As night falls over Taiyuan and the lights begin to glow along the banks of the Fen River, Xinjian Road reveals a renewed identity. Stretching for nearly 7 kilometers, the avenue is now lined with Samsung Lighting’s “Eleven Kapok Blossom” Chinese Lanterns, casting a warm and inviting glow that not only improves nighttime visibility but also celebrates the city’s cultural heritage and enriches its urban tourism experience.
The “Eleven Kapok Blossom” lantern is inspired by the iconic traditional streetlights of Taiyuan’s Yingze Avenue while introducing a contemporary interpretation of Chinese urban lighting design.
Its elegant pole silhouette echoes the flowing forms of the historic Liuxi waterways, recalling the city’s natural landscape and the waterways surrounding Longtan Lake and the Yinma River. The lighting fixture features eleven spherical lamps inspired by the blooming kapok flower. Their carefully arranged composition symbolizes vitality, prosperity, and the city’s continuous development, while the number eleven commemorates a significant milestone in the city’s modern history.
More than a lighting installation, these lanterns pay tribute to Taiyuan’s urban development and celebrate the 70th anniversary of Xinjian Road. Standing alongside government buildings, public parks, and residential communities, they witness the city’s transformation while bringing the spirit of traditional Shanxi culture into everyday urban life.
By day, Xinjian Road serves as one of Taiyuan’s busiest transportation corridors. By night, it transforms into an immersive cultural boulevard.
The lanterns adopt a layered lighting design, combining primary illumination from the base with soft ambient light emitted from the spherical fixtures. Warm white lighting clearly defines the roadway while creating a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Together with the surrounding green spaces and the waterscape of Longtan Lake, the lighting forms a harmonious nighttime environment where light, landscape, and water blend seamlessly.
Even more importantly, the project connects many of western Taiyuan’s cultural and tourism destinations—from the natural beauty of Longtan Park and the traditional charm of the ancient city to the scenic Fen River waterfront. Lighting becomes the thread that links these attractions, creating an inviting nighttime tourism route and enriching visitors’ experiences after sunset.
The “Eleven Kapok Blossom” Chinese Lantern represents far more than an upgrade to urban street lighting. It is a symbol of Taiyuan’s commitment to integrating culture, tourism, and sustainable urban development.
By embedding local cultural identity into public lighting, streets become more than transportation corridors—they become spaces to explore, experience, and share. The project enhances the city’s nighttime landscape, stimulates the evening economy, and demonstrates how traditional cultural heritage can coexist harmoniously with modern urban development.
Today, every lantern along Xinjian Road tells the story of Taiyuan, while every beam of light invites residents and visitors alike to slow down and enjoy the city after dark. Whether taking an evening walk or discovering Taiyuan for the first time, visitors can experience a city where history and innovation, tradition and modernity, come together through thoughtfully designed lighting.
Take a stroll along Xinjian Road after sunset and discover how light transforms the city’s atmosphere. Under the warm glow of the “Eleven Kapok Blossom” Chinese Lanterns, experience the cultural heritage of the ancient city while witnessing the vibrant future of modern Taiyuan.
Looking Ahead
Samsung Lighting will continue to drive innovation in product research, design, and intelligent manufacturing by developing lighting products and urban furniture solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern cities. Through continuous advancement in smart lighting technologies, low-carbon and energy-efficient solutions, and healthy urban lighting environments, we are committed to enhancing user experience, supporting sustainable urban renewal, and illuminating a brighter future through the power of technology.