A winter staple of Shanghai’s Chinese New Year season, the Yu Garden Lantern Festival returns in 2026 with a strong focus on the Year of the Horse. The familiar Yuyuan circuit fills up once again with illuminated installations, glowing lantern corridors, and reflective water scenes, with horse motifs taking over Ninghui Lu and a cluster of mythical creatures lining Nine-Turn Bridge, drawing loosely from The Classic of Mountains and Seas. Lights come on after dark and the atmosphere quickly turns dense, especially on weekends and during the holiday period. It’s crowded, slow-moving, and very much a shared experience—but for many locals and visitors alike, this annual ritual remains part of how Chinese New Year looks and feels in the city.