Singapore displays 300 lanterns for Mid-Autumn Festival

A total of 300 lanterns have been displayed at Singapore's largest outdoor garden to mark the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, the media reported on Monday.

At Gardens by the Bay, 50 life-size goat lanterns were on display in celebration of the island nation's 50th independence anniversary and the year of the goat, Channel News Asia reported.

The goat lanterns were made by more than 200 residents who took part in a lantern painting competition on Sunday evening.

The top design won a prize of 2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,401) for its intricate design. Second- and third-placed winners bagged prizes of 1,000 and 500 Singapore dollars, respectively, while five consolation awards were also given.

Labour Chief Chan Chun Sing was at the event where he enjoyed a traditional Chinese tea ceremony which was part of the Food Street -- another festival highlight where visitors could enjoy local delicacies from about 30 different stalls.

Besides the goats, there were about 300 lanterns in various shapes like trees, flowers and even dinosaurs, all handmade by master craftsmen from the Zigong province in Sichuan, China.

The annual harvest festival ends on October 4.