LEGO Trotting Lantern 80116 set review: Light up the beauty of tradition

Would you like to light up your home’s Spring Festival celebrations with a brand new LEGO set? LEGO Trotting Lantern 80116 invites you to spend this highly anticipated Lunar New Year together.

Imagine building the traditional trotting lantern with your family. During the process, everyone discusses the design of the patterns, recalling the traditional lanterns they saw as children, or perhaps adding their own unique touches to the lantern. Once the final decorations are completed and the lights are turned on, your family will gather together, admiring the piece you've created, feeling the satisfaction of your creativity and the warmth of family togetherness.

This exquisite set captures the spirit of the New Year while providing a fantastic building experience for both adults and children. Whether for a family gathering or sharing the fun with friends, it adds warmth and laughter to the celebration.

Inside, you'll discover even more surprises, like adorable minifigures and unexpected little designs. These minifigures are full of life, each showcasing the unique charm of the holiday, with some holding traditional props or wearing joyful expressions. The cleverly hidden small designs, such as delicate decorations or tiny mechanisms, further enhance the interactive and fun nature of the set.

For traditional culture enthusiasts and collectors, this set is a must-have. It perfectly blends the joy of LEGO building with the culture of the Spring Festival. It can be displayed anywhere in your home, adding a delightful surprise to your New Year series collection.

LEGO Trotting Lantern 80116 adopts a red backdrop, symbolizing the joy of the New Year. The Chinese character "春" (spring) is prominently displayed in the upper right corner, directly indicating that this is a Spring Festival series set. The trotting lantern occupies the visual center, making it the highlight. Upon opening the box, you’ll find numbered bags, making the building process easy for all ages. The instruction manual is clear and simple to follow, but the real charm lies in the set itself!

The main attraction is the trotting lantern, made up of 1,295 pieces. The "Trotting Lantern" model stands 9 inches (23 cm) tall and has a diameter of 8.5 inches (21 cm), making it a focal point of any New Year decoration. But the fun doesn't end there—there are plenty of festive surprises and hidden details waiting to be discovered in the lantern.

LEGO “Trotting Lantern” 80116 is not just a display piece. It showcases three Lunar New Year scenes, deeply reflecting the cultural significance of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Each scene incorporates traditional elements of the holiday, creating a strong festive atmosphere.

Additionally, the set uses red and gold tones—colors symbolizing good fortune and prosperity—throughout its design, bringing the joy and blessings of the Spring Festival to life. This design not only pleases the eye but also deepens one's understanding of traditional Chinese New Year culture.

By offering this set, LEGO not only provides a fun building experience but also helps people understand and feel the cultural significance of the Lunar New Year, reminding us to cherish the time spent with family and friends.

The trotting lantern is a traditional Chinese folk decoration typically used during the Spring Festival and other celebrations. It symbolizes driving away evil spirits, bringing good luck, and ensuring peace and safety. The rotating shape represents family unity and a smooth, prosperous life. As part of the cultural heritage, the trotting lantern not only serves as a festive ornament but also conveys cultural meaning and adds to the holiday’s joyous atmosphere.

During the New Year, shadow puppetry performances are often related to festive themes. The stories commonly convey auspicious messages, prayers for good fortune, or warding off evil spirits—aligning with the celebratory atmosphere of the Spring Festival. These performances often depict mythological tales, folklore, or historical figures, bringing blessings for the New Year and promoting traditional culture.

Spring couplets are a traditional Chinese New Year decoration, typically pasted on either side of doors to wish for safety, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year. They often consist of two vertical scrolls with couplets on the sides, and a horizontal scroll above the door. The content usually includes auspicious phrases such as blessings, good fortune, and wealth, expressing people’s hopes for the upcoming year.

The five minifigures are adorable, including family members dressed in traditional clothing and a character in a Year of the Snake outfit, adding to the festive mood. The cake-shaped bricks are a unique detail.

The three boy minifigures each have distinct characteristics, strongly reflecting the Spring Festival atmosphere. First, my favorite is the minifigure dressed in red New Year clothing and a green snake hat, clearly symbolizing the Year of the Snake. The colors are bright and full of festive spirit. The second boy wears a blue coat with a music turntable lining and is holding a shadow puppet, seemingly preparing to perform a shadow play, showcasing the charm of Chinese traditional culture. The third boy wears a yellow jacket, holding a bowl filled with dumplings in one hand and a rolling pin in the other, ready to make dumplings, presenting the warmth and traditional food culture of the New Year.

In addition to these three boys, there are also two girl minifigures full of Spring Festival vibes. One girl holds a rolling pin in one hand and a dumpling tool in the other, dressed in green, as if busy in the kitchen. The other girl, with two buns on her head, holds a red envelope, sending New Year blessings and celebrating the joyous atmosphere. These minifigures cleverly blend traditional elements with daily life, making the overall scene more lively and festive.

The stall clearly displays the large character "饺" (dumplings), with a picture of steaming dumplings beside it. Various dumpling-making tools are neatly arranged, including rolling pins, dumpling molds, and bowls, resembling a small dumpling workshop. Two boy minifigures busily prepare dumplings—one rolling the dough and the other filling it with stuffing—demonstrating the warmth and craftsmanship of making dumplings during the Spring Festival. The stall gives off the aroma of dumplings and steam, with customers drawn to watch, creating a lively atmosphere and conveying the warmth of family and the joy of the New Year.

Colorful spring couplets and lanterns hang in the air, symbolizing good fortune and family reunion for the New Year. The word "福" (blessing) is displayed, conveying blessings and festive cheer. The most eye-catching are the minifigures dressed in Year of the Snake clothing, standing at one corner of the stall, smiling and welcoming every customer, adding life and energy to the entire display.

At one corner of the stall, a small shadow puppet stage has been set up. The curtain features the scene of Chang’e meeting an astronaut, telling a story that transcends time and space—ancient Chang’e floating in the Moon Palace, while an astronaut from the future travels through time to meet her. This is a creative shadow play combining ancient and modern elements, full of fantasy and imagination.

One minifigure stands beside the stage, skillfully manipulating a shadow puppet, casting light and shadow on the screen, while another minifigure watches attentively, captivated by the poetic and futuristic story. This adds cultural depth to the stall and allows every visitor to experience the unique artistic atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

This LEGO lantern set is perfect for festive occasions like the Spring Festival. It can be used as both a family decoration and a fantastic gift. Whether placed on a table or hung by the window, it will add a touch of warmth and cheer to any holiday, making you marvel at the perfect fusion of LEGO artistry and traditional culture.

• Unique design and cultural elements: The set combines LEGO creativity with traditional Chinese cultural symbols.
• High-quality building experience: The pieces are detailed and of high quality, providing both a fun and challenging build.
• Dual-purpose decoration: The lantern serves as both a decorative piece and a functional lamp for festive use, offering practicality.

• Limited application: Primarily suitable for the Spring Festival or similar celebrations.
• Possibly too niche for some users: Though highly artistic, not everyone may find it suits their decorating style.
• Space requirements: It needs adequate space to highlight its beauty.

LEGO Trotting Lantern 80116 is a creative set inspired by traditional Chinese festival lanterns, filled with the spirit of the Spring Festival. Through clever building techniques, it showcases a classic Chinese lantern design, perfectly blending LEGO details with cultural elements. The model’s structure is sturdy and intricate, and the lantern’s appearance fits the festive characteristics of traditional celebrations. Its bright colors and symbolic meaning make it a perfect decoration for the Spring Festival and similar holidays.

This set is not only great for LEGO enthusiasts and collectors but also an excellent holiday decoration that can enhance the festive atmosphere. Its exquisite form and cultural significance make it a standout choice for family and market displays. Overall, LEGO Trotting Lantern 80116 is a highly artistic and culturally rich festive-themed model, worth collecting and displaying.

8. Light Kit

Speaking of adding a touch of charm, have you considered using a light kit to illuminate your LEGO set?

Imagine your LEGO Trotting Lantern 80116 bathed in festive, warm light. With the lights softly glowing, the intricate details of the lantern’s patterns come to life. The light kit not only enhances the beauty of your creation but also evokes a cozy atmosphere for your New Year celebration.

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