Lunar Lantern Illuminates LEGO Lunar New Year

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

LEGO celebrates the Lunar New Year annually with themed sets. Following the 2021 Ox and 2024 Dragon sets, 2025's Year of the Snake features three new releases: a Lucky Cat, a Good Fortune set featuring traditional Chinese iconography, and a magnificent Trotting Lantern (set #80116), the subject of this review.

The Trotting Lantern, retailing at $129.99 and comprising 1295 pieces, is a stunning example of LEGO's attention to detail. Its intricate exterior boasts red lanterns, gold detailing, and exquisitely rendered cloud and rock scenes on the lantern's walls.

Construction is a layered process, adding details upon details, creating a sense of anticipation and rewarding the builder with a breathtaking final product. This echoes the joy experienced building the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

Inspired by historical Han Dynasty lanterns, the set incorporates a rotating mechanism. A light brick illuminates a clear piece with a black-lined image, projecting it onto the lantern's side. Rotating a rod animates the projection, although wall projection, as advertised, proves blurry and less effective.

The lantern's upper section 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 visual depth. The set includes five minifigures, one with a snake costume, along with accessories like dumplings, a red envelope, a shadow puppet, and chopsticks.

The set's value proposition hinges on the buyer's priorities. While the light-up, rotating feature may not justify the price alone, the aesthetic appeal and intricate hidden dioramas make it a captivating Lunar New Year celebration. Rated for ages 9+, its complexity suggests a more mature building experience.

Available now at Amazon and the LEGO Store, the LEGO Trotting Lantern is a visually stunning piece, a testament to LEGO's commitment to detailed and engaging themed sets.