300 lanterns lit up in Gardens by the Bay in S'pore for Mid-autumn Festival

300 lanterns were officially lit up at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Mid-autumn Festival. Singapore's Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan graced the launching ceremony.

Lanterns for this year's Mid-autumn are shaped in various flora and fauna, ranging from massive dinosaurs, to a majestic floating sea palace, to baobab trees. These handmade lanterns are produced by craftsmen from Zigong in China's Sichuan Province.

According to Ong Chui Leng, programming director of Gardens by the Bay, the massive lanterns in the shape of dinosaurs have been very popular among children as they are animated with sounds and movement.

As 2015 is the year of goat, Gardens by the Bay has also held Lantern Painting Competition, inviting the public to paint 50 lanterns in the shape of goat to celebrate Singapore's golden jubilee.

The public can also watch cultural performances in the theme of "Celebrating 50 Mid-Autumns" when they come to watch the colorful lanterns. Meanwhile, a special display of chrysanthemums was launched in the Flower Dome, where more than 10,000 chrysanthemums from 40 varieties in a myriad of colors are in full bloom.

Chrysanthemums, a symbolic feature in traditional Chinese art to depict the autumn season, is the theme of Gardens by the Bay's latest floral display. "Very rare ones like spider chrysanthemum are also included in the chrysanthemums display for the public to see in Singapore," said Ong Chui Leng.

This year's Mid-autumn celebrations, which runs from Friday to Oct. 4, are organized by Gardens by the Bay in partnership with the Chinese Media Group of Singapore Press Holdings, National Arts Council and People's Association. Endi