The Suzhou and Taiwan Lantern Festival is taking place at Suzhou Amusement Land from Dec 24, 2013, to Feb 16, 2014. It will be accompanied by a series of activities on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Spring Festival.

Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve, a Christmas parade was held in Suzhou Amusement Land. A Santa Claus was on site to distribute gifts to tourists. Musical bands performed a number of classic Taiwan songs, and the first group of lanterns was lit.

New Year’s Day

This year, Suzhou Amusement Land will serve as a branch venue for the 35th Suzhou New Year’s Eve bell-ringing activity. The park will be open until midnight that day.

On the night of Dec 31, the railway station stop, Guangji road stop, Leqiao stop and Oriental Gate stop will distribute coupons for tickets to the lantern festival. A 12-meter-high lantern group will be lit up that night to wish everyone a joyous New Year.

A total of 25 groups of lanterns will be lit up on Jan 18. Suzhou Amusement Land will be open until 9:30pm during weekends in January and during Spring Festival (the first day to the seventh day of the first lunar month).

The Suzhou and Taiwan Lantern Festival not only offers unique Chinese customs but also features the charm of an intangible cultural heritage, Suzhou lanterns. The inheritors of Suzhou lanterns, together with their students, will show how to make Suzhou lanterns in Suzhou Amusement Land. Besides appreciating the beautiful lantern groups, visitors also can feel the traditional Suzhou culture through on-site lessons.

Spring Festival

Suzhou Amusement Land will stage a performance of a dragon and lion dance during Spring Festival to wish everyone a successful New Year.