Forbidden City glows as night tours open to public marking Lantern Festival

To help shine a light on the Lantern Festival, Beijing's Forbidden City on Tuesday night was unconventionally sparkling.

The 720,000-square-meter complex of palatial edifices, which is now officially known as the Palace Museum, was lit up for the event, which many consider the unofficial end of the extended Lunar New Year holiday period.

About 3,000 visitors were allowed to visit the Gate of Supreme Harmony and step onto the outer city walls of the museum to enjoy a night tour, which was graced by 350 pairs of red lanterns.