As the lanterns dim and the season comes to a close, we reflect on an extraordinary year for China Light Festival. Across Europe, we brought illuminated storytelling, cultural artistry, and unforgettable visitor experiences to more than 300.000 guests.
From Belgium and France to Germany, our festivals transformed leading zoos and nature-based venues into immersive nighttime worlds where handcrafted lanterns, cultural narratives, and large-scale design came together to create moments of wonder.
Each event was developed in close collaboration with our partners, continuing our mission to deliver world-class light festivals that connect people, culture and creativity.
A season of light across Europe
The 2025 season marked another strong step forward in the growth of China Light Festival across Europe. In total, we delivered five large-scale festivals, each uniquely tailored to its location, audience and environment.
Our partners this season included:
- Zoo Kleve (Germany)
- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium)
- Les Terres de Nataé (France)
- Cologne Zoo (Germany)
- Zoo Halle (Germany)
Each venue offered its own landscape, story and audience – allowing us to create distinct experiences that ranged from underwater worlds and animal-inspired journeys to fantasy realms filled with mythical creatures.
Transforming venues into immersive worlds
At every location, visitors stepped into carefully designed environments where light, storytelling and craftsmanship merged.
In Antwerp, guests explored a glowing ocean world filled with sea-creatures and underwater fantasy. In Halle and Cologne, entire landscapes were transformed into realms of imagination, featuring dragons, wildlife and cultural themes. In Brittany, visitors experienced a journey through nature and the elements, while Kleve offered a magical family-friendly atmosphere filled with illuminated animals and interactive elements.
Across all events, one thing remained consistent: the ability of light to transform familiar spaces into something entirely new.
Built through collaboration and craftsmanship
Behind every festival is a close collaboration between our European partners and our international teams of designers, engineers and artisans.
Each lantern is handcrafted using traditional techniques that originate from Zigong, China – known as the world capital of lantern art. These centuries-old methods are combined with modern technologies, allowing us to create installations that are both authentic and innovative.
From initial concept and design to production, logistics and on-site installation, every festival is delivered as a fully integrated project, ensuring both creative excellence and operational reliability.
More than a festival: creating shared experiences
China Light Festival is about more than visual spectacle. It is about creating shared moments.
Families walking together through illuminated paths. Children discovering glowing animals and mythical creatures. Visitors capturing and sharing experiences that extend far beyond the event itself.
Our festivals are designed to bring people together – across cultures, generations and communities. Together we turn the darker months of the year into something warm, vibrant and memorable.
2025 highlights
- Number of festivals across Europe: 5
- Countries: Belgium, France & Germany
- Total visitors: 300.000+
- Partner venues: leading zoos and nature-based institutions
These results reflect the growing demand for immersive, experience-driven events that combine culture, creativity and large-scale visual storytelling.
They also show the long term value of strong partnerships. One of the clearest examples is our continued collaboration with Les Terres de Nataé in France. For the third year in a row, we had the opportunity to create a light festival together and each year, the event has grown significantly in reach and impact.
Visitor numbers rose from 37.000 in 2023, to 57.000 in 2024 and reached 71.000 in 2025. That steady growth shows how a recurring light festival can build momentum over time, attract returning and new audiences and become a seasonal highlight that visitors look forward to year after year.
Looking ahead
As we look toward the next season, China Light Festival continues to expand its creative and operational capabilities across Europe. With new partnerships, new themes and new innovations in development, we remain focused on creating light festivals that not only attract visitors, but leave a lasting impression.
From traditional craftsmanship to modern immersive design, our mission remains the same: To bring stories to life through light.
Interested in bringing a light festival to your venue?
Explore the possibilities and get in touch with our team to start your project.
