Christchurch Lantern Festival
Has become an annual event with the last one having been held on the 22-24 February 2019.
A celebration of Chinese culture, celebrating the Lunar New Year with Christchurch people showing their love of China.
Thousands of Christchurch people turned out to experience the Chinese culture surrounded by hundreds of vibrantly coloured lanterns.
A free event which is for everyone and featured music, performance, dance, food and fun.
The 2019 event was the largest so far with hundreds of lanterns on display.
Thousands of Christchurch people turn out for their love of the Chinese culture.
Marvellous food stalls from different Asian cultures at reasonable prices enabling the ability for all to sample something different or your favourite dish.
Mostly Chinese Entertainment was provided on two stages setup for those attending the festival to view from across the picturesque Avon River that winds its way through the city of Christchurch.
This provided many vantage points for those who wished to stop and take in the entertainment that further provided Christchurch with a greater cultural understanding.
Along with the food and entertainment there was also International craft vendors from Zhejiang handicrafts displaying
- Traditional Sash of She (ethnic minority group in Zheijang)
- Ou Sculpture
- Huzhou Kite Making
Presented in a quiet respectful way
Most of all there were the lanterns everywhere with the advantage of being able to learn from previous years. This years presentation was of a high standard set out in the largest of all areas.
Starting at the well-known Christchurch Bridge of Remembrance which was opened in 1924, then walking along the newly finished Promenade, which has been completed with paving stones lined with trees and other plantings alongside the famous River Avon PUNTING ON THE AVON RIVER.
Across bridges past the delicious smelling food stalls accompanied to the sounds coming from the stages. Then finishing in Victoria Park overlooking the Christchurch Town Hall restored and opened to the public the same week with its fountains on display first seen running in 1972 and now again in 2019.
All the way on both sides of the river Chinese Lanterns cast light and draw people to take photos and appreciate another culture one that has a history with New Zealand.
Christchurch Chinese sister cities:
Gansu Province, China
This friendly relationship between Christchurch and the Gansu Province is shown in the areas of education, culture and economic development.
[Gansu Province, China] In, A Cantabrian Rewi Alley moved to China around 1927. Where he spent most of his life helping the Chinese people improve their standard of living. As a result this was the beginning of a friendship between the cities. At the request of Rewi Alley in 1984 a formal relationship was started between Christchurch and the Gansu province.
Wuhan, China
A Friendship City Agreement was signed between the Mayors of Wuhan and Christchurch on Tuesday 4 April 2006.
[Bridge in Wuhan, China] Relationship connections are maintained on cultural and educational levels with The Canterbury Development Corporation involved in managing the economic relationship between Wuhan and Christchurch.
