Who will carry on the lantern craft?

Especially during Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, lanterns, mostly round and red are hung along streets, parks & businesses.

Making lanterns is an ancient craft and there were many, many types and colors of lanterns. Four main famous styles. Traditionally, round lanterns are typical of the north and "southern" lanterns are more elongated cylinders which can take many shapes. These time-consuming constructions handcrafted on a bamboo frame originated in the Hangzhou area and were used in the royal court of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Now round lanterns are seen in most of China.

" but time-consuming lantern-making is a dying craft, writes Yao Minji."

"However, even many locals don't realize that the round lanterns they see in Shanghai are in fact northern-style, the same type that Zhang Yimou used in his famous film "Raise the Red Lantern." And regional southern-style lanterns are disappearing."

The difference is that the authentic southern lanterns are handcrafted of bamboo; they are often cylindrical and can take many shapes.

2007 article from Xinhuanet.com Who will carry on the lantern craft?