To celebrate the upcoming New Year's Day and Chinese New Year holidays, the Flower Expo Park in Yinchuan, capital city of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, is undergoing a stunning transformation.

The 1st Flower Expo Park-Shanhai Lantern Festival will debut on Dec 20 in Yinchuan and preparations are in full swing to bring a dazzling spectacle to residents and tourists alike. 

The 1st Flower Expo Park-Shanhai Lantern Festival is scheduled to open on Dec 20 in Yinchuan, Ningxia. [Photo/Official WeChat account of the Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region]

Within the park, an array of colorful and uniquely shaped lanterns are being installed by skilled artisans from Zigong, a city in Sichuan province renowned for its lantern-making history.

Preparations are in full swing for the lantern festival. [Photo/Official WeChat account of the Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region]

Ninety percent of the lantern assembly is now complete, with intricately crafted and lifelike lanterns such as the nine-tailed fox, the goddess Jingwei, and the Chinese zodiac animals taking shape. 

One of the highlights will be the sugar-made lantern of a nine-dragon wall. As an intangible cultural heritage item, it features nine vivid and uniquely styled dragons crafted using five tons of sugar.  

The sugar-made lantern of a nine-dragon wall on display at the 1st Flower Expo Park-Shanhai Lantern Festival [Photo/Official WeChat account of the Culture and Tourism of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region]

The lantern festival will light up the 300,000-square-meter park with 100 magnificent pieces of work, and the five themed areas will be Dreamlike Mountains and Seas, Dancing Flowers, Children's Paradise, Journey to the West Town, and Fantastic Mountains and Seas. 

In addition to the stunning lanterns, the festival will offer five other engaging activities: A national music festival, a Chinese food festival, intangible cultural heritage performances, an NPC parade, and a colorful carnival.

Running until Feb 16, Yinchuan invites visitors from across China to the Flower Expo Park for a spectacular display.