PARIS -- The Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival, a Chinese national intangible cultural heritage, opened on Wednesday evening at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, a famous historical garden in Paris, captivating many visitors who want to delve into traditional Chinese culture.

This is the first time that the lantern festival has ever been held outside China. As the year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, the lantern festival is a key part of the celebrations. It is also a highlight of the Sino-French Culture and Tourism Year.
At the opening ceremony of the festival, 60 large lamp sets and more than 2,000 colorful lanterns were lit up simultaneously at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, presenting a spectacular visual feast to the 200-plus visitors at the site.
Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye, former French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and other dignitaries were present at the event.
The event features an intriguing blend of Eastern and Western elements. As the upcoming year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, many dragon-related elements were also displayed at the lantern festival.
The festival's theme "Spirit of the Mountains and Seas" is based on the ancient Chinese encyclopedia "Shan Hai Jing", or "Classic of Mountains and Seas", which dates back 2,200 years.
"We have integrated elements from ancient Chinese classic 'Shan Hai Jing' (Classic of Mountains and Seas), including the mythical animals and other contents in the book. We have combined these elements with Eastern aesthetics and expressed them in an international and fashionable way. I hope more young people will pay attention to this event," said Ni Qiang, president of the Yuyuan Inc, the festival's organizer.
French visitors can appreciate the twelve Chinese zodiac signs and Chinese-style pavilions, terraces and towers, and immerse themselves in the fantasy world with many mythical beings from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas".
"The lantern festival is very beautiful and it is very relaxing to roam among these lights and animal-shaped lanterns. It is quite refreshing and a good chance to learn about Chinese culture," said Illina, a visitor.
"I especially like the lanterns. They are colorful and beautiful," said Imogena, another visitor.
French visitors can also watch various traditional performances from China and taste delicious Chinese desserts such as Xiaolongbao - a type of small Chinese steamed buns.
"The Jardin d'Acclimatation has become a Chinese garden. The park is filled with Chinese cultural elements. Visitors in the park would feel like they were in the Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai," said Marc-Antoine Jamet, director of the Jardin d'Acclimatation
The Yuyuan Garden is one of the most iconic venues and a renowned scenic spot in downtown Shanghai.
The lantern festival will officially open to the public on Friday and run until Feb 25 next year, spanning 72 days and overlapping with several important festivals of both China and France, including the Chinese Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival.