“Red Pants, Bare Flesh Blocking Cannons!” Taitung’s Huan Dan Fire-Cracking Festival Kicks Off in Full Swing

▲ “Northern Sky Lanterns, Southern Firecrackers, Eastern Huan Dan” – Taitung’s Huan Dan Fire-Cracking Festival officially begins. (Photo / Provided by Taitung City Government)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As the Lantern Festival approaches, celebrations are in full swing across Taiwan. The “Northern Sky Lanterns, Southern Firecrackers, Eastern Huan Dan” events are among the three must-see celebrations nationwide. The Taitung City Government is hosting the “2015 Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival – ‘Radiant Goat Huan Dan’” series of events from March 2 to March 8. This series features a range of traditional cultural activities, allowing visitors to experience the thrilling highlight: the Huan Dan fire-cracking ritual.

Today (the 2nd), the “2015 Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival – ‘Radiant Goat Huan Dan’” officially kicked off with captivating performances by a Japanese dance troupe, the Tian Shi Tan “Eight Ghostly Generals,” the Bei Ji Dian “Cannon-Blasted Tiger General’s Sedan,” and the Xuan Wu Tang “Cannon-Blasted Huan Dan Ye.” Mayor Chang Kuo-chou stated that the Huan Dan fire-cracking event during the Lantern Festival is Taitung’s annual highlight and the largest traditional folk event of the year, expected to draw tens of thousands of tourists to the city.



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The schedule for the “2015 Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival – ‘Radiant Goat Huan Dan’” series is as follows:
Huan Dan Fire-Cracking ‘Lantern Festival Gala Night’
Event Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM, Wednesday, March 4
Event Location: Nanjing Road Square
Event Highlights: Cannon-blasting of Huan Dan Ye, lantern riddles, song and dance performances

Radiant Goat ‘Fireworks Night’
Event Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM, Saturday, March 7
Event Location: Taitung City Seaside Park
Event Highlights: Cannon-blasting of Huan Dan Ye, song and dance performances, sky lantern painting and blessings, aerial fireworks show

Creative Lantern Competition & Exhibition, Thousand-Lantern Blessing Light Sea, Radiant Goat Gold-Grabbing Fun, Huan Dan Blessing Post Office
Event Time: March 2 – March 8
Event Location: Nanjing Road Square and Citizen Service Counter, Taitung City
Event Highlights: Creative Lantern Competition, outdoor large-scale lantern display, blessing card hanging at the blessing lantern area (limited to 300 participants per day), Radiant Goat Gold-Grabbing Fun (receive a lottery ticket for a chance to be one of two lucky winners drawn at the galas on March 4 and March 7), anyone who takes photos related to the Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival series can have a personalized postcard made at the Citizen Square Service Counter (limited to 50 participants per day).

Lantern Riddle Call-In Fun
Event Time: March 2 – March 5
Event Highlights: Tune in to UFO Radio Taitung Zhiben Station (FM 91.3) to participate in Lantern Riddle Call-In Fun. Answer riddles correctly to win a NT$200 cash voucher from a well-known hypermarket—two winners per day.

Blessing Parade
Starting at 7:00 PM on March 5, various sectors in Taitung County and City will hold the annual Love-the-Hometown Parade, a folk performance celebration for the Lantern Festival. The event prays for favorable weather, peace, abundant harvests, and harmony within the region.