The festive atmosphere is heating up in Zhangdian district of Zibo city, Shandong province as a lantern festival opened in grand style on Jan 24 to welcome the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

The picturesque Yudai Lake Scenic Area is the lucky host for the lantern festival, displaying 70 sets of large mechanical lanterns as well as more than 2,000 diminutive ones in different shapes.

Lasting until March 8, the lantern festival, with total investment exceeding 36 million yuan ($5.36 million), is designed as a brand event in Zibo to attract more visitors during the Spring Festival holiday period.

More activities and performances will be launched in the Yudai Lake Scenic Area to add more festive fun and entertain visitors, including a temple fair, opera performances, traditional folk custom shows and guessing lantern riddles.

Lantern making in Zibo dates back more than 2,000 years ago, while enjoying great fame both in ancient and modern times. To better protect and develop the traditional craft, Zibo lantern has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. The city is now one of the most prosperous production bases of decorative lanterns in the country.

Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, falls on Feb 5 this year.

The festive lantern show at Yudai Lake Scenic Area offers a beautiful landscape to visitors in Zhangdian district of Zibo, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/people.com.cn]

The Yudai Lake Scenic Area is adorned with dazzling decorations to greet the upcoming Spring Festival in Zibo, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/people.com.cn]

A set of lanterns themed around "Happy Spring Festival" adds festive atmosphere at the Yudai Lake Scenic Area in Zhangdian district of Zibo, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/people.com.cn]