Chinese Lantern Festival

ARCOM GROUP, Inc.

link to festival site http://www.atlantalanternfestival.com

2,200 YEAR OLD CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL COMES TO UNITED STATES FOR AN HISTORIC FIRST TIME

Monkey King

The Monkey King was “born” in 578 BC during Zhou Dynasty but was in fact created by a famous writer Chengen Wu during The Ming Dynasty in the 16th century. The stories of the exploits of The Monkey King have been favorites among children for thousands of years. The fantastic abilities of The Monkey King are attractive to the creative minds of children. For instance, he can change into 72 appearances and can see through magical disguises or enchantments with his fire flashing eyes. His crown is made of phoenix feathers and rose gold.

Yellow Crane Tower

The Yellow Crane Tower was originally built in 223AD during the Three Kingdoms Period and was totally destroyed at 1884 during The Qing Dynasty. Its reconstruction was completed in 1985 with both modern and classical architectural motifs. It is one of the three most famous towers in Southern China. Its beauty and surrounding scenery inspired thousands of famous poets whose masterpieces are displayed there.

Nine Dragons Wall

Nine Dragons Wall is a privacy screen that appears only in the emperor’s palace. The design and decoration represent the power and royalty of the kings partly by using the number nine and five. Nine is the highest number (digit) in Chinese culture and five is the median. In Confucian philosophy, the emperor has the highest power and is the only one allowed to use this wall.

Goddess Wangmu’s Peach Orchard

The goddess Wangmu, the queen of the heaven, hosts an annual peach festival on her birthday and invites all the gods of heaven. Each god is given one peach from the goddess Wangmu’s peach orchard. In the orchard, there are three thousand and six hundred peach trees. The peaches in the first 1200 trees mature every 3000 years and if eaten, will bring god-like (supernatural) powers. The peaches in the middle 1200 trees mature every 6000 years and if eaten, will bring mortal eternal life. The peaches in the last 1200 trees mature every 9000 years and if eaten, will bring immortality. The Monkey King on one occasion stole the peaches, which started a war between The Monkey King and all the gods of heaven.

America’s First Authentic Chinese Lantern Festival

Since May, 2005 the US China Lantern Festival, Corporation has finally signed a Conditional Agreement with the Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival Committee to hold the first major Chinese Lantern Festival in US history.

Festival visits bring happiness and good luck, especially for family and friend relationships of success, love and harmony. A Lantern Festival visit is educational and quietly memorable as the most rewarding fun of one’s lifetime for many.

As a US first, this destination event will attract domestic and international tourist to the metropolitan area, and, the 11 southeastern states. The committee also seeks domestic sponsorships from government, business, and individuals to support the recently authorized PRC contributions.

This historic event will mark the culmination of attempts to bring or hold such an event since 1820 when the first Chinese were brought to America. Though Chinese in origin, the Lantern Festival is significant to the Asian community, attendance is truly rewarding to everyone. Lanterns in the home or business state that happiness, success, and good luck lives here.

Chinese Lantern Festivals were started in 208 BC by the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang as a peaceful unification technique for former enemies in a new country named China. The lanterns are art, history, education, curious, interesting, and fun. They come in small, medium and giant sizes.

The small lanterns from 800 to 2500 light walkways; medium lanterns will demarcate special events along the walkway, including entertainment and vendors; and, 36 -44 giant lanterns are the focus of the event, they range in size from 27 to 286 feet long; 6 to 59 feet deep; and 10 to 52 feet high.

60 Lantern craftsmen shall construct the lanterns in four months, the exhibition will be open to the public for 45-75 days, and three weeks is needed to dismantle and restore the site.

The Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival will have three lanterns never before conceived or constructed in the Festivals 2,216 years. Their construction has attracted additional thematic exhibitions from Hong Kong and Great Britain.

The Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival Committee has enlisted support from some area educators, non profit organizations, governments, business, and prominent individuals with interest in the People’s Republic of China. These are expected to grow to 18 local and 32 PRC universities and institutes, four PRC cities for education, business, tourism, and, investment. 42 media outlets in China, China Central Television’s (CCTV) 45 million subscribers in Europe, 170 million US citizens will receive regular reports, and, marketing and advertising information for six to 12 months. 350,000-400,000 visitors are expected to attend the Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival.

The most important results of the Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival will be the improved understanding for the publics of both countries, and, expanded relationships between schools, government, business, investors, and citizens.

For more information email

Glendon Thompson at gthompson@arcomgroup.net or

Dimitri Moore at dimitri.moore@gmail.com