Lijiang celebrates Lantern Festival with lanterns and food

A series of activities were held at Dayan Old Town's Yuhe Square in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan province, on Feb 19 to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

Naxi women made traditional tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), bean jelly, rice sausages, and Lijiang baba (a sticky deep-fried pancake stuffed with sweet mashed beans), showcasing Lijaing's food culture to tourists.

A Naxi woman makes rice sausages, a traditional Lijiang food. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

In the evening, more than 1,000 lanterns were set up in alleyways throughout Dayan Old Town, attracting the attention of many tourists.

The lanterns were hand-made by locals and several merchants from the seven communities of Dayan subdistrict.

Visitors admire lanterns in Dayang Old Town in Lijiang. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Combining elements of modern fashion with traditional Lijiang lantern making techniques, the lanterns include seven distinct forms, including Chinese zodiac and red-crowned cranes.

Festive lanterns attract a large number of citizens and tourists. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]