TRAVEL

Photos: Giant Chinese Lantern Sculptures Light Up Spokane

This month brings a world of colorful light to Washington

Jennifer Billock

Travel Correspondent

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A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Courtesy of the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival
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A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Courtesy of the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival
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A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Courtesy of the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival
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A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Courtesy of the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival
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A lantern display at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Courtesy of the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival
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A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Courtesy of the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival
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A lantern at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. Karyn Christner

For six weeks every year, Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington, becomes a brilliantly colored, glowing festival of Chinese culture at the Washington State Chinese Lantern Festival. This year’s event runs through October 30 and has 37 huge lantern displays, together holding more than 12,000 LED light bulbs. The lights reflect off pieces of colored glass, silk and porcelain, creating a bright multihued glow throughout the park at night. This year’s lanterns include a display of pandas, penguins, Kylin (an ancient mythical Chinese beast), plants, fish and more.

Jon Moog, Riverfront Park’s director, told Smithsonian.com that two of his favorite lanterns this year are the Chinese dragon and the porcelain pagoda.

“I’m in awe by the immense scale,” he said. “The pictures simply do not do the lanterns justice. The Chinese Dragon lantern is over 120 feet long, and its head is as large as a compact car. The Porcelain Pagoda towers over 50 feet tall and is lined with over 100,000 pieces of porcelain china, each individually hand tied to form the nine-tower complex. They are really pieces of art come to life.”

The lanterns themselves were built by a team of 23 electricians, designers and engineers, all from Sichuan in China. Each design starts with wire molded into the shape of the lantern, forming a skeletal frame. Lights are then placed inside by the electricians. Next, artisans hand stretch and glue silk over the frames and paint or draw on intricate details.

Last year, nearly 80,000 people came to Spokane to see the spectacle, and this year even more are expected. And it doesn’t just stop at the lanterns—Chinese heritage and culture is celebrated throughout the festival with cultural exhibits and live performances.

“The festival offers our community a rare and personal glimpse of the artistry, customs, and stories of Chinese culture,” Moog said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to learn about another country and its people, and is likely the closest many citizens will have to visiting our neighbor in the East.”

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Jennifer Billock

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at jenniferbillock.com.