Festival Dragons et Lanternes

10 February 2024 marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar. Already in December, Chinese dragons have flocked to Paris, accompanied by flying whales, horses, and other magical animals.

Opened in 1860 by Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie, the Jardin d’Acclimatation is the most Parisian of amusement parks. The Yuyuan Garden goes back even further: established in 1550, it’s a national monument and the pride of the people of Shanghai. This winter, celebrating the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations, the two renowned institutions have joined forces to organize the Dragons and Lanterns Festival.

Until February 25, lanterns and fabulous light structures crafted by the artisans of the Yuyuan Garden will illuminate the garden’s paths. The first of its kind in Europe, the festival offers a magical nocturnal stroll alongside the fantastic creatures that populate the great classic of Chinese literature, the Book of Mounts and Seas, a source of Chinese imagination for over 2,000 years.

The festival logo uses PVC Dynasty, designed by Hélène Marian and available from Production Type. It appears on posters, on the Dragon Gate at the park’s entrance, and even on the artists’ overalls. PVC Dynasty is paired with brush lettering for the Chinese name and all-caps Tungsten (Hoefler & Co.) for the information.