Welcoming Dragon - The welcoming dragon greets visitors at the entrance to the Botanical Garden parking lots. He stretches almost the full distance from the street to the Ridgway Center.

Dragon Embracing the Pillars - Dragons are believed to be rulers of moving water (waterfalls, rivers, seas) in China and are symbols of luck, nobility, bravery, strength, and knowledge. This display is located in the fountain just outside the Ridgway Center where most visitors enter the Garden grounds.

Lotus Flower - The lotus symbolizes purity and perfection. While it starts in the mud by the time we see it the lotus flower is clean and beautiful.

Porcelain Dragon -- The porcelain dragon display consists of two dragons facing a large center lantern. The dragons are built with porcelain dinnerware (plates, cups, spoons, and other pieces) connected to their frame with kite string.

Porcelain Dragon -- The porcelain dragons also move their heads from side to side and breathe smoke.

Porcelain Dragon -- Over 40,000 pieces of porcelain are used to create the porcelain dragon display. These pieces are used whole (no partial pieces or broken pieces).

Porcelain Dragon -- As night falls, the colors of the displays change from very muted when the lanterns are first lit to very bright when it becomes fully dark.

Sail Boat -- In China, the junks, or sailing boats, are constructed of wood and bamboo. The Lantern Festival's sail boat is constructed from over 4,600 recycled plastic bottles collected from around the St. Louis area. After the Festival the bottles will again be recycled meaning they will see at least their third use.

Panda's Paradise -- With about 99% of the wild panda's diet consisting of bamboo, it is fitting that the panda lanterns have found a home in the Botanical Garden's bamboo.

Panda's Paradise -- The panda lanterns can be found in front of the Garden's bamboo, on the ground almost hidden in the bamboo, and even climbing some of the larger bamboo plants.

Moonlit Pathway -- The moon is a symbol of wealth, power, and abundance while the stars symbolize spreading or distributing things widely. These symbols have appeared on Chinese coins from approximately 2,000 years ago.

Goddess Blessing Buddha -- The goddess is said to recognize and relieve the suffering of all. She is most often depicted in white flowing robes with two attendants, a boy and a girl, atop a dragon.

The First Emperor's Quest for Immortality -- Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor. He is credited with unifying China, building an early version of the Great Wall, and major road systems. He also enacted may economic political and economic reforms.

The First Emperor's Quest for Immortality -- Qin Shi Huang was also superstitious and feared death. This led him to see a magic elixir that would grant him immortality.

Double Seventh Festival -- This display represents both a sad and happy tale. Niulang and Zhinu married without telling Zhinu's mother, the Goddess. When the Goddess found out, she exiled Zhinu to the Heavens. Niulang tried to follow so the Goddess created the Milky Way to keep the two separated. But once each year on the seventh night of the seventh moon, all the magpies in the world ascend into Heaven to form a bridge which allows Niulang and Zhinu to be together for one night.

The Flying Asparas -- Flying celestial beings with no wings symbolizing grace and elegance.

The Flying Asparas - The Asparas or feitan are often surrounded by clouds and wear flowing dresses with silk ribbons. They are sometimes shown playing a variety of musical instruments.

Four-faced Buddha -- Buddha can take many forms, sometimes fat, sometimes thin, sometimes happy, sometimes stern. The large Buddha here faces four directions and is located near the Climatron at the Botanical Garden.

Four-faced Buddha -- In China, Buddha wears a tunic and long sleeves so that his upper arms are not exposed. He may make different symbolic gestures or hold a variety of symbolic objects.

Wishing Well -- Like wishing wells everywhere, the Chinese wishing well is said to bring luck when coins are thrown in the water. In this version, bells labeled for health, wealth, happiness and other forms of luck are suspended above the well. Wishers toss coins at the labels to ring the bell and, if successful, their wish will be granted.

Butterfly Lovers -- Representing a Romeo and Juliet type tale, the Butterfly Lovers display tells the story of Liang Shabo and Zhu Yingtai who want to marry. Unfortunately, when Sanbo visits Yingtai's home he finds that she has been betrothed to another. The two die for their love but transform into a pair of beautiful butterflies.

Nine-dragon Mural -- The Nine-dragon Mural displays nine different dragons. The number nine is considered special and is the number of the Emperor. Dragons also have scales in multiples of nine and there are nine different forms of dragons. This is a really difficult photo subject because of the overall length and because the nine dragons move when the lantern is lit.

Heavenly Temple -- The Heavenly Temple represents the conjunction of Heaven (circular) and Earth (square). It has a series of pillars representing the seasons (four), the months (twelve), and the hours (twelve). It also contains other items in multiples of nine, the special number.

Jiang Tai Gong Fishing -- Jiang Tai Gong was a military expert who wanted to overthrow the evil Shang ruler. While awaiting the time for this to occur, he patiently fished with no hook. His belief was that fish would come to him when the time was right. He eventually became a prime minister and along with King Wu overthrew the Shang Dynasty.

Cherry Blossom -- A number of these trees decorate the paths near the Chinese Garden. The many lights are the center of cherry blossoms on the trees. The cherry blossom symbolizes feminine power, beauty, and love.

Blissful Wedding -- This display symbolizes part of the wedding ceremony in China. The bride wears a red dress and headpiece and the groom wears a sash forming an "X" on his chest. Red symbolizes fertility, happiness, good luck, and marriage.

Blissful Wedding -- The bride and groom appear to be sharing tea in this scene while the attendants celebrate around them.

Qilin -- The Qilin are fierce looking but peaceful creatures that appear in areas ruled by wise and kind leaders. They can walk on water and walk on grass without disturbing the surface. While normally peaceful, they can be fierce in defending the righteous against evil. Qilin are symbols of protection, success, and longetivity.