China Lights display brightens Boerner Botanical Gardens

Each night in October after the sun goes down, elaborate light displays at Boerner Botanical Gardens transport visitors to China.

From a 200-foot-long dragon and a three-story palace pagoda to the smallest flowers and leaves, China Lights shows off the creativity of traditional Chinese lanterns.

Fabrics stretched across welded metal frames in the shapes of flowers, peacocks and cranes are lighted from within. (Traditionally, these types of lanterns would have been made from silk stretched across bamboo frames.) Many details, such as the eyes on pandas, were hand-painted; zebra stripes were sprayed on.  It took nearly a half-million LED lights to illuminate all the fish and archways.

The China Lights display at Boerner is the company's sixth stop in the United States and its first in the Midwest. Every show is created around a different theme, so each one is unique to its environment.

Lighting lanterns began as a Chinese tradition centuries ago, with festivals dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty in 25 A.D.

In late August, 28 artists from China arrived in Wisconsin to begin creating the display. It took about a month for the team to install it.

Shirley Walczak, Boerner Botanical Gardens director, said about 2,000 to 3,000 people have visited the site each night so far.

Placards explain the significance of each light display. For example, the yellow and pink dragon symbolizes power and luck in China.

Asian culture is highlighted at stage performances of dance, fashion and opera.

"We are the most fulfilled and happy when people are amazed and want to learn more about Chinese culture through the lights," said Huiyuan Liu, the exhibition's Beijing-based manager.

IF YOU GO

China Lights continues through Oct. 30 at Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children 5 through 17 and seniors 60 and older. Visit chinalights.org.