Lanterns in China are also called lanterns. Originated in the Western Han Dynasty more than 1800 years ago, red lanterns symbolizing reunion are hung around the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year to create a festive atmosphere. Later, lanterns became a symbol of happiness for the people of China. Through the inheritance and development of lantern artists in past dynasties, colorful varieties and exquisite craftsmanship have been formed. There are palace lanterns, gauze lanterns, chandeliers and so on. From the modeling point of view, there are figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, dragons and phoenixes, fish and insects, etc. Besides, there are lanterns for people to enjoy. Lanterns in China are made of bamboo, wood, rattan, straw, animal horn, metal, silk and other materials produced in various regions, combining painting art, paper cutting, paper binding, acupuncture and other technologies. Palace lanterns and gauze lanterns are the most famous lanterns in ancient China.

Lanterns are closely related to people's lives in China. There are lanterns everywhere in temples and living rooms. After careful calculation, China had lanterns after the Qin and Han Dynasties, and paper lanterns probably after the invention of paper in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Lanterns in China are not only used for lighting, but also a symbol. Wu Dunhou said that he used to make bridal lanterns (that is, palace lanterns) to represent wedding celebrations; Bamboo lanterns announce that this is a funeral occasion; Umbrella lamp (word surname lamp), because the pronunciation of "lamp" and "ding" is the same, indicating that people are prosperous. Therefore, in the past, every household had a surname lamp hanging under the eaves and in the living room. Today, there are still two big lanterns in front of God's head, which is a continuation of this custom.

However, Yuanxiao is probably the most reverie and expectation of Lantern Festival. The custom of watching lanterns on the Lantern Festival originated in the early Han Dynasty. During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, in order to celebrate the country's prosperity and security, people hung lanterns and used flashing lights to symbolize "lucky dragons, rich people and strong country", and the custom of playing lanterns was widely spread. When Zhu Yuanzhang established Nanjing as his capital, he burned 10,000 water lanterns on the Qinhuai River. During the Yongle period, a lamppost was erected at the Wumen Gate and a "light market" was set outside the Huamen Gate, so that there was still a "dengshikou" street in Peiping. After the Republic of China, the practice of lanterns still existed, but it was much more prosaic. Fortunately, nowadays lanterns gradually occupy an important position in home decoration because of their popularity in China. However, some materials of lanterns have changed from paper and bamboo to cloth, plastic and iron wire, and their shapes and colors are very different from traditional ones.

Traditionally, temples are mainly yellow, and the size and color of lanterns are changed according to personal preferences, which has no symbolic significance.

Lanterns have other meanings besides lighting. Private school (ancient school) in the first month of each year.

At the beginning of school, parents will prepare a lantern for their children, which will be lit by the teacher, symbolizing the bright future of the students. It's called "turning on the light". Later, it evolved into the custom of carrying lanterns on the Lantern Festival. Because the pronunciation is similar to "Tianding", lanterns are also used to pray for children. In the Japanese occupation era, patriots painted folk stories on lanterns to teach their children and grandchildren to know their own culture, so it has the significance of being passed down from generation to generation.