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 animatronic dinosaurs range from 1 meter to 30+ meters in length. The most popular sizes for theme parks are 5-10 meters. Each dinosaur can be custom-sized to fit your specific venue requirements. We also offer dinosaur heads (1:1 scale replicas), smaller tabletop models, and full-body rides sized for children. All sizes feature realistic movement, sound effects, and durable weather-resistant construction.

Yes, all our products are designed for outdoor installation. Lanterns feature outdoor-rated weatherproof rating with sealed LED modules and stainless internal frames. Animatronic dinosaurs use high-density foam with weatherproof coating, rated for temperatures from -20掳C to 60掳C. For extreme environments (coastal areas, 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. There is no extra design fee for orders above $5,000.

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 orders under $10,000
L/C (Letter of Credit): Available for orders over $50,000
Western Union: Available for sample orders

All prices are quoted in USD. 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 custom-designed products, we recommend a minimum order value of $3,000 to ensure cost-effectiveness. 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 animatronic dinosaur: 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 (for animatronics), 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.

Animatronic dinosaur cost depends on species, size and motion complexity. A small 1–3m figure is a very different build from a standard life-size 4–8m one, and interactive sensor upgrades (motion-activated roar, head tracking, gesture response) add scope of their own. As a factory-direct manufacturer from Zigong, we quote without a trading company in between, and every proposal comes back with the assumptions written in. See our 2026 animatronic dinosaur cost guide →

Traditional Chinese festival lanterns are made from a weatherproof internal frame, hand-wrapped high-density fabric (or satin), and energy-efficient LED lighting. The internal frame is shaped by artisans, silk is stretched and hand-painted in multiple layers, and outdoor-rated LED modules provide illumination. This metal-frame + silk + LED 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 灯笼 (dēnglóng) in Chinese. Different types have specific names: palace lanterns are 宫灯 (gōngdēng), red lanterns are 红灯笼 (hóngdēnglóng), lotus lanterns are 荷花灯 (héhuādēng), and sky lanterns are 孔明灯 (kǒngmíngdēng). In English, they are simply called "Chinese lanterns" or "festival lanterns." The Lantern Festival itself is called 元宵节 (Yuánxiāo Jié).

Interactive dinosaur exhibits use a dual-sensor fusion system: infrared (IR) proximity sensors detect visitor presence and position, while ultrasonic motion detectors measure movement speed and gesture size. The sensor data feeds into a DMX512 show controller that triggers behaviour profiles — a raised hand might trigger a head turn, a fast approach a full roar, a group a defensive posture. Our Motion-Activated T-Rex and Interactive T-Rex Bites Car are flagship examples. Read our gesture-sensing interactive dinosaur guide →

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 →

An animatronic dinosaur is a life-size robotic figure with articulated movement — jaws that open, heads that turn, tails that sway — driven by motors, hydraulics, or pneumatics, covered in hand-finished surface. A dinosaur lantern is a static illuminated sculpture made with a internal frame and hand-finished surface, glowing with LED light but not moving. Animatronics are ideal for museums and theme park exhibits; dinosaur lanterns are ideal for light festivals and night trails. We manufacture both.

Yes. Every FestiveLanterns product is built from certified materials supplied by specialist manufacturers: UL-listed or CE-certified insulated cables, CE-certified LED drivers with outdoor-rated fixtures, certified structural metal with material test certificates, and CE-marked control electronics. Certification documents and component datasheets are 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 (wire, metal, LED, silk), 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.