Zigong - The 4th Zigong Lanterns Global Children's Creative Collection officially launched on the evening of May 29 at the Zigong · Chinese Lantern World in Sichuan Province. Themed "My Friend," the event invites children aged 3 to 12 from around the world to submit original lantern artwork creations.

The 4th Zigong Lanterns Global Children's Creative Collection has officially launched on the evening of May 29. (Photo/Dong Baoxu)

Moving away from traditional ceremony formats, this year's launch adopted an immersive, interactive approach. Previous award-winning young painters, representatives from lantern production teams, and university professors gathered on stage for a dialogue, sharing stories where children's art and lantern craftsmanship meet.

Felix, a young participant from the United Kingdom whose artwork Mechanical Beehive won an Excellence Award in a previous edition, attended the ceremony. "This is my first time in Zigong, and I just saw a gigantic dinosaur - Zigong is so cool!" he said. Felix shared that he initially set out to draw a single bee, but as his imagination expanded, he ended up designing an entire high-tech factory for bees.

Felix from the UK shares his creative insights. (Photo/ The organizer)

Zhu Xiang, a representative of the lantern production team, responded to Felix's enthusiasm with a smile: "No matter how wild and imaginative the children's drawings are, we artisans are determined to find a way to bring them to life".

New Theme: "My Friend"

Professor Lei Yongbin from the Department of Watercolor Painting at the School of Plastic Arts, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, unveiled the 4th edition's theme - "My Friend." He explained that in a child's world, a friend could be a person, a pet, or even a beloved tree. "The key lies in how children use their brushes to express that pure emotion," Lei noted. As he spoke, children in the audience eagerly raised their hands to share their own ideas. One child responded, "My best friend is my dog - I want to draw him," while another said, "My best friend is a little flower".

Submissions for the collection will be accepted from June 1 to September 30, 2026. Children from around the world can participate by submitting their artwork through the official website or the official WeChat public account of Zigong Culture and Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. Following review and selection by a professional jury panel, winning entries will be transformed into large-scale physical lanterns by master craftspeople in Zigong and exhibited in the "Creative Lantern Showcase" zone at the 33rd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival.

The host announced the details of the call for submissions. (Photo/Dong Baoxu)

First-Ever Douyin Challenge: Amplifying Children's Creativity

In a significant departure from previous editions, this year's event introduces its first-ever online challenge in partnership with Douyin, China's version of TikTok. Children can search for the hashtag #ZigongChildrensLanterns on Douyin, upload their artwork, and share their creative ideas with the platform's support.

According to the event's organizers, the number of overseas submissions has risen steadily over the past three editions, with entries coming from countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. This online challenge is expected to significantly expand the event's international reach and accessibility, ensuring that every young creator's ideas have the opportunity to be seen and recognized.

Themed Study Tour: An Immersive Lantern Experience

To help children gain a more intuitive understanding of lantern craftsmanship, a one-day "Lantern Study Tour" itinerary was announced at the launch. Ren Xiaoli, the lead instructor, provided a detailed preview of the tour for the live audience.

Participants will visit the China Lantern Museum to explore 10,000 years of lighting evolution - from ancient clay lamps used for illumination to large-scale lanterns built with modern technology. They will tour a professional lantern factory to observe the traditional production process, including frame construction, gluing, and coloring. The most popular segment will be the DIY lantern-making session, where every child can craft a small lantern to take home. In the evening, the group will take a boat cruise along the Fuxi River, listening to stories of Zigong, the "Salt City," surrounded by illuminated lantern displays along the riverbanks.

Building a Global Bridge Through Art

Since its inception, the Zigong Global Children's Lantern Collection has garnered widespread international attention, receiving multiple features on China Central Television and sparking discussions on overseas media platforms. The event has received over 12,000 submissions from children in more than 40 countries, serving as a vital bridge connecting childlike creativity with the global dissemination of lantern culture.

The choral performance of "Amani". (Photo/Dong Baoxu)

The 4th Zigong Lanterns Global Children's Creative Collection Activity is organized by the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival Organizing Committee. Guidance is provided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Zigong Municipal Committee, Zigong Municipal Bureau of Education and Sports, Zigong Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, Foreign Affairs Office of Zigong Municipal People's Government, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zigong Municipal People's Government, Taiwan Affairs Office of Zigong Municipal People's Government, and Zigong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. It is organized by Zigong State-owned Capital Investment and Operation Group Co., Ltd. and Zigong Culture and Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd.

(Dong Baoxu, as an intern, also contributed to this article.)