City of Lanterns is one of the best-priced large sets LEGO® has released in years — 2187 pieces and nine minifigs for $160 is the kind of deal that makes you double-check the tag. The Monkie Kid theme keeps swinging, and this is the set that proves it belongs in the conversation with any major licensed line.
Is the price fair?A+One of the fairest large-set prices in recent memory — no mental gymnastics required.
Will you love it?B-A rich festival scene with genuine architectural character and a full cast of characters.
Holds its value?C-Appreciation has been weak; the aftermarket hasn't caught up to what this set deserves.
The Full Take
Nine minifigs, a sprawling festival cityscape, and 2187 pieces for $159.99 — City of Lanterns is the rare large set where the price doesn't ask you to rationalize anything. The build itself delivers a layered, vertical market scene with enough architectural detail to keep an experienced builder engaged from start to finish. Monkie Kid's Chinese mythology aesthetic gives this one a distinct visual identity that stands apart from anything else on a shelf — the lanterns, the color palette, the rooflines all read as a cohesive world. With nine characters packed in, kids have an instant cast ready for open-ended play without raiding other sets. The one honest caveat: the aftermarket hasn't rewarded this set the way the build quality might lead you to expect, so buy it for the experience and the display, not a future payday.
