The UK also has monkey lanterns — A magical lantern festival full of Eastern charm

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
The Taipei Lantern Festival began on February 20 and is expected to run until the 29th. Even before the event started, it stirred up conversation because of the distinctive appearance of the main lantern, the Fortune and Happiness Monkey. In London, the city has recently embraced an Eastern festive atmosphere by hosting the “Magical Lantern Festival,” which is rich in Eastern flair. In addition to seeing vividly crafted dragon and panda lanterns at the exhibition, the arrival of the Year of the Monkey has also inspired monkey-themed lanterns, with the Monkey King as the central figure. Similarly themed around monkeys, the exquisitely designed lanterns at the Magical Lantern Festival have received high praise, prompting many online users to draw comparisons with the Fortune and Happiness Monkey.

The “Magical Lantern Festival” held at Chiswick House Gardens in London’s West End is on display from now until March 6. Throughout the event, you can find finely crafted lanterns rich in Eastern cultural colors. In celebration of the Year of the Monkey, the festival also takes inspiration from the monkey theme with its main lantern, “The Golden Monkey Climbing the Peach.” On the main lantern, the Monkey King can be seen riding a somersault cloud atop Flower-Fruit Mountain, gazing at a massive celestial peach in the distance. On the peach, four monkeys are either climbing or sitting, and when including those on Flower-Fruit Mountain, a total of 12 monkeys can be found throughout the piece. The entire work appears to present a complete scene from Journey to the West, making it quite unique.