This article explores how Nanyang Chinese artists express cultural identity through the traditional symbol of the lantern, with a focus on analyzing the artistic creations of Nanyang painters from the early to mid-20th century and the symbolic significance of lanterns in their works. Through qualitative research methods, this paper collects and analyzes the lantern elements in Nanyang art works, explaining how these works demonstrate the Chinese community's adherence to and emotional attachment to Chinese culture in foreign lands. Through the analysis of the works of Cheong Soo Pieng, Georgette Chen, and Khaw Sia, this paper demonstrates the rich connotations carried by lanterns as cultural symbols, as well as their transmission and transformation in a cross-cultural context. Research shows that the Nanyang Chinese, through cultural symbols such as lanterns, have reinforced their identification with traditional Chinese culture, reflecting the continuation and recreation of culture in a foreign environment.