Taiwan lights up to mark the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations, from February 22 – March 6 this year. Taiwan Lantern Festival’s celebrations include the parade of gigantic turtle effigies in Penghu, the release of the beautiful sky lanterns in the Pingxi District and the display of lanterns in Taoyuan.
2010 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi. Photo: Albert via Flickr
In Pingxi, a remote mountain town situated an hour from Taipei, the Sky Lantern Festival sees a blaze of lanterns released into the sky. Get your lantern, write your wishes on it and let it float.
Pingxi. Photo: Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Taoyuan is the highlight as it will host a “Fairytale Kingdom Lantern Area” and a 500-plus-meter long ‘Taoyuan Story Lantern Corridor’. Celebrate the Year of the Monkey in style here with its quirky theme: “Golden Monkey Offering Peaches.” Aside from the traditional Chinese zodiac animals, the lanterns will also reflect the different culture and customs of local villages from all over Taiwan.
2015. Main Theme Lantern – Lucky Ram. Photo: Mk2010 CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Expect light shows and fireworks at this spectacular display! The lantern festival, held on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, is a special occasion for families (rice dumplings are shared) as they gather to celebrate.
2013. Photo: Mark Kao via Flickr
Instead of a big city, the true spirit of the celebrations can be observed in smaller towns like Pingxi. The festive atmosphere, red lanterns, mouth-watering street food, folk performances and fireworks make this a memorable event to witness.
2012. Jerry Lai via Flickr
Don’t forget to send us your photos of the lanterns! May the year bring you luck.