Meanwhile, the festival has expanded its presence nationwide to other cities. The lantern shows at cities such as Sanya in Hainan province, Shenyang in Liaoning province and Shehong in Sichuan province, will also be lit up on New Year's Day, immersing visitors across China in the charm of Yuyuan Garden lanterns.

"The Yuyuan Garden Festival is about showcasing our brilliant traditional Chinese culture. It used to be a folk activity in Shanghai, but now it is representing the Chinese lantern culture and its crafts, which we hope the young generation can know better about with more cultural confidence," said Hu Junjie, vice-president of Yuyuan Inc.