Photo shows visitors crowding in the Confucius Temple during this year's Qinhuai Lantern Fair. (Photo by Song Qiao)

Night view of Qinhuai Lantern Fair.

Qinhuai District of Nanjing city has already initiated the procedure of applying to the U.N. World Intangible Cultural Heritage for "Qinhuai Lantern Fair" officially, according to Xinhua's report on Feb. 21.

Huan Jianjun, the director of cultural bureau of Qinhuai District, said they would love to apply to the U.N. World Intangible Cultural Heritage for "Qinhuai Lantern Fair" under the category of "Cultural Space." The category defines eligible programs as large-scale and comprehensive folk cultural activities held in a certain time and space due to custom and tradition.

Huan also said the "Qinhuai Lantern Fair" had been approved to be one of the first national intangible cultural heritage programs in May of 2006, and now it is the best time for it to apply for U.N. World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

He revealed that the Qinhuai District Government is planning to obtain this goal within five years.