With lanterns, music, and dance, the third Tang-style Lantern Festival kick-started in style at the Grandview Plaza in Tianhe district of Guangzhou on Jan 17.

This year's festival, running until March 15, features some eight themed venues showcasing over 1,000 spectacular performances and interactive events.

From Tang-style parades and traditional temple fairs to Tang-style games and a hanfu garden party, attendees are promised a total experience of Tang Dynasty (618-907) culture.

A variety of lively performances liven up the festival's opening night. [Photo by Su Junjie/Guangzhou Daily]

At the Grandview Aquarium, a unique form of lion dance has been brought underwater – where lions dance alongside colorful fish. On the fourth and fifth days of the first month of the Chinese calendar, the Asian mermaid champion team will perform a limited-seat show entitled Welcoming the God of Wealth Under the Sea.

A flower festival will be hosted at the Grandview Rainforest Ecology Botanical Garden, blending the elegance of traditional Chinese attire with the beauty of nature.

The fourth-floor atrium of the Grandview Plaza features a replica of the city tower of Chang'an, the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty. This area will be the stage for more than 100 performances throughout Spring Festival. [Photo by Su Junjie/Guangzhou Daily]

Meanwhile, visitors to Grandview Penguin Ice and Snow World can enjoy a special parade featuring Guangzhou's only Antarctic penguin population dressed in Tang-style costumes.

Elsewhere, the Grandview Museum of Natural Science is currently showcasing traditional crafts, such as Foshan colored lanterns and Chaoyang paper-cutting. Using advanced light projection technology, it's also presenting an immersive light and shadow art exhibition entitled Encountering Dunhuang.

On the fifth floor of the plaza, a bustling Tang-style market awaits visitors. [Photo by Su Junjie/Guangzhou Daily]

At a towering height of 8 meters, a mighty mecha bull named Benben interacts with visitors, offering engaging and interactive blessings. [Photo by Su Junjie/Guangzhou Daily]