2026 Cicheng Ningbo Year of the Horse Spring Lantern Festival | Ningbo
Celebration
As the "First Ancient County Town in Jiangnan" and the "First City of Jinshi (Imperial Scholars) in the World," Cicheng's lantern festival is more than just a dazzling display of lights; it's also about the vibrant inheritance of its cultural heritage. The festival's core IP, "Literary Star Shines on Cicheng," is based on Yang Shouqin, a Ming Dynasty scholar who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. It weaves together the fascinating story of "the God of Literature descending to earth," integrating the spirit of passing down knowledge and skills through generations and the wish for academic success into every scene of the festival. A visit to the lantern festival is like traveling through a thousand years, engaging in a profound dialogue with Cicheng's cultural heritage. The lantern festival uses the Congma River and the ancient city wall as its core space, constructing a "one area, one line, one pole" tour system. Nearly a hundred sets of intangible cultural heritage lanterns meander along the ancient city wall, resembling a magnificent aerial river of light and shadow. At night, the city wall light show begins on time, with modern lighting technology outlining a three-dimensional landscape painting, creating a powerful visual impact. During the day, the market gathers dozens of popular food stalls, hundreds of local delicacies, and a dazzling array of cultural and creative handicrafts, as well as fun amusement rides and other stalls; at night, as the lights come on, it seamlessly switches to lantern viewing mode. From the daytime hustle and bustle to the nighttime brilliance, everything you need for eating, drinking, playing, and shopping is satisfied, making for a fulfilling day. For those who enjoy immersive experiences, the Cicheng Lantern Festival also offers hidden gems! Visitors can interact with dozens of themed NPCs, complete tasks to earn "silver tickets," which can be exchanged for special gifts or to unlock exclusive experiences. This activity runs throughout the day, cleverly connecting the market, the park, and lantern viewing, making the lantern festival not only "beautiful" but also "fun," maximizing interactivity and participation. Hundreds of performances run daily from day to night, covering various forms such as traditional Chinese dance, intangible cultural heritage acrobatics, Chinese magic tricks, and ethnic musical instrument performances. We highly recommend the limited-time performances during the Spring Festival – the large-scale water-based wire shows "Celestial Maidens Scattering Flowers" and "Flying Immortals from Beyond the Heavens" on the Congma River. A truly breathtaking aerial visual feast! Remember to plan ahead – a must-see!