The 2026 Dunhuang Lantern Fair site is bustling with crowds. [Photo/Gansu Daily]

The 2026 Dunhuang Lantern Fair has recently illuminated the Dunhuang Night Market in Dunhuang, Gansu province, attracting tens of thousands of residents and visitors with its brilliant displays. The fair features more than 20 culturally themed lantern sets, comprising over 1,200 individual pieces.

The design team drew deeply from Dunhuang's artistic heritage, skillfully integrating classic mural elements such as flying apsaras (celestial beings), rebound pipa, and the nine‑colored deer with the broader themes of Silk Road culture and rich Central Asian aesthetics. Each glowing lantern not only captures the artistic essence of millennia‑old Dunhuang but also brings the stories within its frescoes to vibrant new life amid the shimmering lights.

The lantern-viewing area has been bustling with crowds — some pausing to photograph the stunning scenes, others wandering through the sea of lights to soak in the culture — with laughter and admiration filling the air and adding a warm, festive atmosphere to Dunhuang's winter nights.