LEGO's 2025 Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake) Collection: A Detailed Look at the Trotting Lantern
LEGO annually celebrates Lunar New Year with themed sets. Following the 2021 Ox and 2024 Dragon sets, 2025's Year of the Snake introduces three new models. This review focuses on the most elaborate: a meticulously crafted replica of a traditional trotting lantern.
The LEGO Spring Festival Trotting Lantern (#80116) is a stunning piece of LEGO artistry. Priced at $129.99 and containing 1295 pieces, it's available now at Amazon and the LEGO Store. This isn't just a lantern; it's a layered masterpiece of intricate detail. From the hanging red lanterns to the gold accents and cloud-detailed walls, every element contributes to its extravagant design.
The building process itself is a joy, a layered experience of adding ever more detail. This echoes the delight found in building the now-retired LEGO Carousel. The anticipation of uncovering each new decorative element is truly captivating.
Inspired by Han Dynasty lanterns, the model incorporates a unique mechanism. A rotating rod activates a light brick, illuminating a clear piece with a black-lined image, projecting it onto the lantern's side. While the advertised wall projection feature is somewhat underwhelming, the rotating image within the lantern is a charming effect.
The lantern's upper section opens to reveal three miniature scenes: a dumpling stall, a decorations stall, and a shadow puppet theater. This hidden detail adds a delightful surprise, enhancing the overall playability and visual appeal. The set includes five minifigures, a snake-costumed figure among them, along with various accessories like dumplings, a red envelope, and chopsticks.
The ultimate value of this set depends on your priorities. While the light-up, rotating mechanism might not fully justify the price on its own, the aesthetic beauty and the intricately detailed hidden scenes make it a truly exceptional Lunar New Year celebration. Despite its 9+ age rating, the complexity suggests a more mature building experience.
For those seeking a visually stunning and intricately detailed LEGO model, the Trotting Lantern is a must-have. It's a testament to LEGO's commitment to creating high-quality, themed sets.
