The first full moon in Chinese lunar calendar is the Lantern Festival. People hang red lanterns everywhere, guess lantern puzzles and set free the lanterns to the sky. There were many legends in China as why the lanterns came into a tradition. The red colour and fire would frighten fierce animals and evils away. The colourful and bright lanterns are believed to bring good luck and protection for the new year.

Today is the lantern festival, also known as the YuanXiao Festival (YuanXiao Jie). The new year celebration reaches the end. Traditionally, people eat the sweet YuanXiao on the day (15th of January in lunar calender). YuanXiao refers to a round dumpling made of glutinous rice flour cover. It is often filled with sesame or sweet bean paste inside. The sweet stuffing and round shape of the dumpling is often associated with the family get-together.

Riddles have been in China for over 2000 years. It can be complicated at scholar's level, yet is also the fun among common people. From the Song dynasty, riddles on the lanterns became popular. Riddle lanterns have already been hung in old town bazaar of Shanghai. In the former French concession, local neighbourhood has organised riddle activity. People put up riddle paper in the XiangYang Park and enjoyed the guessing game.

Carrying paper lanterns, solving riddles, eating Yuan Xiao (dumplings made of glutinous rice), uniting with families...all these refer to the Lantern Festival. It falls on the 15th of January in lunar calendar (which is today) and marks the end of Chinese New Year Festival. Although the traditional celebration becomes weak, the old town in Shanghai is a place you can enjoy the warm atmosphere of such festivals. This year the old town bazaar has a three-day celebration from February 16th to 18th with various activities.