A Chinese lantern in Edinburgh Zoo. /Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Zoo
It took them more than 100 days, meshing together some 50,000 meters of fabric, along with 80,000 LED lights and then shipping the finished lanterns over to Scotland.
Barbara Smith, Edinburgh Zoo's chief executive said she's thrilled with the lantterns.
"Over 50 nights, Edinburgh Zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland of myths and legends brought to life by these colossal Chinese lanterns," she said. "Visitors will come face to face with herds of unicorns, kelpies, a sleeping dragon and Nessie the Loch Ness Monster."
The Chinese lanterns in Edinburgh Zoo. /Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Zoo
"Each installation tells a story from Scottish legends and Chinese mythology as well as the crucial conservation projects we undertake with our partners to help preserve the world's most vulnerable species."
As for Edinburgh Zoo's famous pandas, the breeding programme for the pair was suspended in March for at least a year after Iain Valentine, the man in charge, quit his job.
Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived in Edinburgh in December 2011 on a 10-year loan, as part of a trade deal worth 2.6 pounds sterling.
Tian Tian had twins in China in 2009, but Edinburgh Zoo tried natural mating only once at Edinburgh zoo, in 2012.
