How to Draw a Chinese Lantern (Easy Step by Step)
A Chinese lantern is a cheerful drawing built from just a few simple shapes: a big round body, two little rectangles, a small loop, and a tassel. Because it looks the same on both sides, it is a good first drawing for learning to make things look balanced.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a Chinese lantern step by step
How to Draw a Chinese Lantern · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The round body
Draw a wide, rounded shape like a squashed ball, with a flat top and a flat bottom. Make the sides curve out nice and round.
Step 3: Top and bottom caps
Draw a short, flat rectangle sitting on the flat top of the body. Then draw a matching rectangle under the flat bottom. Make them the same width.
Step 4: The hanging loop
On top of the upper cap, draw a small round loop like a little ring. Its two ends touch the cap.
Step 5: Ribs and center line
Draw a straight line down the middle from the top cap to the bottom cap. Then add one curved line on each side of it, bending outward like parentheses, from the top cap down to the bottom cap.
Step 6: The tassel
Below the bottom cap, leave a small gap. Then draw a shape like a little bucket, narrow at the top and wider at the bottom, with a flat top and a flat bottom.
Step 7: Tassel cord and strings
Draw a short line from the bottom cap down to the top of the bucket shape. Then draw three short lines inside the bucket, going down: one in the middle and one on each side.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your Chinese lantern? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a Mardi Gras mask or how to draw a birthday cake next.
Tips for drawing a Chinese lantern
- Draw the middle line first, then the two curved lines. If each curve is about the same distance from the middle line, the lantern will look even.
- Make the top and bottom caps the same width. Try drawing the bottom one right after the top one so you can compare them.
- The tassel is the trickiest part. Start the bucket shape with a narrow top and let the sides spread out as you go down.
Free Chinese lantern coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this Chinese lantern coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your Chinese lantern drawing
Red and gold are the classic lantern colors, so try a red body with yellow caps and a yellow tassel. For a creative twist, color each section between the curved lines a different color to make a rainbow lantern.
Chinese lantern fun fact for kids
The Lantern Festival is celebrated in China on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar new year, and people hang lanterns and walk through streets lit with them.
Questions about drawing a Chinese lantern
What shapes do I need to draw a Chinese lantern?
You need a wide rounded shape for the body, two short rectangles for the caps, a small loop on top, and a bucket-like shape for the tassel.
How do I make my lantern look round?
Add curved lines that bend outward on each side of a straight middle line. The curves make it look like the lantern is bulging toward you.
How do I make my lantern look more festive?
Color it in red and gold. You can also draw several lanterns in a row, each a different size.
