On the evening of March 3, the 2026 Shantou Small Park International Lantern Show grandly kicked off in the city. With a dazzling feast of lanterns, unique folk performances with Chaoshan features, and creative technological interactions, it vividly showcased the cultural charm, new developments, and profound friendships of the century-old hometown of overseas Chinese, creating a joyous festive atmosphere.

As an important part of the series of events themed "Making Guangdong Goods Go Global, Celebrating the Spring Festival in Guangdong", this Lantern Show incorporated the festive elements of the Lantern Festival in the Year of the Horse, offering guests from home and abroad a cultural event rich in Chaoshan heritage and imbued with the enduring charm of the hometown of overseas Chinese. This Lantern Show is centered around the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion, with five roads representing five realms. Five Chinese characters “骥、骊、骅、驰、骋” were chosen to represent five fine horses at full gallop which symbolize five beautiful states of life, connecting Chaoshan folk customs, the spirit of Shantou Special Economic Zone, industrial DNA, overseas Chinese hometown culture, and the auspicious Year of the Horse.The event features two main sections: a themed lantern display area and a folk activity area. It includes not only light and shadow displays like the lantern groups themed "Heavenly Horses Flying Across the Sky" and the creative inflatables themed “Letting Your Dreams Be Your Horses”, but also parades and performances by troupes featuring Yingge Dance, Loong Horse Dance, Chaozhou Opera, and acrobatics that rotate through the streets, creating immersive interactive segments. Along the long street with Qilou (arcade-style buildings) in the Port-opening Area of Shantou Small Park, five major series of cross-street lanterns — "Ordinary Citizens", "Business Sectors", "Hundred Flowers", "Hundred Blessings", and "Hundred Horses" — form a dazzling array. Themed lantern groups featuring elements like Chaoshan cuisine, red-headed boats, and Qiaopi (correspondence and remittance documents from overseas Chinese) each have their own unique charm. The street, filled with the ambiance of the hometown of overseas Chinese and Chaoshan-style romance, attract many citizens and tourists to linger and take photos.

Source:Shantou Daily, Mar 4, 2026

2026汕头小公园国际元宵灯会盛大启幕

　　3月3日晚，2026汕头小公园国际元宵灯会在我市盛大启幕，以流光溢彩的花灯盛宴、独具潮韵的民俗展演和充满创意的科技互动，生动呈现百年侨乡的文化魅力、发展新貌、深厚乡谊，营造欢乐喜庆的节日氛围。

　　本次灯会作为“广货行天下 来粤过大年”系列活动的重要载体，融合马年元宵节喜庆元素，为海内外宾客献上一场潮味醇厚、侨韵绵长的文化盛会。灯会以中山纪念亭为圆心，五条道路为五境，择“骥、骊、骅、驰、骋”五字诠释人生五种美好心境，串联潮汕民俗、特区精神、产业基因、侨乡文化与马年吉庆。活动设置主题灯展区与民俗活动区两大核心板块，既有天马行空灯组、以梦为马创意气模等光影景致，更有英歌舞、龙马舞、潮剧、杂技等特色队伍沿街区轮番开展巡游展演，打造沉浸式互动环节。在小公园开埠区的骑楼长街上，百姓、百业、百花、百福、百骏五大系列跨街灯笼连缀成阵，潮汕美食、红头船、侨批等元素的主题灯组各具韵味，满街侨乡风情与潮式浪漫吸引众多市民游客驻足拍照。

来源：汕头日报 2026-3-4