Longleat, the stately home in Wiltshire and the seat of the Marquesses of Bath, has been transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland with more than 20,000 Chinese lanterns, bringing a touch of the Far East into the West Country. Among the lightworks created by a team of artists from Zigong in China's Sichuan province are a 100-metre-long dragon, a 50-metre-long floating dragon boat, a 20-metre-tall pagoda and a palace made of 80,000 porcelain cups, bowls and plates, as well as a giant blue and white tea set created from 220,000 liquid-filled glass phials.
Chinese lanterns illuminate the entrance to Longleat stately homeMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatThe traditional illuminations are based on two of the most famous Chinese dynastiesMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatThis giant blue and white traditional Chinese tea set is created from 220,000 liquid-filled glass phialsMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatVisitors walk along the illuminated platform to the 50-metre-long floating dragon boatMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatA 'safari' of illuminated animals is also part of the experienceMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatViscount and Viscountess Weymouth open the Festival Of LightMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatEmma McQuiston, Viscountess Weymouth, puckers up next to one of the Chinese lanternsMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatThe illuminated Chinese dragon stretches out an incredible 100-metres along Longleat's stately homeMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatIn the light of day, the sheer scale of the Chinese dragon can be seen with Longleat in the backgroundMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatThe imposing 20-metre-high illuminated pagoda towers into the night skyMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatTraditional monkey figures feature in the Chinese illuminationsMatt Cardy/Getty Images for LongleatIconic moments from Chinese history will be brought to lifeMatt Cardy/Getty Images for Longleat
The decorations used more than 18 kilometres of silk, 20 kilometres of LED lighting and 76 tons of steel. Longleat's Festival Of Light is open Fridays to Sundays from 13 November to 6 December and then daily from 11 December to 3 January 3, excluding Christmas Day.
