Economy&Life | Zigong, Where surreal becomes real

ZIGONG, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Zigong, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns."

The city has hosted seven "Spring Festival Lantern Shows" and 31 editions of the "Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival." In recent years, by incorporating cutting-edge technologies and blending traditional and contemporary themes, the festival has become a unique cultural brand. A full-fledged industry has emerged around it, encompassing lantern and animatronic dinosaur design, manufacturing, installation and exhibition, leading to the aggregation of resources and continuous expansion of the industry chain.

Statistics show that Zigong is home to over 1,000 lantern-related enterprises, generating an annual output value of more than 6 billion yuan (0.84 billion U.S. dollars). Around 100,000 workers are engaged year-round in lantern and animatronic dinosaur production, with seasonal employment reaching 150,000. At present, Zigong lanterns account for about 85 percent of the domestic market and 92 percent of the international market.

Since debuting overseas in 1990 at the Chinese Garden in Singapore, Zigong lantern festivals have been staged in more than 80 countries and regions around the world, as well as over 500 cities across China, attracting over 600 million visitors in total.