September 24, 2023

Chinese Festival Sets

The LEGO® Group just announced two new Chinese Festival sets. The Chinese New Year Temple Fair (80105) and the Lion Dance (80104) release in time for the New Year. What makes this announcement particularly exciting for AFOLs is the global release. Last year, only Asian markets got the Chinese New Year sets. This disappointed many in other parts of the world, myself included.

One of the Chinese Festival sets from the LEGO Group is the Chinese New Year Temple Fair.
Chinese New Year Temple Fair, ©2019 The LEGO® Group.

The Chinese New Year Temple Fair features 1664 bricks, 14 Minifigures, and will retail for $159.99 CAD. It will cost $119.99 in the United States, $149.99 in Australia, £89.99 in the United Kingdom, and range from €99.99 to €119.95 depending on which European country you live in. The official press release from the LEGO® Group describes it as follows:

The Chinese New Year Temple Fair set captures a beloved event often seen in towns and cities throughout China around the lunar new year. The set includes stalls displaying a vast, colourful array of LEGO versions of authentic items you would find at a Temple Fair. Everything from barbecue dishes to candy, toys, vases and dough figurines are lovingly re-created ion LEGO form. The set also includes 14 minifigures. Eagle-eyed LEGO fans will notice that the family from last year’s Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner set make an appearance, continuing the story of their Spring Festival celebrations.

The Chinese Festivals set called the Lion Dance.
Lion Dance, ©2019 The LEGO® Group.

This year, the whole world celebrates Chinese New Year in LEGO® style!

Lion Dance, on the other hand, features 882 bricks, 8 Minifigures, and retails for $109.99 in Canada. In other markets, you can expect $79.99 in the United States, $99.99 in Australia, £64.99 in the United Kingdom, and varying from €69.99 to €84.95 in Europe. The official press release from the LEGO® Group describes it as:

The Lion Dance set vividly reproduces a well-loved scene of the Spring Festival and is sure to evoke fond memories of the traditional festival. The set features 5 beautifully decorated small lion figurines and a percussionists’ stage with an awesome drumming function. An accompanying temple gate is decorated with LEGO tiles featuring traditional patterns. The set also comes complete with 8 minifigures including lion dancers and a man in rat costume to mark the Year of the Rat. Additional accessory elements such as the red ‘best wishes’ scroll, red orb, cabbage, calligraphy brush and a rocket firework are included to inspire unlimited role-play.

Chinese Festival sets
Lion Dance, ©2019 The LEGO® Group.

LEGO® fans in Asia gain access to these sets earlier than the rest of the world. December 26, 2019 is the release date for China and Asia Pacific. Those of us in Canada (and other parts of the world) get them January 10, 2020. However, this is still an improvement over last year when the rest of the world did not get the Chinese Festival sets at all.

These sets will be available for purchase in Canada on January 10, 2020.

Official advertisement for the Chinese New Year Temple set, ©2019 The LEGO® Group.

I am excited for these sets. Admittedly, it was really upsetting to not have access to last year’s selection. However, now as work on my custom Ninjago City continues, these sets could not come at a better time. The architecture is amazing in these kits. Additionally, there are loads of great Minifigure accessories. Firstly, I love the printing on the characters. These Minifigures will look great strolling around Ninjago City. Secondly, there are great new color variants on already existing parts. For example, we finally get a scarf in a color other than orange. Also, Parker’s hairpiece from Hidden Side can been seen sporting orange hair.

Official advertisement for the Lion Dance set, ©2019 The LEGO® Group.

Of the two Chinese Festival sets, the Chinese New Year Temple Fair is the must have for me. I love both, but if I had to pick one, that would be it. The temple is stunning, and market place will go very well with my Ninjago City design. Will you be picking up one or both? Let me know what you think in the comment below. For more LEGO® news, click here.

Until next time,

-Tom

A word from the sets’ designer, ©2019 The LEGO® Group.

Chinese New Year Temple Fair Minifigures:

Lion Dance Minifigures:

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