Lunar Lantern Unveiled: Celebrate 2025 with LEGO's Trotting Creation

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

LEGO continues its tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year with themed sets. Following the 2021 Ox and 2024 Dragon sets, 2025's Year of the Snake brings three new offerings: a Lucky Cat, a Good Fortune set featuring classic Chinese imagery (fan, calligraphy set, ingots), and a magnificent Trotting Lantern (set #80116), the focus of this review.

The Trotting Lantern: More Than Meets the Eye

This isn't just a lantern; it's a meticulously detailed miniature world. The exterior boasts extravagant decorations: red lanterns, gold accents, and a stunning depiction of a sky and clouds framed by rocks.

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The build itself is a layered masterpiece. The core lantern forms the base, upon which increasingly intricate details are added, creating a delightful, anticipatory building experience reminiscent of the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

A Nod to History and a Gimmick

Historically, trotting lanterns, dating back to the Han Dynasty, used oil lamps to project silhouettes. LEGO cleverly incorporates a light brick and rotating mechanism to simulate this, though the projection onto a wall, as advertised, is unfortunately blurry and less effective.

The real magic lies within. Opening the upper tier reveals three charming dioramas: a dumpling stall, a decoration stall, and a shadow puppet theater, cleverly concealed within the lantern's cylindrical design. Five minifigures, including one with a snake costume, and various accessories (dumplings, red envelope, shadow puppet, chopsticks) complete the scene.

A Stunning Aesthetic or a Gimmick?

The set's appeal depends on your priorities. While the light-up, rotating mechanism is visually underwhelming, the aesthetic beauty and the intricately detailed, hidden dioramas make this a captivating Lunar New Year celebration. Despite its 9+ age rating, the complexity and detail suggest a more mature building experience.

The LEGO Trotting Lantern (#80116) retails for $129.99 and contains 1295 pieces. It's currently available at Amazon and the LEGO Store.