Although the lantern festival doesn't come until the fifteenth day of the lunar New Year holiday, many lantern fairs start two-weeks ahead at the beginning of the New Year. With only days to go, preparations are well underway in many places around China, ensuring that this year's Lantern Festival will be one to remember.

With only days to go, preparations are well underway in many places around China, ensuring that this year's Lantern Festival will be one to remember.

At Shanghai's Yuyuan Park, the annual lantern fair will open on the first day of the lunar new year. To make sure everything goes smoothly, organizers test the lighting on Tuesday night. A huge dragon lantern breaks the size record in the event's history. The dragon in the center measures 60 meters long, 10 meters tall and weighs 3 tons. Naturally, it attracts all the park visitors.

Zhang Yan, deputy sales manager of Yuyuan Park Shopping Mall, said, "This is the biggest set in over 18 years since Yuyuan has held a lantern fair. Our idea is to mingle people with the lantern."

A pheonix is echoing the dragon with a rainbow bridge in the middle, under which people can walk. Dragons are featured everywhere in the park, and stories involving the fictional animal are told.

Tourists said, "Big era and dragon year. It's great!" "It's really grand. The idea is very good."

The Yuyuan Park Lantern Fair will entertain locals and tourists alike through the whole Spring Festival holiday, until the 18th day of the first lunar month.

The Nanjing Lantern Fair enjoys a national reputation, for it's held by the scenic Qinhuai River. This year's event features a theme of cross-Strait exchange. Taiwan artists are invited to display their lanterns here. This 15 meter high dragon is one of their works.

Lin Jian'er, a lantern maker from Taiwan, said, "The special material used makes it glitter under sunlight. And it presents a layered effect when the light is on."

Local lantern maker Cao Zhenrong exhibits his lion set at the fair. Different from Taiwan artisans who assemble the components to make lanterns, Nanjing lantern makers are proud of their totally handmade tradition.

Cao Zhenrong, a lantern maker in Nanjing, said, "Nanjing lantern making is known for its craft work. By being entirely hand-made we can show the lion's muscles."

Cartoon designs produced by Taiwan artists are added to the line up, to the delight of many little friends expected to visit during the festival holiday.

Last but not least, the ancient city of Xi'an held a lantern event during the night of Xiaonian Festival. The fair took place by the ancient city wall. Rich history and legends are blended into various lantern designs. And there are also landmarks from foreign countries to make it a global event. Local opera performances, shadow plays, video games, and of course, dragon dancing gave merrymakers a real night to remember.