Lantern and animatronic dinosaur production thrives in SW China

A worker installs teeth on an animatronic dinosaur at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns."

The city has hosted seven "Spring Festival Lantern Shows" and 31 editions of the "Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival." In recent years, by incorporating cutting-edge technologies and blending traditional and contemporary themes, the festival has become a unique cultural brand. A full-fledged industry has emerged around it, encompassing lantern and animatronic dinosaur design, manufacturing, installation and exhibition, leading to the aggregation of resources and continuous expansion of the industry chain.

Statistics show that Zigong is home to over 1,000 lantern-related enterprises, generating an annual output value of more than 6 billion yuan(0.84 billion U.S. dollars). Around 100,000 workers are engaged year-round in lantern and animatronic dinosaur production, with seasonal employment reaching 150,000. At present, Zigong lanterns account for about 85 percent of the domestic market and 92 percent of the international market.

Since debuting overseas in 1990 at the Chinese Garden in Singapore, Zigong lantern festivals have been staged in more than 80 countries and regions around the world, as well as over 500 cities across China, attracting over 600 million visitors in total.(Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Workers paint color onto a lantern at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

A worker installs teeth on an animatronic dinosaur at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

An Australian client (R) discusses animatronic dinosaur business at a company in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

This photo taken on June 4, 2025 shows animatronic dinosaurs ready for shipment overseas at a company in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

A worker welds the frame of an animatronic dinosaur at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

People visit the 18th Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival at Zigong Lantern Park in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 5, 2012. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

A staff member designs the shape of an animatronic dinosaur at a tech company in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Workers paste satin fabric to the lantern frame at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Workers fasten LED strips onto a peacock-shaped lantern at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

A worker sculpts the shape of an animatronic dinosaur at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

A worker pastes satin fabric to the lantern frame at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 17, 2025 shows lanterns displayed at the 31st Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

A worker tests an animatronic dinosaur's control program at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Tourists from Germany visit the Colorful Lantern Museum of China in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 5, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

A worker welds the frame of an animatronic dinosaur at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Workers pack a lantern in preparation for shipment overseas at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Workers create the skin texture for an animatronic dinosaur at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

This photo taken on Jan. 16, 2008 shows a set of lanterns displayed at the 14th Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns."(Xinhua)

A worker transports lanterns at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Workers weld the frame of animatronic dinosaurs at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

This photo taken on June 5, 2025 shows a peacock-shaped lantern made of glass bottles at the Colorful Lantern Museum of China in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 5, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

A worker draws an eye for a human-shaped lantern at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

This photo taken on Jan. 10, 1987 shows lanterns displayed at the 1st Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua)

A worker welds the frame of a lantern at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

A worker airbrushes color onto a lantern at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Workers create the skin texture for an animatronic dinosaur and an animatronic animal at a factory in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 4, 2025. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

This undated file photo shows people visiting a Zigong-made lantern installation in Boston, the United States. Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province renowned for its centuries-old lantern-making craftsmanship and rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, bears the titles of "Hometown of Dinosaurs" and "City of Lanterns." (Xinhua)