Update (November 27 5.40pm CST): According to a post from Tianhe Public Security Bureau’s official Weibo account, the Canton Tower lights and music display for the 2018 Guangzhou International Light Festival will be canceled tonight, November 27, and tomorrow, November 28. Click here to read more.
The 2018 Guangzhou International Light Festival officially kicked off last night, November 26. There are four main exhibitions this year being held at Huacheng Square, several of the Guangzhou bridges that cross the Pearl River, Zhujiang New Town’s ‘connection corridors’ and a sub-venue in Huangpu District.
From November 26 to December 2, the light show at Huacheng Plaza will take place at three separate times: 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. On December 3 and 4, you must book a reservation to view the show (add the Guangzhou International Light Show's official WeChat account ‘广州国际灯光节’ to reserve a spot).
Now in its eighth year, Guangzhou International Light Festival's theme this year is the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. During last night’s opening ceremony, the Canton Tower lit up like a Christmas tree, illuminating the city’s CBD with lasers and colorful lights. The show also featured 300 drones impressively synchronized to form various shapes, including Guangzhou’s very own skyline.
Screengrab @南方都市报/Weibo
Last year, over a quarter million people (270,000, to be exact) visited the seventh Guangzhou International Light Festival on its second night, causing police to shut down the event shortly after 7.30pm. As you’d expect, 2017’s massive crowds led to some insanely long metro lines and traffic jams. This year’s opening night followed suit, with many Guangzhouers complaining about the long wait just to leave the event.
Image via @CX1213999/Weibo
Image via @80柏拉图的永远23/Weibo
In case you didn't attend yesterday's ceremony, here's what you missed out on!
Image via @CRB-yoga/Weibo
If you are not keen on visiting the crowded Huacheng Square light show, you can also catch the lights at several other venues and sites around the city, including Liberation Bridge, Haiyin Bridge, Liede Bridge, Haizhu Bridge, Jiangwan Bridge and Huangpu District Conference Hall.
Image via Dayoo
Each bridge features a different theme pertaining to Guangzhou’s history, culture, development and more. At the Huangpu venue, a 133-meter-long glass screen is on display, projecting the eastern district’s famed picture scrolls. The Huangpu sub-venue will run until December 10, while, in the city center, the bridges’ light shows will be on display until April 5 of next year.
Image via Dayoo
Important transportation reminders
*Nov 26-Dec 4, 6pm-10pm, Exit B1 of Zhujiang New Town Metro Station will only be used for entering the station while Exit B2 will only be used for exiting.
*Nov 26-Dec 4, 6pm-10pm, the APM line will not stop at Haixinsha, Guangzhou Opera House, Huacheng Avenue, as well as Women and Children's Medical Center APM metro stops.
READ MORE: 16 Kids Have Gotten Lost So Far at 2017 Guangzhou Int'l Festival of Light
[Cover image via Chinaplus]
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