A sign for the lantern festival hangs over Yuyuan Tourist Mart. This is the 25th time that Yu Garden is hosting the lantern show. [PHOTO/GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY]

Admission to the show is free except for the night of the Lantern Festival and the period spanning Feb 15-19. During these times, entrance fees will range from 30 to 80 yuan ($4.4 to $11.8).

This year, for the first time, tickets can be bought online. As well as being able to purchase passes at the ticket office near the entrance to the park, tourists can buy discounted tickets to the show on the official website of online travel agency, Ctrip, as well as through its app. Customers will then be issued with QR codes that can be used at the entrance to the show.

Yu Garden has also rolled out crowd control measures to cope with the expected influx of visitors on the day of the Lantern Festival. Directional signs and queue barriers will be put up to prevent overcrowding and ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

Contact the writer at caochen@chinadaily.com.cn