In celebration of the Year of the Snake, Florentia Village is collaborating with Dunhuang Art's iconic "Amazing Dunhuang" IP to present a spectacular Chinese New Year-themed event: "May the Year of the Snake Bring You Boundless Fortune and Many Extraordinary Moments". Drawing inspiration from the imagery of the serpent deity in murals of Dunhuang, the design team has created the Four Seasons Serpentine Totem, brought to life at Florentia Village in Beijing/Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou/Foshan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Hong Kong. With Eastern-inspired installations and festive décor, this is a culture-bridging event, blossoming in the reimagined Florence in China, to reawaken the wonderful connections between civilizations made on the Silk Road. The guests are invited to embrace a truly fantastic Chinese New Year experience that blends both Eastern traditions and Western flairs.
The Legendary Serpent: A Symbol of Prosperity and Fortune
Honoring the long-running legacy of Dunhuang murals, Florentia Village is inspired by the serpent deity Mahoraga, a benevolent figure from the eight classes of celestial protectors in Buddhism. Known for its pure and kind nature, the serpent becomes a harbinger of blessings in the Chinese New Year celebration. The design team introduces traditional Chinese auspicious motifs, including ornamental elements taken from Dunhuang murals and classic arrangements seen in Chinese traditional paper-cutting craft, to create Four Season Serpentine Totems: Spring Serpent is in verdant green, intertwined with patterns of serendipitous clouds and intertwining branches to symbolize vitality and renewal. Summer Serpent is cloaked in fiery red and weaves through peony and flame motifs, radiating brightness and prosperity. Draped in shades of gold is the Autumn Serpent, it perches among grapes and pomegranate imageries, celebrating abundance and fulfillment. Finally comes the Winter Serpent, which is wrapped in indigo colors, as it embraces honeysuckle and lotus motifs to paint a picture of peace and well-being.
The four serpents are spiral clockwise within a caisson ceiling, a kaleidoscope of shifting, vibrant hues. This dynamic composition symbolizes everlasting fortune and prosperity, sending out best wishes for joy, happiness, wealth, and well-being. The serpentine figure is reimagined among Italian-inspired architecture, perched atop lanterns, gracing store windows, or interwoven into traditional items for blessing.
Beijing-Tianjin Florentia Village:In the Port of Tianjin, Serendipitous Snake Dance to Welcome the Spring Season
At Beijing-Tianjin Florentia Village, the Chinese New Year is celebrated with a display of shining brilliance: a circular lantern wall is a backdrop to shimmering, twinning serendipitous snake imagery. A slot machine also stands and attracts many's interest in trying their luck. Nearby, a giant serpent lantern is surrounded by metallic spheres and square-shaped lights. On the third day of the Chinese New Year, a lion dance performance brings many blessings, while exclusive photo opportunities and rewards invite all to partake in the festivity.
Shanghai Florentia Village: In Calligraphy the Serpentine is Born, the Southern China's Charm in Full Bloom
Shanghai Florentia Village embraces the festive season with magnificent installations perfect for family photos. A summer snake totem wraps elegantly around a glowing base, its golden form spiraling around a giant lantern amidst motifs of the auspicious cloud and jade "ruyi", setting the scene for a dynamic Chinese New Year celebration. Calligraphy sessions are hosted in a traditional pavilion, where guests can pen their wishes for the coming Year of the Snake. Traditional games like pitch-pot games and the wooden fish installation invite visitors to welcome the New Year with ancient rituals and harmonious tones.
Guangzhou-Foshan Florentia Village:Fortune Surrounds the Giant Clock as Snake Coil in the Background
At Guangzhou-Foshan Florentia Village, a serpentine corridor adorning rows of lanterns winds around a clock-shaped giant lantern, as if the serendipitous snake is engaged in a dance of celebration. A slot machine, traditional arches, and lantern walls add layers of old-time charm to the festivity, while installations such as a wooden fish, fortune sticks drawing, and lanterns echo the festive spirit. Guests can also participate in a heritage woodblock printing workshop, experiencing the poetic beauty of Chinese ancient handcraftsmanship.
Chengdu Florentia Village: The “S” in Snake Stands for Serendipity as Silk Road Bonds are Reawakened
Chengdu Florentia Village unfolds its vision of "May the Year of the Snake Bring You Boundless Fortune and Many Extraordinary Moments" with a lantern wall encircled by auspicious clouds, where a pair of traditional "redwood" armchairs sit, perfect for photo moments. Interactive installations, including a slot machine, wooden fish, and fortune stick drawing, engage visitors in festive traditions. Additionally, workshops for crafting Chinese knots and customized amulets offer hands-on fun. Visitors can step on a VR journey, alike the Sichuan Museum, inspired by the Silk Road and Marco Polo, or enjoy dynamic performances such as lion dances, music flash events, and God of Wealth parades.
Chongqing Florentia Village: Everlasting Fortune Delivered by Serpentine of Shimmering Light
The New Year celebration at Chongqing Florentia Village begins with the Third Chongqing International Light Art Festival. Golden serpent totems embraced by a sea of traditional lanterns, present a stunning interplay of light and festivity. Guests can participate in creative workshops, choosing to welcome the New Year with artistry and joy. On the sixth day of the New Year, lion dances bring many blessings, while God of Wealth parades (fifth day) and creative performances ensure an auspicious start to the year.
Wuhan Florentia Village: Round Marketplace to Deliver Fortune for All-around as the Serpent Deity Dance to Usher in a New Spring
Wuhan Florentia Village celebrates the season with the "Round Marketplace, Fortune All Around" theme, offering a unique New Year bazaar. Two red serpents stand guard at the entrance, while eight traditional craft stalls showcase skills such as sugar painting, beadwork, and festive card-making. Visitors can watch artisans create serpent-themed sugar art, weave phone charms, or personalize Dunhuang-inspired greeting cards. The God of Wealth and lion dance performances add to the celebration, alongside interactive installations like the slot machine.
Hong Kong Florentia Village: Serpent Brings Fortune, Wellness, and Poetic Beauty to Hong Kong
At Hong Kong Florentia Village, everything is anew in the festive backdrop serendipitous serpent, gracefully agile, unfolds its entire length on the thematic backdrop, accompanied by blue-and-white butterfly motifs amidst traditional cloud patterns, balancing inspirations of East and West. Hanging along the escalators are Spring Festival Couplets, adorning modern decorations to deliver a unique Chinese New Year experience.
A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: from Dunhuang to Florence. Bound by the Silk Road for centuries, Dunhuang and Florence share a deep bond hundreds of years in the making, their destiny entangled forever in history. Florence owes its status as a fashion capital to the exquisite silk of the East, while Dunhuang flourished, with its inclusive openness, as a crossroads of civilizations. Today, Florentia Village brings these legacies together through the reimagined Dunhuang serendipitous serpent, revitalizing traditions with sparks of modernity. As we welcome the Year of the Snake, may this symbol of fortune bless our lives, as we walk into a year of prosperity, harmony, and endless possibilities.
