Frequently Asked Questions

We manufacture four main categories of lanterns: Festival Lanterns (Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Christmas, Mid-Autumn), Animal Lanterns (Chinese Zodiac, wildlife, ocean creatures), Custom Theme Lanterns (movie characters, cultural designs), and LED Garden Lanterns (mushroom lights, butterfly lights, flower lights). All products are handcrafted in our Zigong workshop using traditional silk lantern techniques combined with modern LED technology.

Our lanterns range from 30 cm tabletop pieces to 30+ meter landmark installations. Most zoo, garden and festival trails use pieces between 2 and 8 meters tall. Every piece is custom-built to your venue scale, sightlines and photo points, and we design modular sections so a large figure can be shipped and assembled on site. All sizes use sealed LED modules and outdoor-rated construction.

Yes, all our products are designed for outdoor installation and built to outdoor-rated standards. Lanterns use sealed lighting modules and weatherproof outer surfaces. For demanding environments such as coastal areas or heavy-snow regions, we offer enhanced protection packages with additional sealing and anti-corrosion treatments.

Absolutely! OEM/ODM custom design is one of our core strengths. You can provide us with reference images, sketches, or concept descriptions, and our design team will create 3D renderings for your approval before production. We handle everything from concept design to final delivery. Custom colors, sizes, themes, and branding elements are all available.

Shipping time depends on the method and destination:

Sea Freight: 15-30 days (most cost-effective for large orders)
Air Freight: 5-7 days (recommended for small or urgent orders)
Express (DHL/FedEx): 3-5 days (small parts and accessories only)

Production time is additional (typically 15-45 days depending on complexity). We provide real-time tracking for all shipments and handle customs documentation.

Yes, we provide professional on-site installation service worldwide. Our installation team consists of experienced technicians who travel to your location to assemble and test all products. Installation typically takes 2-7 days depending on project scale. The service includes installation, testing, operator training, and a handover manual. Airfare and accommodation are quoted separately.

We ship to 50+ countries worldwide. Our major markets include Southeast Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia), Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), Europe (UK, Germany, France), North America (USA, Canada), and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand). We have established logistics partnerships ensuring smooth customs clearance and reliable delivery to virtually any destination.

We accept the following payment methods:

T/T (Bank Transfer): 30% deposit, 70% before shipment (standard)
PayPal: Available for smaller orders
L/C (Letter of Credit): Available for larger orders
Western Union: Available for sample orders

We can also accept EUR, GBP, and SGD for bank transfers.

For standard products, the MOQ is 1 unit — we welcome orders of any size. For sample orders, we can produce single units for evaluation purposes. Shipping costs are more economical for larger orders, so we often suggest combining multiple items in one shipment.

Custom order timelines vary by complexity:

Simple custom lantern: 20-25 days
Complex themed lantern set: 30-40 days
Custom light sculpture: 25-35 days
Large-scale project (10+ units): 35-45 days

This includes design (3-5 days), production, and quality inspection. Rush orders may be available with a 20% surcharge. We provide weekly progress updates with photos during production.

Yes! We specialize in turning your ideas into reality. Simply send us your design reference (images, drawings, AI files, or even rough sketches), and our design team will create detailed 3D renderings and technical drawings for your review. We'll iterate until you're 100% satisfied before moving to production. Our artisans then handcraft each piece using traditional Zigong lantern-making techniques combined with modern materials.

Yes, every custom order includes complimentary 3D renderings and technical drawings. You'll receive: concept sketches (within 3 days), detailed 3D renders with dimensions and materials, electrical wiring diagrams, and an installation layout plan. You can request revisions at each stage. Only after your final approval do we begin production. This ensures what you see is exactly what you get.

Traditional Chinese festival lanterns are built on a hand-shaped frame, wrapped in layered fabric and hand-painted by artisans, then lit with energy-efficient LEDs. This hand-built frame-and-fabric construction is the signature Zigong technique that makes large festival lanterns weatherproof and long-lasting. Learn how Chinese lanterns are made →

Chinese lanterns are called dēnglóng in Chinese. Different types have specific names: palace lanterns are gōngdēng, red lanterns are hóngdēnglóng, lotus lanterns are héhuādēng, and sky lanterns are kǒngmíngdēng. In English, they are simply called "Chinese lanterns" or "festival lanterns." The Lantern Festival itself is called Yuánxiāo Jié (the Lantern Festival).

Yes. We manufacture Christmas-themed lantern displays — giant illuminated Santa figures, reindeer families, Christmas trees, gift box towers, candy cane tunnels, and snowmen. These run from mid-November through early January and are among the highest-revenue seasonal attractions for zoos and parks. See our Christmas lighting show displays →

Yes. Every FestiveLanterns product is built from UL-listed or CE-certified components, with certification documents and component datasheets available on request at the quotation stage. Our factory holds ISO 9001 quality management certification.

Every order passes a three-stage quality check: incoming material inspection, in-production inspection at each fabrication stage, and a final pre-shipment audit. Each lantern runs a 72-hour burn-in test so faulty components fail before shipment, not after installation. For large projects we can arrange third-party inspection (SGS or similar) at the factory before loading.

Yes — Chinese New Year is our home turf. We build the full CNY lantern range: zodiac animal lanterns (for 2026, the Year of the Horse), giant red lanterns, dragon and lion dance displays, god-of-wealth figures, spring couplet and lucky-charms installations, and lantern gateways for festival entrances. Since the Spring Festival is our factory's native celebration, we offer priority production slots for Chinese New Year orders placed before early November. See our Chinese New Year lantern festival guide →

For seasonal events with a fixed opening date (Christmas, Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn), we recommend placing your order 8–12 weeks in advance. Production for a standard themed display takes 20–40 days, sea freight takes 15–30 days, and installation takes 2–7 days. Early orders also lock in production capacity — during peak seasons our workshop runs at full capacity, so late orders may face extended lead times or surge pricing.