Lunar New Year: Embrace the Festive Spirit with the LEGO Trotting Lantern

LEGO's 2025 Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake) Collection: A Detailed Look at the Trotting Lantern

LEGO continues its Lunar New Year tradition with a captivating 2025 collection celebrating the Year of the Snake. This review focuses on the impressive Trotting Lantern set (#80116), a detailed replica of a traditional lantern. Alongside the lantern, LEGO is also releasing a Lucky Cat and a Good Fortune set, a charming collection of Chinese iconography.

The Trotting Lantern: More Than Meets the Eye

This 1295-piece set is a masterclass in intricate LEGO design. The exterior alone is a feast for the eyes, boasting exquisite details: red lanterns, gold accents, and a stunning depiction of sky and clouds framed by rocks.

Building the lantern is a layered experience, adding details upon details, creating a sense of anticipation and delight. The intricate design echoes the joy found in building the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

A Nod to History and Innovation

Inspired by Han Dynasty lanterns, the LEGO version incorporates a unique mechanism. A rotating rod activates a light brick, illuminating a clear piece with a black-lined image, projecting it onto the lantern's side. While the advertised wall projection is somewhat blurry, the rotating image within the lantern itself is a fascinating feature.

Hidden Gems: Dioramas and Minifigures

The lantern's upper tier opens to reveal three charming dioramas: a dumpling stall, a decorations stall, and a shadow puppet theater. This clever design adds a layer of surprise and delight. The set includes five minifigures, one sporting a snake costume, along with accessories like dumplings, a red envelope, a shadow puppet, and chopsticks.

A Stunning Celebration of the Lunar New Year

The Trotting Lantern's appeal hinges on what aspect resonates most with the buyer. While the light-up mechanism might not fully justify the price, the aesthetic beauty and intricate detail, coupled with the hidden dioramas, make it a truly stunning and unique celebration of the Lunar New Year. Despite its 9+ age rating, the complexity suggests it's more suitable for older builders.

The LEGO Trotting Lantern (#80116) retails for $129.99 and is available now at Amazon and the LEGO Store.