Lanterns decorate the entrance of Dunhuang Night Market. [Photo/WeChat account: srdice]

The 2026 Dunhuang Lantern Festival lit up on Dec 31 at the Dunhuang Night Market. The ceremony bathed the desert night in a radiant glow, recreating a historic Silk Road spectacle and drawing thousands of visitors eager to welcome the new year in grand fashion.

At 8 pm, the festival's mascot appeared, followed by the illumination of 22 large, themed lantern sets and over 1,200 decorative lights across three core exhibition zones.

Highlights included a 15-meter-high flying horse and a 9-meter-high auspicious gourd lantern. Classic Dunhuang motifs like apsaras and the nine-colored deer were animated using LED technology and dynamic effects.

During the festival, 100,000 exquisitely designed silver notes, featuring elements from Dunhuang murals, served both as souvenirs and keys to participating in games. Tourists could collect stamps by engaging in various cultural experiences to redeem special cultural and creative gifts.

The countdown to midnight culminated in cheers amid a dazzling light show and traditional music as attendees exchanged new year's greetings.

Scheduled to run until March 31, the festival offers free nightly admission from 7 pm to midnight. It will feature over 300 cultural activities, including folk performances and demonstrations of traditional culture.

The upgraded night market also offers local delicacies, supported by the release of 1 million yuan ($143,214.90) in consumption vouchers to boost the nighttime economy.