Edinburgh Zoo has been transformed into a "winter wonderland" by hundreds of giant lanterns inspired by Scottish and Chinese folklore.

200 specialists from China spent more than 100 days creating the trail, which features unicorns, a sleeping dragon and Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.

This year's event is "bigger and better than ever" with more than 450 handmade lanterns made with 50,000 metres of fabric and 80,000 LED lights.

As Scotland's only Chinese lantern festival, it returns with a new theme each winter. This year, the lanterns are inspired by the Scottish tradition of storytelling, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's (RZSS) wildlife conservation work and the cultural heritage of Sichuan - where the Zoo's resident giant pandas were born.

Barbara Smith, chief executive at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: "Over 50 nights, Edinburgh Zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland of myths and legends brought to life through hundreds of colossal Chinese lanterns.

"This year's event is bigger and better than ever and visitors will come face to face with herds of unicorns, kelpies, a sleeping dragon and Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.

"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.

"The event is a chance for us to illuminate the critical conservation work of RZSS to protect endangered animals and the real risk of them becoming myths and legends for future generations."