Hundreds of laterns are lit up at the Lantern Festival in Cao village of Rui'an city. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The Lantern Festival in Cao village of Rui'an city, Zhejiang province is a folk celebration with a long history.

Dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), households in Cao village lit lanterns to celebrate Cao Fengshi's success in becoming a candidate for the highest imperial examinations. The celebration has since continued to be observed becoming a local annual event for trade fairs and cultural activities.

Every year thousands of locals go out to witness the lantern shows, folk performance and participate in other cultural activities from the fifth day to the tenth day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

People in Rui'an flock to watch the beautiful laterns at the Lantern Festival. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

A dragon latern draws people's cheers and applauses at the Latern Festival in Cao village of Rui'an city.[Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]