Seeing the Light

Last night was the Lantern Festival which is held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar and which marks the end of the Spring Festival. The festival consists of looking at lanterns. I took myself off out in the evening. The city was more than usually busy, firecrackers were going off everywhere and the air was full of the smell of gunpowder. As usual, there were brightly coloured lights everywhere.

I headed towards Liuzhou People's Square where, in the past, there have been lantern displays but there was nothing there. Ever since the local government decided to turn the city centre into a sterile wasteland there has been nothing in the square. I tried to take a taxi to where I guessed there may be some action, but the lying scumbag taxi driver told me that all the roads were closed. I ended up walking there through some very unclosed roads.

Anyway, I head on down towards the river. Finally I am rewarded by some lanterns.

Down by the river itself were crowds of people playing with firecrackers and sparklers while above us a firework display went on for hours. 

By now, it was around 10 pm so I did what all sensible people do. Went off in search of food! The streets were teeming with people doing the same. Most restaurants were closed, but the central "snack city" was open. And very crowded. I finally managed to squeeze in.

I stuffed myself with mussels, oysters and beer.

Then I decided to head home. En route, I stumbled across yet another lantern display. Enjoy.

tags: liuzhou  lantern festival  spring festival  lanterns  fireworks  

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