On February 3, at Xiaojian Wetland Park in Youxian District, Mianyang, a giant skeletal structure of a heavenly horse stood by the banks of the Fujiang River, and workers climbed scaffolding to install its shimmering, scale‑like armor. From February 10 to March 8, 2026, the Mianyang Spring Festival Lantern Show will be held here, where this "mechanical steed" will join over a hundred lantern installations in welcoming visitors.

The Spring Festival Lantern Show represents another effort by Mianyang to reshape traditional New Year celebrations through innovative thinking and create fresh cultural tourism consumption scenarios. Through meticulous curation, Mianyang will launch over 200 events this Spring Festival, aiming to construct a comprehensive and distinctive festive activity matrix that spans the entire region. The program offers visitors from near and far a cyber-Chinese-style New Year celebration that blends cultural depth, technological flair, and the lively warmth of local life.

Tech Infusion Animates Traditional Lantern Displays

The integration of intelligent interaction systems into traditional lantern craftsmanship is revitalizing the expression of the Chinese New Year festive spirit. At the lantern show site, technicians are busy conducting final adjustments on a lantern installation over eight meters tall—the "Lotus Fairy". Having returned for a second consecutive year, the display will shine this season with a more refined and intricately arranged ensemble.

In addition to its enhanced visual appeal, the "Lotus Fairy" will also become more "intelligent". Technicians explain that by incorporating interactive devices, it has been equipped with smart dialogue capabilities, enabling it to both hear and respond.

The shift from viewing lanterns to interacting with them hinges on technological empowerment. At this year's lantern show, numerous similar interactive experiences allow visitors to shift from passive viewing to active participation and offer them a more profound immersive experience.

Behind the technological appeal lies a cultural core providing essential support. According to reports, this year's lantern show skillfully integrates local culture into its thematic planning, featuring four distinct thematic zones: "Spring Festival Folkways · Galloping to Success", "Fantasy Night Dreams · Blossoming Light", "Childlike Star River · Colorful Brushstrokes of Spring" and "Poetic Charm of Mianzhou · Elegant Gathering in Splendor". At the entrance, the winged "Ethereal Heavenly Steed" lantern installation conveys the auspicious meaning of success. Deep within the park, the "Poetic Corridor" fully showcases the cultural lineage of Mianzhou. Lotus lanterns are set against scrolls of classical poetry, and the "Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup" series vividly recreates the refined artistic tastes of the High Tang era.

According to a person in charge of the lantern show, complementary programs such as water stage performances, aerial horse stunts, and flying fire-pot displays will also be held during the event, creating a holistic and multi‑dimensional festive experience.

Region‑Wide Coordination Paints a "Hundred‑Scene Scroll" of Spring Festival Celebrations

Beyond the lantern show, Mianyang has also strengthened city‑wide coordination, using distinctive New Year activities to paint a "hundred‑scene scroll" of Spring Festival celebrations across the entire region.

During the Spring Festival, the "Eyes of Technology · Echoes of the Fujiang River" Spring Festival series of events will feature a drone light show, cultural galas, folk markets, and traditional performances, presenting residents and visitors with a vibrant and diverse festive celebration. During the event, the traditional folk custom "Parade of the Giant Ao Fish" will march through the streets, symbolizing auspiciousness and welcoming the new year. The coordinated performance of "da tie hua" (striking molten iron into sparks) alongside a water‑screen laser show will together paint a dynamic spectacle with light and fire. Meanwhile, a drone light display will transform the night sky into a canvas, demonstrating the fusion of technology and art through precisely choreographed formations and evolving light patterns.

In Jiangyou City, poetry culture serves as the main theme of the Spring Festival. The Libai Museum will launch the "Forever High Tang" VR experience exhibition, enabling visitors to journey through time with specialized equipment and immerse themselves in the poetic atmosphere where the poet once drank wine and composed verses. Furthermore, during the Spring Festival, Jiangyou will also host activities such as poetry recitals, classical-style artistic performances, and Hanfu garden strolls, revitalizing the culture associated with Li Bai through interactive engagement.

Located in Zitong County, the Liangdancheng site will launch the thematic event "Liangdan Welcome the New Year, the Flame Passes on Forever". Through engaging activities such as fun science‑demonstration shows, games against robots, and a "Third‑Front" memory cultural‑creative market, history is made tangible and accessible. Meanwhile, a check‑in stamp‑collecting activity encourages visitors to engage with and contemplate the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" spirit through hands‑on participation.

Santai County skillfully leverages the performance economy to infuse its ancient town with modern vitality. After the Spring Festival holiday, the Chinese pop duo Shuimu Nianhua will hold a tour concert at the Santai County Stadium. Santai County plans to seize this opportunity by partnering with Tongchuan Ancient Town and the Dongmenli commercial area to create a "music + consumption" scenario, thus actively capturing the influx of fans from other regions.

Fresh Scenes, Sincere Hospitality: Ready to Welcome Visitors

The introduction of new Spring Festival experiences relies on the continuous iteration of tourism settings and thoughtful upgrades in supporting services.

In Mianyang Science and Technology City New District, the Mianyang China Giant Panda Garden is preparing to welcome its first tourist peak during the Spring Festival. Breaking away from the traditional viewing model, the Garden has specially designed a series of panda‑themed activities, including parent‑child interactive games, in‑depth science‑popularization sessions, and fun Q&A segments. It will also host activities such as giant‑panda‑themed parades and DIY "fu" (good fortune) character crafts.

Ice‑snow tourism is another highlight of Mianyang's Spring Festival offerings this year. In Huya Tibetan Township, Pingwu County, the Huya Ski Resort, with a total investment of approximately 150 million yuan, has commenced trial operations. The resort offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced ski slopes as well as a family snow‑play area, designed to meet the needs of skiing enthusiasts at every level. In the adjacent Huya Grand Canyon, dozens of natural ice waterfalls have taken shape, creating a spectacular vista. "Visitors can ski in the morning, admire ice formations in the afternoon, and experience Tibetan culture in the evening," said Li Haibin, the general manager of the ski resort. He noted that Pingwu is becoming a popular choice for winter getaways among tourists from Chengdu, Chongqing, and other cities.

In terms of supporting services, Mianyang rolls out a series of considerate measures. Across the city, government and institutional parking facilities will open to the public free of charge, and approximately 5,000 extra temporary parking spaces will be added. For non‑local vehicles committing minor traffic violations for the first time, a "first‑offense waiver" approach will be applied under flexible enforcement. Transportation departments will increase shuttle bus services between Mianyang Railway Station, the airport, and major scenic spots, with free shuttle buses operating between some attractions. The cultural and tourism department will also collaborate with navigation platforms to launch a "Mianyang Spring Festival Cultural Tourism Feature", providing real‑time updates on crowd levels and parking availability at various attractions to support smart travel and a more comfortable visitor experience. In addition, municipal and county‑level finances have allocated a special fund of 6.50 million yuan for issuing consumption vouchers, covering sectors such as catering, retail, and cultural tourism.

"We sincerely present the 'Admire Mianyang, Celebrate the New Year' series of events, aiming to showcase a Mianyang Spring Festival where tradition meets technology and culture blends with the vibrancy of local life," said a leading official from the Mianyang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcast-TV and Tourism. Mianyang is fully prepared to warmly welcome visitors from near and afar.