Illuminated Chinese New Year dragon lantern installation at Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, beside historic brick warehouses.

A vivid public art scene at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock showing a large illuminated dragon lantern installation displayed on the dockside promenade in front of the area’s distinctive red brick warehouse buildings. The dragon is brightly coloured, with an open mouth, flared crest and flowing mane like elements, and a long segmented body posed upright as if rearing up from the plinth. The base includes prominent safety messaging asking visitors not to climb or stand on the installation, underlining that this is a temporary, curated artwork intended for public viewing and photos. In the background, the dock’s historic industrial architecture forms a strong textured backdrop of brickwork and windows, reinforcing Albert Dock’s heritage setting while the contemporary light sculpture adds a modern festival atmosphere. The overall light suggests a grey, overcast winter day with flat, cool conditions, typical of the Liverpool waterfront at this time of year, which helps the saturated colours of the dragon stand out sharply against the muted surroundings. The installation aligns with Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year programming at the Royal Albert Dock, created to draw visitors during the seasonal celebrations and support the city’s wider cultural events and tourism offer.