A Must-Visit: The “Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City” – Adorable Sheep-Shaped Lanterns Steal the Show

▲ The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City this year offers free sheep-shaped lanterns for the public to release. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)

Reporter Chen Ziying / Reported from New Taipei

Releasing sky lanterns is a signature activity in the Pingxi area, and the “New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” has even been hailed by international media as a “must-visit in a lifetime.” This year’s event will take place on February 22 (the fourth day of the Lunar New Year), February 27 (the ninth day), and March 5 (Lantern Festival). The New Taipei City Government has prepared 3,600 lanterns for visitors to release for free. To celebrate the Year of the Sheep, the lanterns feature cartoon images of Pleasant Goat, adding a heartwarming and adorable touch.


▲ Pleasant Goat lanterns ascending into the sky. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)

The three-day event will feature different themes. The first event on February 22 will be held at Jing Tong Elementary School, where the Pleasant Goat lanterns will make their debut to accompany visitors. Those who wish to release the 4TN Pleasant Goat lanterns can sign up via the New Taipei City Tourism Official Website.On February 27, the New Taipei City Government has collaborated with Taitung County Government. In addition to seeing the happiness-themed lanterns, visitors can also watch Taitung’s most famous hot air balloons take off from Pingxi Junior High School. On Lantern Festival Day at Shifen Square, in addition to traditional lantern releases, there will also be special “paper-cutting lanterns.” The organizers will release 500 paper-cutting artworks on 20TN lanterns, while another 200 paper-cutting lanterns (4TN each) will be available for registration via the New Taipei City Tourism Official Website.


▲ The Pingxi Sky Lantern Police Station also offers prayer-themed “LED lanterns.” (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)