Fireworks & lantern shows | Best of Guangzhou Holiday Guide (Part 1)

During the Chinese New Year, Guangzhou, known as the "City of Flowers," is rolling out over 2,000 fantastic cultural and tourism events, including special events, activities in scenic areas, artistic performances, and cultural and museum exhibitions. This series of events offers residents and visitors a cultural feast that blends rich heritage with holiday cheer. Celebrations such as watching fireworks, exploring lantern shows, and visiting temple fairs will unfold one after another, bringing ancient folk customs to life in modern urban settings.

Over 150,000 fireworks light up Guangzhou's night sky

The 2026 Guangzhou Baie’tan Spring Festival Fireworks Display, themed "Welcome the Year of the Horse with Blessings, Embark on a New Journey in the Greater Bay Area," will be a headline event in this year's "Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Guangzhou, Enjoy the Blossoms in the Flower City" series.
Date: 8:00 PM, Feb 17 (the first day of the Chinese New Year)
Location: Over the waters of Baie'tan (白鹅潭), Guangzhou
Highlight: A total of more than 150,000 fireworks will be launched at high, medium, and low altitudes during the display.

53-hectare mega seaside lantern carnival lights up Guangzhou's Nansha

The 2026 Greater Bay Area (GBA) Lantern Carnival, themed "Bay Unity, Splendor Through the Ages", was lit up at the Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area in Guangzhou.
Date: Feb 10 – May 10 (90 days)
Location: Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area (南沙天后宫景区) & Nansha Binhai Park (南沙滨海公园)
Tickets: Purchase via the "GBA Lantern Carnival (大湾区灯会)" WeChat mini program.
Transport:

Metro: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 4 to Nanheng Station (南横站) or Nansha Passenger Port Station (南沙客运港站). After exiting, transfer to the shuttle bus or take a taxi to reach the site.

Bus: Multiple routes within the Nansha District serve the area, including Nansha K8, Nansha 4, Nansha 24, and Nansha 3.

Driving: Both the West Gate of Nansha Binhai Park and the Tianhou Palace Scenic Area have entrances/exits (ticket booths) and parking lots.

Highlight: The festival site covers about 800 mu, with a 2.5-kilometer main touring route. Using light and shadow, it is structured into five major exhibition zones, including the "Galloping Stars, Steed Soaring" lantern installation, and features over 100 large-scale themed lantern installations and nearly 1,000 special performances.

Eight parks join forces for Guangzhou's 2026 Spring Festival Lantern Fair

The eight parks, including Yuexiu Park, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangzhou Orchid Garden, Liuhua Lake Park, Guangzhou Zoo, Yunluo Botanical Garden, Haizhu Square, and Guangzhou Cultural Park, have joined forces to present the 2026 Spring Festival Lantern Fair in Guangzhou. Themed "Cantonese Rhymes Through Millennia, Global Unity in Heart," it will offer residents and visitors from around the world a dazzling feast of light and shadow that showcases the best of Lingnan culture.
Date: Jan 30 – Mar 8
Location: Yuexiu Park (越秀公园)
Tickets: 40 yuan per person (full) / 20 yuan per person (concession). During the holiday (Feb 15–23), full-price tickets are discounted to 32 yuan per person.
Transport: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 2 to Yuexiu Park Station (越秀公园站).

Author | Zheng Yiling (intern), Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus

Source：South南方国际传播中心