Sky Lanterns contains works by eighteen Chinese poets living in the PRC, Formosa, and the U.S., plus prose by Bei Dao, Wei An, Hai Zi, Woeser, and Karen An-hwei Lee.

In a time of great ferment in Chinese poetry, this collection brings together works by classical writer Li Shangyin, plus influential contemporary and new poets Amang, Bai Hua, Chen Yuhong, Duo Yu, Lan Lan, Ling Yu, Pang Pei, Sun Lei, Arthur Sze, Yang Lian, Yang Zi, Yi Lu, Barbara Yien, Yinni, Yu Xiang, and Zhang Zao.