China's ancient capital, Datong, will open it lantern exhibit, on Feb 1, as a grand display of local culture.

The one-month event, which ends March 2, is the work of the Datong Party committee and local government and is intended to enrich people’s lives and create a local brand. The 2014 event will take place along the eastern and southern parts of the famed City Wall, with 55 special lanterns and 12 sets of ice lanterns, in four themed exhibitions: first, a panorama of Datong; second, a showcase of ice lanterns from Harbin, Heilongjiang province; third that focuses on local customs; and the fourth, which integrates cartoons, romantic elements, and performances such as a ride in a bridal sedan, playing on a slide, and guessing lantern riddles.

The 2014 event's highlights are ice lanterns creating a fairy world where tourists can experience the lives of Eskimos and getting the feel of flying on a high ice slide. Various sound and light technology will be employed for a greater acoustic and visual effect.

And there will be other performances, such as an Inner Mongolian song-and-dance duet and Jin opera, to add some excitement.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw