The 2025 Qiongshan District Fucheng Lantern Festival Flower Festival Art Week is being held in Fucheng, Haikou from February 7th to February 13th. With the theme of “Meeting of Flowers at Ancient Qiongtai”, this event features traditional folk activities such as lion dances, Qiong (Hainan) Opera, and flower exchanges, while also adding new activities including flower exchange themed dances, puppet shows, and “Fu” character stamps, giving attendees an opportunity to enjoy a traditional Hainan New Year atmosphere.

A “Fu” character stamp. (Photo: Haikou Tourist Attractions Association)

This year's Lantern Festival Flower Exchange Festival is bigger and better than ever before, with a wide variety of activities lasting for ten full days from February 7th to February 16th.

Qiongtai Fudi, Haikou (Photo: hinews)

Starting February 7th, many exciting traditional New Year activities are scheduled to be held in Fucheng. On February 7th, 8th and 13th, Hainan traditional puppet shows are being performed in Sanjiao Park and as well as at Mingchang Tower on February 13th. From February 9th to 11th, Qiongtai Fudi will host a flower exchange garden tour. Attendees can dress up in traditional costumes at the event site, watch traditional performances, and stroll through the traditional market. Participants can pick up a traditional Qiongzhou “Cat Lantern” at the event site. “Cat Lanterns” are traditional lanterns with a dog mouth and a fish body. According to local legend, when children hold them, the lanterns will swallow the misfortunes of the coming year and ensure a peaceful, safe, healthy, and happy life. On February 11th and 12th, Qiong (Hainan) Opera performances will be staged at Qiongtai Fudi, Qiongtai Normal University, and other venues.

A “Cat Lantern” . (Photo: Haikou Tourist Attractions Association)

From February 12th to February 16th, a series of flower-themed events will be held at MOVA Plaza, including a cosplay carnival, romantic concerts, food street banquets, flower exchange garden tours, flower arrangement competitions, creative markets, and other special activities.

Flower Exchange Festival participants wearing traditional attire. (Photo: hinews)

The Flower Exchange event is the main Lantern Festival folk activity in Fucheng. On the evening of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, flower exchanges will take place on Wenzhuang and Zhongshan Roads. Six groups of men and women in traditional attire will gift flowers to attendees. At the same time, a splendid flower dance will be performed at the Hairui Former Residence square, featuring a variety of traditional folk flower dances, allowing the audience to enjoy the unique beauty of Hainan’s local culture.

Flower Exchange Festival event site. (Photo: hinews)

The annual Flower Exchange Festival held during the first lunar month in Hainan usually attracts around 400,000 to 500,000 attendees from all over the world to experience the unique romance of Hainan. From the ancient custom of exchanging flowers for blessings to the present-day practice of exchanging flowers to express love, this island-kissed Lantern Festival event showcases the history and beauty of Hainan culture. Through the simple act of exchanging flowers with friends, family, and passers-by, bonds of friendship, kindness, and romance that tie the past to the present, tradition to culture, and local residents to visitors from near and far are formed, strengthened, and celebrated.

Everyone is invited to join in the fun of the Flower Exchange Festival. (Photo: hinews)