Chinese lanterns are paper lamps that have been used in Asian culture for many thousands of years. The lanterns are traditionally used during Chinese light festivals held on the last day of the Chinese New Year. In recent years, the Chinese lantern has become very popular in Western culture as well, as these versatile and unique items make a great alternative to conventional lighting.

Chinese lanterns come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and can be used in a myriad of different settings. When deciding what type of lamps you should purchase, you will first want to consider how you will be using them and for what type of event. In China, there are five distinct types of paper lanterns and most are used for a particular function. If you are looking to use the Chinese lanterns in an authentic way, you should select the correct type of light for your specific purpose.

Miniature Chinese lanterns are used often with Christmas lights while the tall, cylindrical versions are typically associated with bars and restaurants. The round, medium sized style is what many people think of as the “classic” type of paper lamp and the very large lanterns, known as Buddha’s Gastronomy, are the type of lamp used to decorate festivals and temples. The fifth type of paper lamp, Crystal Magic, is the diamond-shaped lantern. Of course, there are no rules or regulations governing their use so you can use Chinese lanterns however you like!

Chinese lanterns can be purchased in almost any color as well as various patterns and prints. Traditionally, the color red was associated with the red-light district in China; however, this color is now widely accepted when decorating with paper lamps, and often gives off an exciting and fun Asian vibe.

There are many places on the internet that sell a wide range of paper lamps, so finding and purchasing these items for your next event should be fairly simple with a quick Google search. You can purchase these lamps with a particular color scheme (for example, for use at a wedding), with a customized phrase printed on the paper (for a birthday party or graduation event), or with elaborate designs in the style of your other decorations.

With the many different types of Chinese lanterns available, you should have no difficulty selecting and finding the perfect paper lamps to light up your next event.