See Chinese Lanterns Shaped Like A Huge Dragon And A Life-Size London Bus

James Drury
By James Drury Last edited 99 months ago
See Chinese Lanterns Shaped Like A Huge Dragon And A Life-Size London Bus
A 66m dragon will be the focal point of the festival.

London will be lit up with extraordinary sculptures, including a 66m dragon, as it hosts the first Chinese Lantern Festival.

More than 50 giant illuminated creations will festoon Chiswick House Gardens from 3 February-6 March, including a 10m-tall recreation of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and an 8m Imperial Palace.

Elsewhere, there will be life-sized flamingos, zebras, kangaroos and elephants nestled among the trees — a nod to the history of Chiswick House Garden, where former owner, the sixth Duke of Devonshire, kept these exotic beasts in its expansive gardens.

The Enchanted Forest will surround an ethereal Tree of Life, illuminating the oversized mushrooms, plants and flowers around it, while huge lotus flowers will open and close as they drift across the garden's water features.

But it's not all oriental luminescent objects — visitors will also be able to see a lit-up life-size London bus and a phone box lantern.

The festival marks Chinese New Year, the year of the monkey. Tickets have just gone on sale.

Chiswick House Gardens, 3 February-6 March, Tuesday to Sunday 5pm to 10.30pm. Ticketed entry every 15 minutes from 5pm to 8.45pm. Advance tickets are: adult £16; child £10; family £48: concessions £14. For more information, see the website.

Last Updated 10 December 2015