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The Lantern Festival which is also widely popular as the Shangyuan Festival in China falls on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Lunar Calendar. This is generally during February or March according to the Gregorian calendar. This festivity has become very significant ever since the Western Han Dynasty which was during 206 BC to AD 25. When this festival began during the Han Dynasty, China was a country which was thriving with Buddhism. It is said that the monks lit lanterns to reminisce the relics from the cremation of Lord Buddha after attaining Nirvana. Following this, beginning from the empire to every household in China lights a lantern on this special day.
With time this became a very majestic festival which went beyond China and to other countries as well. Until present the lantern festival is held annually all around the country in a very feisty manner. It is a spectacular sight where lanterns of various shapes, sizes and colors are lit up in the night sky adding exquisite splendor to the streets of China. These lanterns that glow the lanes of China attracts numerous visitors who enjoy this magnificent scene. When the day is in coming closer, the children get busy buying and building lanterns by themselves which are surely a satisfaction for them. They carry their self- made lanterns and show off their own bright creation. A vital tradition on the day of the festival is to ‘Guess the lantern riddles’. The lanterns have a riddles written on a piece of paper by their owners. If visitors can give the right answer they get a small treat. This activity joined the traditions during the Song Dynasty and it really is a lot of fun and full of knowledge.
At day time there are parades of dragon dances and lion dances that light up streets. Travelers visiting beautiful China during the Lunar Festival can have more fun if you choose a great hotel in Beijing that exposes you to the vivid cultural experiences of China. Raffles Beijing Hotel is a much loved Beijing hotel by many tourists for its lavishing comforts and kind hospitality.