The Missouri Botanic Garden, an urban oasis of plants, trees, flowers, and biological research, staged a Chinese Lantern Festival in St. Louis.
St. Louis Hosts Chinese Lantern Festival
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Giant smoke-belching dragons made of thousands of plates, cups and spoons, fight over a giant, silken pearl between them. (V. LaCapra/VOA)
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A porcelain dragon by day. At right is the Missouri Botanical Garden's Climatron, a geodesic dome-covered, 2,200-square meter conservatory. (V. LaCapra/VOA)
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The porcelain dragon's claw, showing plates, cups and spoons tied together with string. (V. LaCapra/VOA)
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The Double Seventh Festival is observed each summer, on the seventh day of the Chinese calendar's seventh month, marking a tale of lovers who can see each other but once a year. (V. LaCapra/VOA)