagoda, mountain lanterns, and an arched bridge with a flying goddess figure above. The reflection doubles the visual footprint of the installation across the water's surface.
A traditional junk boat with red sails drifts across the frame against a yellow moon backdrop and a blue pagoda. Visitors gather along the water's edge. The video closes with the red dragon logo, the LanternsArt.com URL, and the brand tagline.
The installation method is the answer. Every piece at Victoria Park was secured using counterweight bases and wind rope systems — no drilling, no staking, no ground penetration. A 16-person team completed the full setup in 15 days.
This matters for planners working in public parks, heritage sites, or any venue where the ground surface cannot be altered. Standard event installations often rely on ground anchors, which is not an option when the surface is a protected public asset. The counterweight-and-wind-rope approach allowed the installations — including pieces up to 6 meters tall — to hold stable through Hong Kong's humid coastal weather for the full 32-day run. When the event closed, every piece was removed without leaving a trace on the park's pavements.
The same non-destructive method can be deployed in any sensitive venue. For more on how this approach applies to other projects, visit the Illuminated Holiday Installations page.
Q: How long does it take to design and install 11 themed installations?
A: According to Zigong lantern heritage master Wan Songtao, the project required nearly two months of planning and design, followed by 30 days of fabrication by approximately 100 artisans in Zigong. On-site installation took 15 days with a 16-person crew.
Q: Can this work in a park with ground penetration restrictions?
A: Yes. Every installation was secured using counterweight bases and wind rope systems — no drilling or staking. The same non-destructive method can be deployed in any sensitive venue.
Q: What is the typical lead time for a public event with 10+ installations?
A: Plan for 3–4 months from initial design to on-site completion. For Hong Kong 2023: 2 months design + 30 days fabrication + 15 days on-site installation.
0:00–0:03 — A giant panda lantern among large pink and purple lily flowers. Hong Kong skyline in the background. A visitor takes a photo.
0:03–0:15 — Walkway pan. Two visitors view the harbour skyline. A white opera-mask lantern visible in frame.
0:15–0:21 — Large bronze-style Sanxingdui mask and totem figures, lit in teal and gold.
0:21–0:45 — Seated laughing money god and flute-playing female figure (Eastern Han pottery drummer recreation). A warrior figure beside a treasure bowl with firecracker and gold-ingot motifs.
0:45–0:51 — Orange double-decker tram lantern with passenger silhouettes. Visitors taking photos from multiple angles.
0:51–0:57 — Two rabbit lanterns — one playing guitar — flanking a full moon. Star-shaped lights scattered around them.
0:57–1:03 — Wide water reflection: pagoda, mountain lanterns, and an arched bridge with a flying goddess figure.
1:03–1:18 — Traditional junk boat with red sails, yellow moon backdrop, blue pagoda. Visitors gathering along the water's edge.
1:18–1:25 — Closing credits: red dragon logo, LanternsArt.com, brand tagline.