Local folk customs, traditional Chinese style carnivals, love-ballad sing-alongs, dazzling fireworks… Hainan’s very own intangible cultural heritage folk event and romantic holiday, the Lantern Festival Flower Exchange, will be held from March 1–3 (the 12th to 15th days of the first lunar month) at Haikou’s Dongpo Old Wharf.

This year’s festival will set off a flower frenzy across Haikou’s Qiongshan District and at Changying Wonderland, with three days of premium, immersive experiences that dial ‘Hainan-style romance’ all the way up. Come on out and let flowers be your messenger of love at this one-of-a-kind Hainan Lantern Festival event.

Dongpo Old Wharf

Main Venue

The main venue is located at the poetic Dongpo Old Wharf, where Song dynasty aesthetics blend seamlessly with authentic Hainan flair, creating a romantic wonderland with a new surprise at every turn. During the festival, the main venue will be linked in real time with Fucheng Qiongtai Blessed Land and Hainan Changying Wonderland, offering an innovative model that combines in-person immersive participation + cloud-based check-ins. Whether you are on-site or joining online, you’ll be immersed in the joy and romance of the Flower Exchange Festival.

What’s even more exciting is that the festival features three special themed days, each unlocking brand-new ways to celebrate — from traditional folk customs to traditional Chinese cultural fun, heartfelt love songs, and thrilling fireworks.

March 1: Exchange Flowers for Blessings - Lantern Festival Opera

The festival opens in grand style with a traditional Qiong (Hainan) Opera performance of ancient rites. A ‘Twelve Flower Fairies’ themed flash mob will provide photo ops at the flower-exchange site, offering an experience rich in Hainan cultural symbols. Qiong (Hainan) Opera, opera-pop fusion performances, traditional Chinese culture themed girl dance groups, and ancient-style flash shows will will bring excitement to Hainan’s Lantern Festival Flower Exchange events.

March 2: Celebrate in Style - Flower Exchange Song & Dance

A creative traditional Chinese style immersive dance drama will present an unforgettable cultural extravaganza. A traditional Chinese style concert will include classical musical numbers, and the official Flower Exchange Festival theme song will make its debut. Traditional Chinese culture themed photo spots and energetic girl-group dances will fire up the entire venue as ancient tradition and modern trends collide in a burst of creativity.

March 3: Reunion Under the Full Moon - Love in Full Bloom at the Flower Exchange

The grand ‘Ten Thousand Flowers Spring Gathering’ parade will start the festive celebration. A love-song concert will bring timeless hits to life, and a huge carnival parade will turn the whole venue into one massive sing-along. Street dance will blend with a traditional Chinese cultural dance drama, breaking stylistic boundaries, and at 9 p.m. a spectacular fireworks show will light up the night sky — sending the romance factor straight through the roof.

Beyond the stunning stage performances, the festival also offers multiple layers of fun online and in-person interactions, welcoming all to dive in and unlock a host of delightful surprises and special perks.

Online: The ‘Very Cool! Hainan’ WeChat mini-program will offer ‘Flower Exchange Blessings', allowing users to generate personalized Chinese traditional style portraits and share them across social platforms. A Flower Exchange Photography Contest will be held at the same time, inviting both amateur and professional photographers to capture romantic moments and create a visual memory bank for the festival. A three-part theme song prelude series will also go live — guess song titles, watch behind-the-scenes clips, and let your excitement build.

On-site: At the main Flower Exchange venue, a special Newlywed Flower Exchange Photo Op will be set up to record unforgettable romantic memories of the occasion.

From March 1–3, bring your family and friends, exchange flowers for blessings, look for love, and discover countless ways to enjoy Hainan’s Lantern Festival — where intangible cultural heritage meets cutting-edge trends. You won’t want to miss Hainan’s most romantic time of the year!