Name: Lantern Festival
Start: 2026-03-01T00:00:00+13:00
End: 2026-03-01T05:00:00+13:00
Location: 33 Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand 9016

Celebrate the conclusion of the Chinese New Year by joining us for a fun family day at Lan Yuan. The Lantern Festival traditionally celebrates the first full moon of the Lunar New Year – a time to spend with family for good fortune.
Get creative by decorating your own take-home lantern, explore the garden in the summer sunshine, sit back and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity while listening to live Chinese instrumental music, and take in a traditional tea ceremony. We’ll also have supplies available for you to create your own watercolour pencil masterpiece inspired by Lan Yuan, or perhaps see if you can spot the zodiac horses hiding around the garden.

10am – 2pm: Drop in lantern workshop lead by Faye Zhang. Use golden tassels, celebratory Chinese New Year motifs, and the materials provided to decorate your own lantern. Lanterns are available for purchase in the Tea Shop for $1.
11am – 2pm: Xinmeng Li and Ning Fei perform traditional Chinese music on the guzheng and pipa.
The guzheng is a traditional Chinese plucked zither, an ancient stringed instrument with a large, resonant wooden soundboard, typically featuring 21 strings and movable bridges that allow for tuning and expressive pitch bending. Played by plucking strings with fingerpicks, its sound is often compared to flowing water.
The pipa is a traditional, four-stringed Chinese plucked lute, known for its pear-shaped body, expressive sounds, and versatility in genres from classical to contemporary music. Played with fingernails or plectra, it features numerous frets and rich techniques, allowing for dynamic playing styles, from gentle melodies to thrilling battle scenes, and represents deep Chinese cultural heritage.
2pm: Take part in a traditional tea ceremony led by Jenny Chen and enjoy tea tasting at its conclusion.

10am – 3pm, Sunday 1 March
Lan Yuan, Dunedin Chinese Garden
Normal entry fees apply