What happens when a record-breaking typhoon strikes just 17 days before a major lantern festival opening? In September 2023, the "Sichuan Lanterns Shine in Hong Kong" Mid-Autumn & National Day Lantern Festival faced exactly this scenario at Aldrich Bay Park. This is the story of how our team executed an emergency response plan that protected the installations, completed all repairs within 5 days, and delivered a successful event against all odds.
The Crisis: Record Rain and Typhoon Threats
By September 7, 2023, most of the festival's installations were already in place at Aldrich Bay Park—including multiple large-scale pieces over 5 meters tall designed as the event's centerpieces. That day, Hong Kong was hit by record-breaking heavy rain linked to the residual low-pressure trough of Typhoon Haikui, triggering an unprecedented crisis for our Event Light Decor setup.
The Scale of the Disaster
The severity of the situation was staggering:
Between 6 AM and midnight on September 7, most areas of Hong Kong recorded over 70mm of rainfall; Kowloon, northeastern New Territories, and Hong Kong Island saw more than 200mm
The Hong Kong Observatory recorded 158.1mm of hourly rainfall between 11 PM and midnight—the highest since records began in 1884
The lanterns' silk surfaces offered no protection against prolonged downpours
The 5m+ tall large installations were at high risk of structural damage or collapse in strong winds
With only 17 days left until the scheduled opening, a large-scale lantern failure would leave almost no time for repairs.
Emergency Measures: A Three-Tier Protection Strategy
Upon receiving the typhoon and extreme rain warning, our team activated an emergency response plan within 2 hours. The goal was clear: minimize damage to every light sculpture and lantern component on site. We deployed a three-tier protection strategy:
1. Disassembly and Storage
We immediately disassembled installed lanterns, renting two large containers for temporary storage of components. Small lanterns and delicate electrical parts were moved into the containers to shield them from water and wind damage.
2. Indoor Relocation
Lanterns and components too large for containers but small enough to transport were moved to nearby indoor spaces, eliminating exposure to the elements entirely.
3. Reinforcement for Fixed Pieces
For installations that could not be moved or stored due to their size, we urgently purchased steel wind ropes and cement counterweights to anchor them in place, reducing the risk of collapse in strong winds.
Post-Typhoon Restoration: 5 Days of Urgent Repairs
While our emergency measures protected most lanterns, some installations sustained significant damage in the storm. To ensure the festival opened on time, we launched a full-scale repair effort, completing a comprehensive damage assessment of all installations within 24 hours of the storm passing. Our team mapped out every damaged component and created a prioritized repair plan based on structural severity and visibility.
We then deployed 30 skilled workers for 5 consecutive days of round-the-clock emergency repairs. The team straightened bent steel frames, replaced water-damaged silk surfaces, and reconnected electrical components. Priority went to the most critical centerpiece lanterns—the ones the festival's thematic narrative depended on.
The Most Critical Repair: Cheung Po Tsai Ship Lantern
The most severely affected installation was the Cheung Po Tsai ancient Chinese ship lantern. Its mast steel frame had bent and broken under wind pressure, threatening the structural integrity of the entire piece. This was not a cosmetic issue—a collapsed mast would have rendered the ship lantern unrecognizable. The repair required careful steel frame straightening, welding reinforcement, and complete resurfacing of water-damaged silk sections.
The Outcome: 300,000 Visitors and Strong Client Recognition
Against all odds, our team completed all repairs and reinstallations by the scheduled opening date of September 24, 2023. The "Sichuan Lanterns Shine in Hong Kong" festival not only opened on time but exceeded expectations.
The numbers tell a clear story: 300,000 visitors attended the festival during its run, turning Aldrich Bay Park into a vibrant cultural destination. Over 100,000 social media shares of lantern photos and experiences amplified the event's reach far beyond the park, making it a viral cultural highlight in Hong Kong.
What the Client Said
"In the face of sudden extreme challenges, the emergency measures and professional capabilities demonstrated by the LanternsArt team resolved the crisis and were admirable. In the end, the event proceeded smoothly as scheduled."
— He Zhiqiang, Director of Event Operations, Hong Kong Tourism Board
What This Experience Means for Event Organizers
For event organizers, this experience demonstrates something more valuable than any product brochure: real-world proof that our team can handle extreme challenges.
When you're planning an outdoor event, the question isn't whether something will go wrong—it's whether your vendor has the experience, resources, and composure to fix it before your opening date. This Hong Kong project showed that even with historic extreme weather, a well-prepared team with deep expertise in custom lantern fabrication and on-site installation can turn a potential disaster into a successful event.
Every installation we deliver now incorporates learnings from this experience—from structural anchoring specifications to emergency material stockpiling to rapid-response workflows. For event organizers facing complex venue or weather challenges, this is the kind of end-to-end support that keeps your lantern project on track, no matter what.
Ready to Strengthen Your Event's Risk Preparedness?
If you're planning an outdoor event and want a vendor who has proven they can handle extreme challenges, let's talk. Our team brings the same emergency response capability demonstrated in Hong Kong to every project we take on.
Use the following ways to contact us:
WhatsApp: +86-18008353905 | Email: store@lanternsart.com | Discuss risk preparedness for your event
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