Lanterns, also called "flower lanterns", are a traditional Han folk handicraft originating in China. They are closely connected with the Lantern Festival lantern viewing custom spread among Han people. According to research, Lantern Festival lantern viewing began in the Western Han Dynasty and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It was especially popular in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Shanghai's Lantern Festival lantern viewing custom is recorded in the local chronicles compiled during the Hongzhi and Jiajing years of the Ming Dynasty. From the 13th day of the first lunar month on the lunar calendar, the lanterns are put on, and on the 18th day of the lunar month, the lanterns are turned off. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival lanterns are the most exciting. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, the bustling shopping streets in Shanghai are also decorated with lanterns, and the lantern market is booming. Due to the long-standing custom of lantern appreciation, the development of Shanghai lantern art has been promoted. 1In 2006, the lanterns were selected into the national intangible cultural heritage list.