Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Gorgeous PHOTOS
Wow. This year’s Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is incredible. Don’t miss it. I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer evening, than sipping something refreshing while walking…
So bright and beautiful. Some of over 2,500 blooms.
Wow. This year's Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is incredible. Don't miss it.
I can't think of a better way to spend a summer evening, than sipping something refreshing while walking through this gorgeous space. It's crazy to me that this is only here temporarily. Open in Franklin Square through August 13th only, and open every evening from 6-11pm. A never-before-seen array of 1,500 individual lantern creations assembled into 34 enormous displays. There's food too. A number of Asian cuisine options, and the traditional SquareBurger fare too. Not to mention mini golf, a carousel, and a choreographed fountain light show! With lanterns created by over 80 people and assembled by a 30-person team of artisans from China over a one-month period in Franklin Square. Visitors can see 180 animals (25 pandas alone), over 2,500 flower blooms, and so much more.
Our favorite part? Smoke bubbles. That's right. This year, the tallest lantern is 33 feet tall. It's a Giant Lingzhi Tree (a type of mushroom), and there are bubbles filled with smoke floating all around it. It's a must see.
HERE's more on this year's Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival for 2023. There's a list of entertainment and schedules, food information, fun facts and more.
Purchase tickets HERE.
33 Feet High Lingzhi Tree
This is the tallest lantern in this year's festival, and my absolute favorite part. It was Trudy's favorite part too. Not only were there bubbles coming out of it.... the bubbles were filled with smoke! Worth the ticket price right there.
Cherry Blossom Forest
With over 2,000 blooms! So beautiful.
Star Stepping
This was one of Trudy's favorite spots. All of the kids were hopping from star to star.
Trudy Hops Stars
Here's where all the kiddos were hanging out. This, and the smoke bubbles!
Eco Tunnel
Putting the Dragon in Dragon Festival
This giant dragon lantern is longer than 3 school buses and weighs 6,000 pounds. 164 feet long and 21 feet high.
Primates at Play
This was so so pretty in person.
Red Chameleon
Wait... wasn't this guy red a second ago?!
Tiger Teeter Totter
Jungle expedition.
Franklin Square Fountain with Flamingos
Flower Tunnel
So many gorgeous photo opportunities too.
Toucan See How Beautiful It Is
Love all the birds and flowers in this festival of lights and bright colors.
Mythical Creature
Chrysanthemum Corridor
Sea Dragon Lantern Tunnel
A 2nd giant dragon lantern this year, and formed into a coil tunnel over 100 feet long.
Sea Dragon Lantern Tunnel Entrance
A 2nd giant dragon lantern this year, and formed into a coil tunnel over 100 feet long.
Birds and Flowers
The color combinations were so beautiful in this section. There were over 2,500 flower sculptures througout the festival.
Got any bugs?
Pretty Bird
Beautiful Bat
Brightly Colored Flowers
There are more than 500 flower sculptures in addition to the over 2,000 pink cherry blossom flowers in the cherry blossom forest.
Red Chameleon
Wait... wasn't this guy green a second ago?!
Green Peacock
We were super surprised to see the peacock feathers move and spread this way, and then change color too!
Mythical Creature
Peacock at Rest
This is basically the before photo of the peacock. Before it began to move and spread out its feathers, while changing colors too.
Gorgeous Bright Flowers
Some of the over 2,500 blooms.
Praying Mantis
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Birds and Flowers
So bright and beautiful. Some of over 2,500 blooms.
Apes in Primates at Play
Panda Playground
Tigers
Purrfect Perchin'
Awesome Insects
Piranha Plants (Audrey II?)
Beautiful Greens and Blues
Ssssnake Lantern
The sssnake lantern is near the merch tent. Slither on over and buy something to take home with you.
Trees Too
Trudy Enjoys the Parx Liberty Carousel
We rode more than once, and appropriately picked the dragon "horse" too.
Trudy Enjoys the Parx Liberty Carousel
Panda-Monium
A fun game to play with lights.
Panda Light Game
A fun game to play with lights.
Panda-Monium
Pandas at Play
There are 25 pandas among 180 animals represented in the 2023 festival.
Panda Pals at Play
Panda Paradise here! Some of the 25 pandas this year.
Armadillos!
Some of the 25 Pandas
Dragon Head
The lanterns were created by over 80 people and a 30-person team of artisans from China, over a 1 month period in Franklin Square.
Fairy Tale Tree
This daytime shot does this magical tree no justice. Like most of the lanterns, you must see at night!
Festival Map
Chinese Dragon Festival Merch
Fun t-shirts and other items to take home with your memories.
Aluminum Braiding
A traditional folk craft in various shapes (like roses) and available for purchase.
Aluminum Braided Dragons
A traditional folk craft in various shapes and available for purchase.
Dragon Beer Garden
A pretty spot to sit and eat and drink.
Pineapple Smoothie in a Pineapple
These were a hit, and so refreshing!
Delicious Asian Cuisine
Be sure to get some dumplings while you're here. Pro tip: If something says spicy. Boy, is it! Whew!
Student Chinese Lantern Designers
Temple University sponsored a Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Student Design Contest for kids ages 8-14. These four kids had the winning designs, selected and crafted into lanterns.
Temple in Lights
Temple sponsored a Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Student Design Contest for kids ages 8-14.
Bright Flowers
Just some of the 2,500 flowers this year.
