STORY: Lantern Festival celebrated in Hong Kong, China
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 11, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:49
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Lantern Festival celebrations in Hong Kong
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MR. SONG, Guangdong Tourist
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CAI MIAOXI, Deputy director of Guizhou lantern opera theater
4. various of Hong Kong

STORYLINE:

Hong Kong comes alive with a festive vibe during the celebrations of the Lantern Festival, which falls on Wednesday this year.

Organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and various community groups, a series of vibrant events drew crowds of locals and tourists.

At the Hong Kong Cultural Center Piazza, an array of designed lanterns lights up the night.

Standing at the pool of the piazza is a 6-meter ornate palace lantern. The lantern is adorned with peonies and magpies, and surrounded by sky lanterns, carp fish and lotus flower lanterns, creating a joyful ambiance.

The festivities also include lion dance performances and lantern riddle games, allowing attendees to engage with the cultural heritage in a fun and interactive way.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MR. SONG, Tourist
"The Lantern Festival brings about the ambiance of traditional Chinese culture to Hong Kong, which also offers an opportunity to appreciate the richness of our traditional culture, and it fills me with comfort."

The celebration also highlights cultural diversity as the performance of lantern opera, a folk opera genre popular in Guizhou Province, was staged. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CAI MIAOXI, Deputy director of Guizhou lantern opera theater
"We're honored to bring the Guizhou Flower Lantern Opera to Hong Kong to celebrate the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival for the first time. I've always admired Hong Kong's folk traditions, like the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and Cantonese Opera. This event is a wonderful opportunity to foster deeper cultural exchanges between Guizhou and Hong Kong."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)