Children wait for their sugar paintings during the lighting ceremony in Nantong on March 1. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

The lighting ceremony for Lantern Festival, which falls on March 3 this year, was held at Wenfeng Square in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on March 1, marking the official start of the city's 17th year of Lantern Festival celebrations.

Representatives of inheritors of various intangible cultural heritage projects, such as Nantong's colorful homespun fabric, paper-cutting, and Rugao sachets, took the stage together to showcase their culturally creative masterpieces inspired by the Year of the Horse.

Among them, three representatives of Nantong's lantern art, paper-cutting, and dough modeling shared their creative inspirations and craftsmanship on-site. They blended traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, giving attendees a firsthand experience of the unique charm of intangible cultural heritage.

The highlight of the event was the grand lighting ceremony. In an instant, dazzling lights illuminated the square, officially marking the start of the three-day Lantern Festival celebration from the 13th to the 15th day of the Chinese New Year.

As the main event of this celebration, the city is set to host citywide activities on the day of Lantern Festival, including lantern riddle guessing, cultural performances, and intangible cultural heritage markets at locations such as the Nantong Eminent Figures Museum, Linggong School, and along the Route 6 bus loop.