Min Rui is a special commentator on cultural affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Fish lantern performers parade through Xitou Village, Shexian County, Huangshan, Anhui, showcasing intangible cultural heritage on August 29, 2025. /VCG

In the winter of 2025, a quiet trend from east China suddenly lit up global social media feeds: the revival of the traditional fish lantern. Videos of glowing paper fish drifting through ancient towns filled with cheerful crowds, have become one of China's most unexpected cultural sensations of the year.

But behind the viral aesthetics lies a story about cultural renewal, creative industries, and the evolving ways in which traditional heritage finds its place in contemporary life.

A fish lantern, typically crafted from bamboo and paper and illuminated from within, is a folk art long rooted in Anhui and other regions of China.

Historically, these lanterns were mainly used for Chinese New Year celebrations or local temple fairs. They were beautiful, symbolic and beloved – yet for a long time, they remained a quiet part of local life, admired but not widely known, and rarely the centerpiece of tourism.

Fish lanterns parade to drum beats while fireworks bloom in the evening sky above Chengkan Village in Huizhou District of Huangshan, Anhui on May 24, 2025. /VCG

So why did a centuries-old lantern suddenly go viral?

One reason is the rise of interactive cultural tourism. In the past, a visitor strolling through an old town might stop to admire a fish lantern display and then continue on their way. Today, however, Chinese travelers increasingly seek deeper cultural participation rather than passive observation.

As cultural-tourism integration accelerates nationwide in China, many ancient towns in Anhui have begun offering immersive fish-lantern experiences: tourists can touch the fish heads for luck, lift the lantern tails for blessings, or even join nighttime parades carrying their own handmade lanterns.

International visitors join a fish lantern performance, an intangible cultural heritage activity, in Hongcun Scenic Area in Yixian County of Huangshan, Anhui on November 15, 2025. /VCG

International visitors join a fish lantern performance, an intangible cultural heritage activity, in Hongcun Scenic Area in Yixian County of Huangshan, Anhui on November 15, 2025. /VCG

It no longer matters whether someone understands the complex symbolism of traditional Chinese aesthetics. What matters is that the experience feels authentic, joyful and emotionally resonant. This blend of accessibility and beauty has turned the fish lantern into a form of "Chinese romance" that domestic and international visitors can intuitively feel.

The second driving force is the power of digital visibility. On platforms such as TikTok, its Chinese equivalent Douyin, and RedNote, posts of fish lanterns have surged, accumulating enormous views and engagement.

Beyond short videos, the lantern has also entered the virtual worlds inhabited by young people. In the popular mobile game "Hundred Scenes of the South of the Yangtze River," players can build virtual fish-lantern workshops. In "Genshin Impact," a widely played international game, a Chinese New Year short film features fish lantern elements that many viewers immediately recognize and love.

These cross-media appearances have helped transform the fish lantern from a local folk item into a youthful cultural icon, embraced by digital natives who delight in discovering traditional motifs re-imagined in modern contexts. Their enthusiasm, amplified through online communities, propelled the fish lantern to become a true cultural gem of 2025.

And this cultural aesthetic is now traveling far beyond China

This year, fish-lantern imagery appeared in international fashion magazines, brand collaborations, and even on the giant screens of New York’s Times Square. At cultural festivals in Rome, glowing fish lanterns floated among crowds who experienced them not as distant heritage but as enchanting symbols of beauty, creativity and hope. These moments illustrate a broader truth: Chinese culture is increasingly crossing linguistic and cultural boundaries through visual storytelling that resonates universally.

Behind the lantern's success lies a decade of sustained investment in cultural preservation and creative revitalization. During China's 14th Five-Year Plan period, the country strengthened its protection of intangible cultural heritage while encouraging new forms of presentation and participation.

To date, 44 Chinese cultural items have been inscribed on UNESCO's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage: the highest number in the world. This global recognition reflects not only the depth of Chinese civilization but also the effectiveness of policies that view heritage as a living, evolving resource.

The fish lantern's rise from local tradition to international cultural symbol is just one example of how China's intangible heritage is experiencing dynamic renewal across the country.

Craftsmen are spotted making fish lanterns in Zhanqi Village in Shexian County of Huangshan, Anhui on August 1, 2025. /VCG

From handicrafts and festivals to ancient music and traditional cuisine, heritage is being preserved not by freezing it in time but by inviting people to engage with it, reinterpret it, and carry it forward.

In this sense, the glowing fish drifting through night markets and city squares represent more than artistic charm. They embody a powerful idea: that cultural inheritance thrives when it balances the preservation of its form with the continuation of its spirit.

As these shimmering lanterns swim into new cities and new hearts, they illuminate not only the beauty of Chinese tradition but also the enduring vitality of a civilization that continues to create, inspire and connect, across generations and across the world.