Event Operations: If I were to plan the "Forbidden City Lantern Festival Night"...

The Forbidden City opened its night show for the first time in 94 years, but the event received a lot of criticism. Think about it: if you were the person in charge of the light show, how would you plan it?

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival in ancient times. On this day, the Forbidden City opened its night show for the first time in 94 years. Audiences can obtain only 3,000 places through free reservations (however, 2,500 tickets have been given to groups such as ambassadors to China, public security officers, etc., so only 500 tickets are available for public reservation).

So the moment ticket reservations started, the system crashed.

1. Review of the "Forbidden City Lantern Festival Night" event

Below is a "Night Tour Map of the Forbidden City". The night tour route opened for the first time is mainly along the east side of the city wall.

Image source: @超人测评 (ID: chaorencp)

The activities of the Forbidden City Lantern Festival can actually be divided into nine major parts. Let’s review them first:

(1) “Celebrating the Chinese New Year in the Forbidden City” exhibition

From the lucky money given to little princes to the grand ceremony of clan banquets... the exhibition is small in scale but exquisite and interesting.

Image source: @超人测评 (ID: chaorencp)

(2) Projection exhibition of Along the River During the Qingming Festival and A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains

"Along the River During the Qingming Festival" is projected on the roof of the southeast corner of the Forbidden City. It is also equipped with sound effects such as running water and birdsong, which is very shocking for a while.

On the rooftop near Shenwu Gate, "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" appeared.

(3) Virtual reality film "Corner Tower"

In summary, it is similar to the AR promotional videos you usually see in scenic spots, and there is not much novelty.

(4) Forbidden City Construction and Protection Art Exhibition

This one is a bit boring according to viewers, but it may be used to promote the protection of the Forbidden City.

(5) Opera performances at Changyin Pavilion

Changyin Pavilion was used for performances during important festivals in ancient times.

During the Lantern Festival, actors will perform operas in the pavilion and visitors will watch from the city wall, so to speak, "listening to the elegant and clear sounds echoing again in the ancient opera house of Changyin Pavilion."

(6) Souvenir Shop

Of course, the Palace Museum will definitely take the opportunity to promote cultural and creative products, and consumers really like it! Secondly, the audience mostly walks along the city wall, and since there is finally a warm house, everyone is willing to go in and take a look around to warm up, thus increasing the sales of cultural and creative products.

(7) Treasures of the Aegean

It is an exhibition of underwater archaeological relics in Greece. I’m sorry I don’t understand what this operation means? ? Did you give promotion fees?

(8) Tang Yin’s “Lantern Festival” projected on the red wall of Shenwu Gate

This idea is quite interesting, appropriate for the occasion and preserves the ancient style.

(9) Light Show

But the most important thing is the light show. The pictures Xiao Pai saw from the scene looked like this.

? ? ? Isn't it like this in imagination? ?

As expected, netizens also started to complain a lot.

Image source: Weibo

Some netizens even said that the lighting made them suspect that the emperor was going to hold a concert.

Of course, the time was tight, the task was heavy (it was said that there was only a 10-day preparation period) and the experience was insufficient, so the first Forbidden City light show was forgivable, but we hoped that the Forbidden City light show could be closer to the light show in our hearts.

So let me think about it. If I were the person in charge of the Forbidden City light show, how would I plan it?

2. If I were to plan the "Night of Lantern Festival at the Forbidden City"

The following content is purely personal YY, don't take it seriously~

As the competition for tickets was so fierce, most people had no tickets. The Palace Museum's director Shan Jixiang said that "Palace Museum activities will become a normal practice" in the future.

But I think this normalization should not be too frequent: on the one hand, the light show will actually cause some damage to the ancient buildings; on the other hand, without the blessing of festivals and activities, touring the city walls day and night will become boring.

So I think:

(1) For night activities, you can try "Chrysanthemum Appreciation Party" or "Spring Banquet"? In the past, the emperor and his harem would also have regular activities in the city. Isn’t that how costume dramas are played?

(2) Create new festival activities.

For example, during the Ghost Festival, there can be a costume parade + staff explaining which concubine was thrown into which well, which palace was given white silk, which cold palace has what story, just thinking about it is exciting (but only the brave ones dare to sign up)

My thoughts on content format are:

1. Change the large spotlight

The atmosphere of the Forbidden City created by colorful modern lights is not as good as going to Hengdian. Everyone comes to the Forbidden City to experience the authentic ancient atmosphere.

So try to replace them with electric lanterns. If it is too dark, you can add a few warm yellow lights at the edge of the building. Then wrap some small lights around the tree.

2. Projection

A series of historical events can be projected onto the building, such as the life of ancient emperors and their maids, calligraphy and paintings, etc.

3. Enrich the streets and hold lantern festivals

Arrange staff to set up stalls on the streets to sell cakes, lanterns, and cultural and creative products to enrich the streets. This will create a more atmospheric feel.

The lanterns sold made the gauze lanterns, paper lanterns, glass lanterns, grass lanterns and revolving lanterns on the street compete with each other in beauty, forming a small lantern festival spontaneously organized by the audience.

4. Guess lantern riddles and play the lantern gong

How can we miss this ancient and traditional activity! It is so fun when everyone gets together to brainstorm under the lantern riddles. If you guess correctly, you can ask the staff for good luck.

Image source: Stills from "The Imperial Doctress"

5. Storytelling

When watching TV dramas, you often see an old storyteller sitting in a teahouse. Some of the people sitting in the audience sit on the floor, while others sit at the table and order a pot of tea. When the story comes to something exciting, everyone applauds.

If it is the Lantern Festival, the storyteller can talk about how people celebrated the festival in history and what wonderful stories happened on this day.

6. Costume performance

In ancient times, there had to be some performances during the Lantern Festival. Some programs could be arranged to be performed in large squares or special palaces.

In fact, this Changyin Pavilion performance is very meaningful, but the form of opera is not acceptable to most people. The ancient song and dance form would be more contagious.

7. Release water lanterns

This was also a Lantern Festival entertainment activity for concubines in ancient times.

Taking practical factors into consideration, everyone needs to queue up and wait for the staff to light the water lanterns. After lighting, they are put into the water, which is not easy to cause fire. In order to prevent pollution, staff can be arranged to fish them out from a not far distance. After all, everyone is just pursuing a ceremony and a photo~

8. Historical knowledge quiz

Similar to "One Stop to the End", if you answer correctly you will be rewarded with some gifts from the Forbidden City.

9. Ancient Street

Only those wearing ancient costumes are allowed to enter this street. Princes, princesses and beile enter the palace together, and of course there are some friends who like Hanfu. This street will become a beautiful landscape.

However, I have a suggestion that part of the block should be designated as a mobile phone-free zone, and photography of this area should be left to distant drones.

Inspiration: When visiting the ancient Forbidden City, you will be surrounded by hundreds of mobile phone flashes, which makes you lose your sense of place. Friends wearing ancient costumes will be more interested in ancient costumes and will be more likely to accept the rule that mobile phones are not allowed. You can stroll on this street, make friends, and chat with friends, but you don’t need to use your mobile phone. As for the photos, they will be beautifully taken for you by drones and posted in the Forbidden City album. You can pick them up yourself.

Do you want to take commemorative photos of the Forbidden City that are completely antique and without any modern atmosphere? Come to the no-photography block.

Conclusion

The Forbidden City has brought us so many surprises and touched us so much. We all look forward to it bringing us more surprises, so I have put forward some of my own ideas for this event. You are also welcome to leave your opinions in the comment section. I hope the Forbidden City will get better and better.

Source: Operations