TORONTO, Aug.17 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) kicked off here Friday with all-new and more diverse programming than ever before.

In celebration of the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, this year's 18-day fair feasts visitors with a spectacular indoor lantern festival that features "larger-than-life exotic lanterns, stories-high in stature," creating a luminous kaleidoscope of colors

The designs of the 17 picturesque Chinese lanterns on display are based on legends and myths associated with the ancient Silk Road, creating an exploratory experience for all.

The lanterns were created by 90 Chinese artists using 4,000 meters of synthetic silk and 55 meters of steel. They arrived from China in eight shipping containers.