B/W Chinatown and the London Winter Lights 31/01/2025
London’s Chinatown is a vibrant district located in the West End, near Leicester Square and Soho. It’s famous for its authentic Chinese restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, and cultural events, making it a must-visit spot for food lovers and tourists. The area is marked by its iconic red lanterns, Chinese gates, and a mix of traditional and modern influences. The Winter Lights Festival at Canary Wharf concluded on Saturday, February 1, 2025. This year’s festival, running from January 21 to February 1, marked its ninth edition and featured 12 new light installations by acclaimed artists, transforming the area into a luminous wonderland. Highlights included a 13-meter-high portal made of reflective material pulsing with shifting light, inviting visitors to step through its hypnotic glow. The festival concluded at the newly opened Eden Dock, where visitors marveled at a 20-meter-wide sinkhole encircled by light in the “Illusion Hole” installation by UxU Studio. For those who missed this year’s event, the Winter Lights Festival has become an annual tradition at Canary Wharf, typically held in January. It’s a free, public event showcasing a range of outdoor light, art, and interactive installations by artists from around the world. Details for the 2026 festival will likely be announced later in the year. In the meantime, visitors can explore Canary Wharf’s permanent collection of over 100 artworks, which are free to visit year-round.
