IPOH: A mammoth 1,200-foot handcrafted dragon lantern now illuminates the alleys of the Ipoh Stables Market!

In conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Ipoh Stables Market partnered with students from Taiwan’s Tainan University of Technology to construct the traditional dragon lantern over a painstaking two-month process.

Snaking through six alleys and multiple corners of the market, the installation fuses traditional craftsmanship with modern creative design. It breathes new life into the historic century-old stables, adding a rich cultural and festive ambiance to Ipoh.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Tan Kai Lek, co-founder of the Ipoh Stables Market, stated that the dragon spans a conservative estimate of over 1,200 feet and took two months to complete.

Six product design students from Tainan University of Technology arrived in Ipoh in late July for a two-week experiential exchange camp. During their stay, they spearheaded the initial design and fabrication of the dragon, marking their first hands-on experience crafting traditional Chinese lanterns.

According to Tan, the visiting students spent two weeks building the dragon’s head, tail, and key body segments. The remaining assembly, structural reinforcement, and finishing work were taken over by the Ipoh Stables Market operational team, culminating in full completion by mid-September.

A standout feature of the dragon lies in its head design: breaking away from traditional motifs, the students cleverly incorporated a “dragon head with horse hooves” concept, anchoring the artwork directly to the venue’s unique equine heritage.

Tan emphasised that the primary objective behind the collaboration extended far beyond festive decoration. The goal was to spark cultural and creative industry momentum in Ipoh, demonstrating to the younger generation that their hometown is fully capable of nurturing iconic, large-scale artistic projects.

He hopes the initiative will inspire more young people to participate in local placemaking and community revitalisation.

The 1,200-foot dragon lantern has officially been illuminated at the market.

Tan noted that in 2024, a 588-meter “Malaysia-China Friendship Dragon” in Melaka was recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records. The newly constructed dragon lantern in Ipoh, measuring over 1,200 feet (approximately 366 meters), stands out as an equally ambitious feat of scale and local craftsmanship.

Local artist Katrina Ho shared that the dragon was built using traditional lantern-making materials, including colored translucent paper, iron wire, and paper paste.

The fragile translucent paper tore repeatedly under heavy rain, and on one occasion, an entire row of lanterns along an alley was blown down by sudden winds.

“Every time a section broke or fell, it was heartbreaking,” Ho recalled. “But the team showed immense perseverance—whenever a part broke, we repaired it; whenever it collapsed, we rebuilt it.”

To withstand severe weather fluctuations, the team reinforced the internal framework and replaced vulnerable outdoor sections with durable plastic materials, ultimately stabilising the entire structure.

About the Ipoh Stables Market

The Ipoh Stables Market is a collaborative placemaking initiative between the Perak Turf Club and PISM Management Sdn Bhd. The project aims to bridge the site’s historic horse-racing legacy with future economic opportunities. Beyond boosting Ipoh’s tourism sector, the organisers hope to generate local business opportunities that encourage young talent to remain and build their careers in their hometown.