by marine Wang

Colored lanterns and lotus flowers, both symbols of peace, luck and happiness, will take on added beauty as the Beijing Beihai and Jingshan Park Managing Bureau and the Chengdu Lantern Fairs Office cooperate to hold an art show of large Chengdu colored lanterns and Jingshan lotus this summer, from July 15 to August 31, in Jingshan Park.

The history of Chengdu colored lanterns dates back 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty, when Chinese people liked to dress up and stroll the midsummer nights, savoring the twin delights of the exquisitely made lanterns and the fragrance of the lotus in bloom.

This summer's art show gathers nearly 10,000 lanterns and several thousand pots of lotus flowers in a setting of exquisite beauty. The lanterns, masterpieces from former lantern fairs and circuit exhibitions, will include 30 large and middle-sized ones, 20 small-sized lanterns and almost 10,000 hanging lanterns, round red lanterns and colorful string lanterns. The lotus blossoms will be set amidst more than 20,000 pots of other seasonal flowers.

Colored lanterns bring together several artistic forms and scientific techniques: painting, sculpture, mounting, music, colored lights and mechanics. Among the larger ones are the fireworks lantern at a height of 23 meters and the Spring Tigers at 40 meters. Some incorporate high-tech and traditional touches; the Rainbow Gate is made with tens of thousands of colored lanterns enhanced by sound and the Sky Rose pulsates with a high energy radiating source.

The park's display will also feature some lantern sets based on classical works or folklore, such as "A Dream of the Red Mansion," "The Water Margin," "Snow White" and "Swan Lake."

Also shown will be the "Three Matchless Works of the Chengdu Colored Lanterns:" the Sugar Dragon, the China Elephant and the Crystal Dragon. The exquisite craftsmanship of these treasures is breath-taking. The Sugar Dragon is made entirely of sugar cake, its ton of sugar turning translucent under the lights. The China Elephant is made of 10,000 china cups -- and all but blinks at its visitors, it seems so life-like. The Crystal Dragon consists solely of glass bottles bound together and lit from within to sparkle resplendently.

Framing the lanterns' manmade beauty will be the beauty of nature. All of Jiangshan Park will glow with the ethereal beauty of the lotus, includiing such distinguished examples as the Ancient Waterlily and the Sino-Japanese Freindship Waterlily. A stroll through this magical world of light and fragrance will transport visitors to a place of peace and tranquility.

During the show, Jingshan Park will re-open its north gate so visitors can go directly into the main exhibition area. To get there, take bus No. 5 and No. 58 or streetcar No. 111 or No. 107. Tour groups of more than 20 people qualify for admission discounts.

Yuanmingyuan to Open Lotus Fair

The Third Lotus Fair is running at Yuanmingyuan until August 20,1988, the flower's peak season.

Visitors can tour the lotus culture show area to get a better understanding of the flower's categories, its edible and medical uses as well as Chinese methology and poems concerning the lotus. During the fair, the park will also stage such activities as fishing for goldfish and water-bike riding.