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 a captivating 2025 collection celebrating the Year of the Snake. This review focuses on the impressive Trotting Lantern set (#80116), a detailed replica of a traditional lantern. Alongside the lantern, LEGO is releasing a Lucky Cat and a Good Fortune set, featuring classic Chinese iconography.

The Trotting Lantern: More Than Meets the Eye

This 1295-piece set is a masterclass in layered construction. The initial build forms the lantern's core, upon which increasingly intricate details are added, creating a sense of anticipation and delight. The level of detail is extravagant; every surface boasts decorative elements, from hanging red lanterns to gold-accented borders and intricately depicted clouds and rocks. The final product evokes the same joyful complexity as the now-retired LEGO Carousel.

A Nod to History and a Gimmick That Falls Short

Historically, trotting lanterns, dating back to the Han Dynasty, used oil lamps to project silhouettes. LEGO replicates this with a light brick and rotating image, but the projected image is disappointingly blurry, rendering this advertised feature less impactful than intended. The projection onto a wall, as advertised, is ineffective.

Hidden Wonders: Dioramas Within

The lantern's upper section opens to reveal three charming miniature dioramas: a dumpling stall, a decorative goods stall, and a shadow puppet theater. This clever design creates a delightful surprise, concealing intricate scenes within the lantern's cylinder. The set includes five minifigures, one adorned in a snake costume, along with accessories such as dumplings, a red envelope, a shadow puppet, and chopsticks.

Aesthetically Stunning, but Consider the Gimmick

The Trotting Lantern's value depends on your priorities. While the light-up, rotating mechanism is underwhelming, the set's aesthetic appeal and hidden dioramas make it a stunning celebration of the Lunar New Year. Despite its 9+ age rating, the complexity suggests a more mature building experience.

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