History behind the tradition

The act of solving lantern riddles dates back more than 2,000 years, chiefly as a pleasure for the educated classes. Wang Qian, a riddle master, said the hobby reached its peak in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) when people from all walks of life took part, mostly during Lantern Festival.

Riddles were glued to lanterns that were considered the core element of the festival, which marks the 15th day of the first month of the lunar new year and the end of the Chinese new year period.

Riddle solving remained popular after the founding of New China in 1949. Many cities established their own riddle associations, with parties and contests held in parks, temple fairs and other public venues.