On the evening of January 21st, the 40th Qinhuai Lantern Festival held a lighting ceremony at Bailuzhou Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Lu Min, the fourth generation inheritor of Lu's lantern colors, showcased the production techniques of Qinhuai lantern colors to the audience at the event. A stack of colored paper and a few iron wires, after being tied, pasted, and painted in Lu Min's hands, turned into lanterns with auspicious meanings. Lu Min, who is 58 years old this year, was born into a Qinhuai lantern family. Since her great grandfather Lu Shirong, the family has been making lanterns for generations. Lu Min studied with her father at the age of 8 and was officially recognized as a provincial-level representative inheritor of the Qinhuai Lantern Festival in September 2020. Forty years ago, my father and I were selling lanterns at the east archway of Confucius Temple, "Lu Min recalled as she adjusted the skeleton of the zodiac horse lantern in her hand." At that time, although the scale of the Qinhuai Lantern Festival was not as large as it is now, it was still a sea of people. Watching and buying lanterns was a nostalgic memory for Nanjing people. "As the Spring Festival approached, Lu Min also welcomed the busiest time of the year. The most eye-catching feature in his studio is undoubtedly the newly produced Year of the Horse zodiac lantern this year. He introduced to the reporter that this year's lamp design was inspired by Tang Sancai Ma. During the Tang Dynasty, fat was considered beautiful, and this horse had to be plump without appearing foolish, so it underwent seven or eight revisions. From a primary school disciple who followed his father to fight, to the independent "Master Lu," and then to being recognized as a representative inheritor of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, Lu Min's life trajectory was closely intertwined with the forty year development of the Qinhuai Lantern Festival. He witnessed this traditional festival gradually evolve from a folk market to a city event that carries cultural memories. On the shelves of the studio, newly made Year of the Horse zodiac lights are neatly arranged, waiting to be taken away by customers. Making a batch of lanterns every year is like sending a group of children out, "Lu Min smiled. When these lanterns light up in the streets and alleys of Nanjing and in the hands of tourists, he knows that the art of Qinhuai Lantern Festival has once again come to life, and the festive atmosphere of old Nanjing is once again illuminated with these little lights. (New Society)