A unique Chinese light show as never seen before in Europe is made a reality this winter in Emmen Zoo: a traditional light show with a Chinese ambience and cultural surroundings.
In traditional Chinese culture the festival of light represents good luck and prosperity, as symbolised by the dragon: a wonderful notion that lends itself perfectly to this time of year.

The Chinese name for the Festival of Lights is "Yuan Xiao". It predates the Western calendar and is traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese New Year, when the moon is full. Although there are several different stories about the origin of light festivals, the most well known centres on the first Chinese emperor, Qinshihuang, and his successors.
They tried to appease Taiyi, the god of heaven, by organising an enormous lantern festival each year because they believed that an awe-inspiring, multicoloured lantern festival would invoke the sympathy of the gods and bring prosperity.