Cologne Zoo announces China Lights festival with global theme

The Cologne Zoo has launched pre-sales for the seventh edition of its ‘China Lights’ festival, which is scheduled to run from December 11, 2026, to January 31, 2027. This year’s event follows the theme ‘Journey Around the World,’ featuring illuminated replicas of global landmarks and natural wonders.

Spanning 20 hectares, the display will include 64 light ensembles composed of over 1,000 individual figures, supported by more than 4,000 LED lights and 15,000 meters of LED light strings. Notable installations include a ten-meter-high Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty, the Forbidden City, and the Taj Mahal, alongside various illuminated animals such as pumas, jaguars, and pandas.

Tickets for the event are available online starting at 22 euros. Previous iterations of the festival have attracted more than half a million visitors.