在上海，过年最热闹的事儿是啥？那必须是去豫园看灯会！每年春节，豫园就像被施了魔法一样，变成了一个闪闪发光的神话世界。

In Shanghai, what’s the most exciting part of the Chinese New Year celebrations? It has to be visiting the lantern festival at Yuyuan Garden! Every year during the Spring Festival, Yuyuan is magically transformed into a glowing, mythical world.

今年的九曲桥边，几组以马为主题的彩灯早已开始亮灯；中心广场上，不同骏马造型的彩灯组成一幅幅吉祥画，把夜空都照亮了。大人小孩挤在一起，眼睛都不够看——为啥中国人过年这么爱“张灯结彩”呢？这得从老祖宗的智慧说起啦！

This year, several horse-themed lanterns have already been lit up by the Jiuchu Bridge. In the central square, different horse-shaped lanterns create auspicious scenes that light up the night sky. Families crowd together, their eyes wide with wonder. But why do Chinese people love to “decorate with lights” during the New Year? It’s all rooted in ancient wisdom!

花灯的“老祖宗”：火把和星星的故事

The “Ancient Origins” of Lanterns: The Story of Torches and Stars

很久很久以前，咱们的祖先住在山洞里，晚上黑乎乎的，野兽一叫就吓得直哆嗦。后来，他们发现火不仅能驱散野兽，还能带来温暖，于是火把便成了“保命之宝”。

A long, long time ago, our ancestors lived in caves. At night, it was dark and frightening, with wild animals lurking nearby. Then they discovered that fire could not only keep the beasts away but also bring warmth, making torches a “lifesaver”.

过年之际，众人手持火把绕村而行，边走边呼：“驱邪避祸！祈求平安！”这便是最早的“灯会”。

During the Chinese New Year, people would carry torches and walk around their villages, chanting, “Drive away evil, avoid disaster, and pray for peace”! This was the earliest form of a “lantern festival”.

而真正的灯笼起源于2000多年前的西汉时期。《东宫旧事》等记载，长安（今西安）匠师丁缓锻造的灯彩“常满灯”，装饰着九条龙、五只凤凰，还杂以芙蓉、荷花、莲藕等。

The actual lanterns we know today originated more than 2,000 years ago, during the Western Han Dynasty. According to records like Donggong Jiushi, a craftsman named Ding Huan from Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an) created the “Changman Lantern”, which was decorated with nine dragons, five phoenixes, as well as hibiscus, lotus flowers, and other motifs.

隋唐时期，灯彩文化达到新的高度。文献资料记载，当时的灯彩除了龙灯、鱼灯、灯影外，还有很多大型的豪华灯彩。唐睿宗时期，长安安福门外制作了一个巨轮灯，高达20丈，上面缠绕着五颜六色的绸缎，燃灯5万盏，极为壮观。

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, lantern culture reached new heights. Historical documents record the creation of grand lantern displays, including a massive wheel-shaped lantern outside the Anfu Gate in Chang’an during the reign of Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty. Standing 20 zhang (around 66 meters) tall and wrapped in colorful satin, the lantern featured 50,000 lit lamps, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

“灯”里藏着好运气！

Lanterns Symbolize Good Luck!

过年看花灯，可不只是为了好看。老祖宗们相信，灯能“照见光明，驱散黑暗”，就像把坏运气都赶跑啦！

Viewing lanterns during the New Year isn’t just for the spectacle. Our ancestors believed that lanterns “illuminate the light and drive away darkness”, symbolically banishing bad luck.

因此，赏花灯也被视为一种祈福仪式，人们通过点亮花灯，祈求来年风调雨顺、国泰民安、家人平安健康。同时，一些特定的花灯造型，如莲花灯、鲤鱼灯等，还寓意着纯洁高雅、年年有余等美好愿望。

As such, admiring lanterns became a form of prayer. By lighting lanterns, people would ask for good weather, national prosperity, and peace for their families. Specific lantern shapes, such as lotus flowers or carp, also represented purity, elegance, and the wish for abundance.

除了图吉利，看花灯还是全家团圆的好机会。平时爸爸妈妈上班忙，孩子上学累，过年一起挤在灯会里，你帮我拍照，我给你买棉花糖，说说笑笑，感情更亲了。就像人们常说的：“过年不看灯，等于没过年！”

Besides bringing good fortune, lantern festivals also provide a great opportunity for family reunions. Normally, parents are busy working, and children are caught up in school. During the New Year, however, the whole family gathers at the lantern festival, taking photos, sharing cotton candy, laughing together—strengthening their bonds. As the saying goes, “If you don’t see the lanterns during the New Year, it’s like you haven’t celebrated at all”!

中国花灯大集合：南北各有绝活！

A Lantern Festival Showcase: Regional Masterpieces Across China!

中国地大物博，花灯的种类也多到数不清！除了上海灯彩，还有这些“明星选手”：

China’s vast land and rich culture give rise to countless varieties of lanterns. Besides the famous Yuyuan lanterns in Shanghai, here are some other “star performers” from around the country:

Zigong Lantern Festival (Sichuan)

自贡灯会（四川）

自贡灯会，早在南宋时期，便已有“一灯照千年”的文字记载。到了明清之际，灯会规模日渐宏大，灯组技艺愈发精巧，从简单的灯笼点缀发展为集造型、彩绘、剪纸等多种工艺于一体的综合艺术，成为川南地区最具代表性的民俗活动。

The Zigong Lantern Festival has a history dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, with records mentioning the phrase “One lantern lights up a thousand years”. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the scale of the festival had grown, and the craftsmanship became more intricate, evolving from simple lanterns to comprehensive artworks combining sculptures, paintings, and paper-cutting techniques. It became one of the most representative folk customs of southern Sichuan.

Quanzhou Lanterns (Fujian)

泉州花灯（福建）

泉州花灯是中国著名的特色传统工艺品，以造型美观、工艺精湛而闻名于世，尤其以刻纸灯和针刺灯为代表的无骨灯，其独特之处在于灯体不用骨架扎制，而用纸板粘成，缤纷多彩的造型美轮美奂。

Famous for their beautiful designs and exquisite craftsmanship, Quanzhou lanterns are renowned worldwide. Especially notable are the “bone-free” lanterns, such as paper-cut and needle-pierced lanterns, where the lanterns are made without a skeleton. Instead, they are crafted from cardboard, with vibrant, colorful designs that are a visual treat.

Xieshi Lanterns (Zhejiang)

硖石灯彩（浙江）

“针刺”是硖石灯彩独创手法，用针刺微孔来体现图案的明暗、层次等效果，亮灯时，内部光源从针孔间透射而出，使得灯彩形象立体生动。

“Needle-piercing” is the unique technique used in Xieshi lanterns. This method involves piercing tiny holes with needles to create a play of light and shadow, adding depth and layers to the design. When lit, the lanterns emit a beautiful, three-dimensional glow.

Harbin Ice Lanterns (Heilongjiang)

哈尔滨冰灯（黑龙江）

冬天冷得能冻掉耳朵？哈尔滨人偏要在冰上雕花灯！用冰块做成城堡、滑梯，里面放上彩灯，晚上一开，晶莹剔透，像童话里的冰雪王国。

Can the cold get so extreme that it freezes your ears? In Harbin, people take advantage of the freezing temperatures to create ice lanterns! Ice blocks are sculpted into castles, slides, and other structures, and illuminated from within, creating a sparkling, transparent spectacle reminiscent of a fairy-tale winter kingdom.

其实，花灯就像一条看不见的线，把过去和现在、老人和孩子、中国和世界连在一起。不管你是土生土长、熟悉上海烟火的老街坊，还是远在天涯、散居世界各地的华侨华人，只要看见那一盏盏璀璨花灯，心头都会涌起同一份温暖:“哦，这就是家的味道，这就是中国年！”

In fact, the lanterns serve as an invisible thread that connects the past with thepresent, the elderly with the young, and China with the rest of the world.Whether you’re a local who has grown up amidst the vibrant streets of Shanghai, or a Chinese expatriate scattered across the globe, the sight of these brilliant lanterns always stirs the same warm feeling in the heart: “Ah, this is the taste of home, this is the Chinese New Year!”

所以，下次过年看到花灯，别光觉得好看——摸摸灯笼上的福字，闻闻糖葫芦的甜香，和家人一起拍张照吧！因为这些闪闪发光的瞬间，才是中国年最珍贵的“年货”呀！

So, next time you see the lanterns during the Chinese New Year, don’t just admire their beauty—touch the character for “Fu” on the lantern, inhale the sweet scent of sugar-coated haws, and take a photo with your family! After all, these glittering moments are the most precious “New Year treasures” of all!

简介/ INTRODUCTION

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“华语侨心”为上海市政府侨办、上海市侨联指导上海市华侨事业发展基金会和上海市侨商联合会，发起并共同打造的品牌项目。通过为海外华文学校提供华文教学资源、师资培训和中华文化专题讲座等支持，传播中华优秀文化，助力海外华文教育创新发展，促进中外文明交流和民心相通，推动构建人类命运共同体。

The Shanghai Bridge is a brand project initiated and jointly developed by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the Shanghai Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Foundation, and the Shanghai Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs. By providing Chinese language teaching resources, teacher training, and lectures on Chinese culture to overseas Chinese schools, the project aims to spread excellent Chinese culture, promote the innovative development of overseas Chinese education, promote exchanges between Chinese and other civilizations and people-to-people connectivity, and contribute to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.