Xi'an City Wall Lantern Festival sets to kick off

A grand rabbit-shaped lantern is installed on Jan 8 for the upcoming 35th Xi'an City Wall Lantern Festival – to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province. Since its establishment in 1984, the lantern event has become a top cultural tourism activity and a key national festival celebration activity. This year's lantern festival is scheduled to kick off on Jan 14, the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. [Photo/IC]

Workers get cracking on making lanterns for the Xi'an lantern festival, set to kick off on Jan 14. This year it will present a folk feast with Chinese traditional characteristics – combining lanterns, interactive activities, a creative market and festival performances. [Photo/IC]

A canopy of bright red lanterns is set up at the Xi'an City Wall, to create a buoyant festive mood. [Photo/IC]

Lanterns of different shapes and sizes are carefully put in place at the Xi'an City Wall. [Photo/IC]