Boundless Imagination, Future Visions Theme Announced for the 3rd Zigong Lantern Global Children’s Creativity Solicitation Activity
When childlike innocence meets the thousand-year craft of lantern-making, and boundless imagination collides with future technology, a creative feast for children worldwide officially commences once more! On International Children’s Day, June 1st, the brand launch event for the 3rd Zigong Lantern Global Children’s Creativity Solicitation Activity was held in Zigong. Children gathered with inheritors of Zigong Lanterns, an intangible cultural heritage, celebrating the joyful holiday and painting lantern dreams together.
Children’s clear and starlit voices filled the venue as the classic song “Song and Smile” began. Their bright eyes reflected the stage lights, and their sweet smiles ignited the audience’s enthusiasm, transforming the launch into a sea of joy. Subsequently, the energetic children’s jazz dance “Soaring Childlike Hearts” took the stage to upbeat drumbeats. The young dancers’ crisp spins and agile movements resembled butterflies fluttering in spring. The original song “Tian Che Yao” then unfolded Zigong stories through melodious tunes. Blending children’s vocals with the guzheng, it captured the distinctive charm of this millennium-old salt capital, drawing warm applause from the audience.
Winners of “young artists” from the previous event also attended to share their creative experiences and award joy. Six-year-old Qin Can from Wuhan took the stage, eyes shining brightly as she recounted, “Last Spring Festival, the little lion I painted ‘ran’ all the way to the 31st Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival! Seeing it glowing among the lanterns, as if it had jumped out of my painting, made me so happy I couldn’t sleep at night!” Zigong local Lei Yawen shared poetically, “Whenever I pick up my brush, images of my hometown’s salt wells and lanterns appear. Through my work “A Glimpse Across Millennia,” I hope the world sees the beauty of Zigong.” According to reports, her piece gained over 10 million views via short videos and was shared by the new media platform of People’s Daily’s . “This year, I’ll create even cooler works to submit!” Lei declared.
“3, 2, 1…” As the countdown echoed through the venue, Chen Jun (member of Sichuan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Group and Top Ten Lantern Artisan of Zigong) and Wan Ling (Chairperson of Zigong Folk Artists Association and inheritor of Hu Family Lantern traditional craft) held children’s hands to release colorful balloons. As the balloons soared, the activity theme --- “Boundless Imagination, Future Visions” --- was unveiled. “Children’s imagination should never be constrained!” emphasized an activity representative. “This year, the theme ‘Boundless Imagination’ encourages free creative exploration, allowing every whimsical idea to shine in the lantern world.”
Since its inception, the Zigong Lanterns Global Children’s Solicitation Activity has garnered worldwide attention. The first two sessions of the activity received over 6,000 submissions globally, featured repeatedly by CCTV and discussed widely on international media platforms. This year marks another upgrade with the official launch of the standalone brand “Children’s Lanterns.” Future initiatives include city tours, co-branded cultural products, and study tours to showcase children’s works globally, building an internationally recognizable youth art brand.
The submission period runs from June 1 to September 26, 2025. Participants may enter via the WeChat official account “Zigong Cultural Tourism Development Group” by replying “少儿彩灯” (Children’s Lanterns). New for this edition is an online voting portal and mini-program. Awards include Best Work, Outstanding Painting, and more. Selected works will be exhibited at the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival. Further details are available on the official account. Join now as a “Little Light and Shadow Dream Maker” to let the world see your imaginative wonders!
The activity is organized by the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival Organizing Committee. Guidance is provided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Zigong Municipal Committee, Zigong Municipal Education and Sports Bureau, Zigong Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Zigong Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and Zigong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. It is hosted by Zigong Cultural Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. and Zigong State-owned Capital Investment Operation Group Co., Ltd.
