SHENYANG -- The biggest lantern fair in northeast China's Shenyang, being held every year as part of Spring Festival celebrations, is witnessing a rebound of tourist arrivals in the city.

For people in the northern part of China, visiting lantern fairs and solving lantern riddles are traditional activities during the Spring Festival, and a way for families to celebrate together.

In Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, a lantern fair covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters, with more than 70 sets of large light installations illuminating the city's night sky, has become an attraction to visitors.

The event has been held for more than 10 years now and this year visitors will be impressed by a display called 'Sky City' made up of 28-meter-long lanterns suspended from a height of 14 meters. Visible from a distance are designs of auspicious clouds, jade rabbits, flying birds together with other patterns, all of which represent auspicious symbols in Chinese culture.

There are also two sets of lamps that combine designs featuring ancient Chinese mythology with the concept of modern space exploration. They show classic characters in Chinese mythology, such as the goddess Nyuwa who mends the sky and Bi Fang who brought fire. On the other side is a vast universe showing major galaxies, astronauts and visitors to space.

This year is also the first time in three years that China's pandemic travel restrictions have been eased. Staff at the fair say the number of tourists coming to the fair every day has increased compared to the same period last year. They are confident tourist numbers will continue to grow this year.v