Nearby, a performer dressed as the God of Wealth paraded through crowds with a pony in tow, distributing festive blessings to delighted tourists.
At the Locomotive Square, an interactive installation allowed visitors to pedal stationary bicycles to power a display of "stars". Punning on the phonic likeness of "stars" and "salary" in Chinese, the artwork carries participants' wishes for immediate "salary raise" and career advancement.
According to the organizer, by blending fashion and intangible cultural heritage into the Lantern Festival celebration, 798 Art District aspires to transcend mere preservation of traditional festivals and instead foster vibrant cultural innovation.
