We Build the LEGO Trotting Lantern, a 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration

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

LEGO celebrates the Lunar New Year annually with themed sets. Following the 2021 Ox and 2024 Dragon sets, 2025's Year of the Snake features three new releases: a Lucky Cat, a Good Fortune set featuring traditional Chinese iconography, and the magnificent Trotting Lantern (set #80116), which is the focus of this review.

The Trotting Lantern, retailing at $129.99 and boasting 1295 pieces, is a stunning example of intricate LEGO design. Its exterior is exquisitely detailed, featuring red lanterns, gold accents, and a beautifully rendered sky and cloud scene depicted on the lantern's walls.

98 Images

Construction is a layered process, starting with the lantern's core and progressively adding intricate details. This multi-stage build offers a unique sense of anticipation and rewarding complexity, reminiscent of the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

Inspired by historical Han Dynasty lanterns, the model incorporates a light brick and rotating mechanism. While the projected image is somewhat blurry, the internal mechanism cleverly replicates the historical function of rotating paper cutouts.

The lantern's upper section opens to reveal three charming miniature scenes: a dumpling stall, a decorations stall, and a shadow puppet theater. These hidden dioramas add a delightful surprise and enhance the overall playability. The set includes five minifigures, a snake-costumed figure, and various accessories.

The set's value proposition hinges on the buyer's priorities. While the light-up, rotating feature might not fully justify the price for some, the aesthetic beauty and intricately detailed hidden scenes make it a captivating and impressive Lunar New Year celebration. Rated for ages 9+, its complexity suggests a more mature building experience.

The LEGO Trotting Lantern (#80116) is currently available at Amazon and the LEGO Store. For more LEGO reviews, explore our selections of the best LEGO sets, best Marvel LEGO sets, and most expensive LEGO sets.