The Chang'an Lantern Festival kicked off on Wednesday in three major popular sites of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, and will run until March 16.

The lighting ceremony took place simultaneously at three sightseeing spots: the Daming Palace National Heritage Park, the Xi'an City Wall and the Datang Furong Garden.

"Tonight, ahead of Chinese New Year, I visited the Xi'an City Wall and coincidentally witnessed its impressive lighting. The entire lantern exhibition is exquisitely crafted, bringing ancient artworks to life and allowing history to rejuvenate on a modern stage," said a tourist surnamed Liao from Zhengzhou, Henan.

This year's lantern festival at the City Wall featured designs inspired by 38 national treasure-level cultural relics, bringing these historical artifacts to life in a stunning display.

Additionally, cities such as Cairo, Rome and Athens collaborated to illuminate their landmarks as part of the celebration.

During the ceremony, Greek Ambassador to China Evgenios Kalpyris sent a video message to celebrate the new year. Staff from the Chinese embassies in Egypt, Italy and Greece, along with many international friends, also shared their best wishes for the lantern festival through video messages.

The Chang'an Lantern Festival has inherited the legacy of the ancient Chinese Lantern Festival, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).