On the fifteenth night of the first lunar month, the sky above Guangzhou fills with floating lanterns while the streets below glow red. The Lantern Festival marks the close of the Spring Festival period, when New Year taboos lift and decorations come down. In 2027 the festival falls on February 20 — a Saturday, which means the city's parks, temples and riversides will fill early. Come at dusk, when the lanterns are lit and the air smells of sweet rice and sesame from the food stalls.
Watch the Lanterns Rise Over the Pearl River
Guangzhou's Lantern Festival celebrations centre on the river and the city's public spaces. The tradition of lighting and watching red lanterns dates back some 2,000 years, and you'll see them strung along the Pearl River waterfront, in parks and outside temples. The most atmospheric time is after dark, when families gather to release lanterns and watch the reflections on the water.
- Head to the riverside promenade at dusk to see lanterns released over the Pearl River
- Look for lantern riddles — a custom dating from the Song Dynasty (960–1279) — hung in parks and temple courtyards
- Expect dragon and lion dances in public squares and outside major temples through the evening
- Fireworks are traditional; watch for displays over the river and in the city's larger parks
Eat Tangyuan Where the Families Do
No Lantern Festival is complete without tangyuan — glutinous rice balls with sweet fillings, symbolising reunion. The custom is believed to date from the Song Dynasty and became popular in the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) periods. In Guangzhou, look for them in the city's old neighbourhoods and at street stalls around the festival, where families queue for freshly made batches. The fillings are typically sweet — sesame, peanut, red bean — and the balls are served in a warm syrup.
- Try tangyuan at street stalls and family-run shops in the old quarters of the city
- Look for freshly made batches in the markets in the days leading up to February 20, 2027
- Pair them with other Spring Festival sweets still on sale as the holiday period winds down
Join the Street Celebrations in the Old Neighbourhoods
The Lantern Festival is a public holiday in all but name, and Guangzhou's older districts host street-level celebrations. Expect crowds, red lanterns overhead, and the sound of firecrackers and lion dance drums. The festival marks the end of the Spring Festival period, so the atmosphere is both festive and valedictory — the last big night before the city returns to its routine.
- Walk the old neighbourhoods after dark to catch lion dances and street performances
- Look for lantern displays outside temples and in public squares
- Greet locals with 元宵节快乐 (Yuánxiāojié kuàilè) — "Happy Lantern Festival"
Time Your Visit Around February 20, 2027
The Lantern Festival always falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, between February 4 and March 6. In 2027 that date is February 20. Arrive a few days early to see the Spring Festival decorations at their height, and stay through the festival night itself, when the lanterns are lit and the city celebrates the close of the New Year period.
- Book accommodation well ahead — the festival coincides with the end of the Spring Festival travel period
- Plan to be outdoors from dusk onward on February 20
- Check local listings closer to the date for specific park and temple programmes
Start planning now: book your flights for mid-February 2027, find a hotel near the Pearl River, and set aside the evening of February 20 for lanterns, tangyuan and the last great celebration of the Spring Festival.