Lantern Festival in PingXi Feb 15, 2003 More Pictures Home Fun strollin' down the crowded, night-markety street of little PingXi; lotsa eating; cool night lights..all for the annual Lantern Festival. Originally the lanterns were used in China to signal the approach of an enemy. Today, we write wishes on the huge lantern surface, then release the lanterns into the night sky via propane fire so the gods can grant our wishes. After the lanterns have finished burning in the sky, leftover pieces litter the rivers and forests!