LEGO's 2025 Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake) Collection: A Detailed Look at the Trotting Lantern

LEGO continues its Lunar New Year tradition with three exciting sets for 2025, celebrating the Year of the Snake. This review focuses on the most elaborate of the three: a meticulously crafted replica of a traditional trotting lantern.

The set, a stunning display of intricate detail, surpasses initial expectations. From the hanging red lanterns to the ornate gold detailing and cloud-and-rock-themed walls, every element is thoughtfully designed.

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The building process is a layered delight, progressively adding intricate details to the core lantern structure. This layered approach evokes a similar sense of joyful anticipation found in the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

Inspired by Han Dynasty lanterns, the model incorporates a unique mechanism. A light brick illuminates the base, projecting a black-lined image onto the lantern's side. Rotating a rod animates the projected image. While the advertised wall projection feature is somewhat underwhelming, the overall effect is charming.

The lantern's upper section unfolds to reveal three miniature scenes: a dumpling stall, a decorative goods stall, and a shadow puppet theater. This cleverly concealed detail adds a surprising layer of depth and playability. The set includes five minifigures, one in a snake costume, along with accessories such as dumplings, a red envelope, a shadow puppet, and chopsticks.

The set's value proposition hinges on the buyer's priorities. While the light-up, rotating feature may not justify the price alone, the aesthetic appeal and hidden diorama are exceptional. The intricate detail and stunning design make this a remarkable Lunar New Year collectible, suitable for ages 9+, though the complexity suggests an 18+ skill level.

The LEGO Trotting Lantern (#80116), containing 1295 pieces, retails for $129.99 and is currently available at Amazon and the LEGO Store. For more LEGO recommendations, explore our selections of the best LEGO sets overall, the best Marvel LEGO sets, and the most expensive LEGO sets.