The ultra-complete "2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival Traffic Guide" takes you on a smooth journey through Taichung’s three major lantern zones.

▲ The main sheep-themed lantern for the 2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival is unveiled. (Photo / Eastern TV News)

By reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive report

The "2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival" will grandly kick off in Taichung on February 27, with three major lantern zones planned: the Fongyuan Miaodong Commercial Area, Taichung Park, and the Wuri High-Speed Rail Special Zone. To help visitors enjoy all three zones with ease, the Taichung City Government Transportation Bureau has unveiled the "Lantern Festival Traffic Guide," ensuring all tourists can have a great time.

The Taichung City Transportation Bureau stated that this year's three major lantern zones of the Taiwan Lantern Festival are all close to TRA train stations. The festival will start on the 27th at the Fongyuan Miaodong Commercial Area, the Taichung Park lantern zone will light up on the 28th, and the Wuri High-Speed Rail lantern zone will be illuminated on March 5. The main lantern is located in the Wuri High-Speed Rail lantern zone, allowing visitors to be welcomed by dazzling lantern displays as soon as they exit the high-speed rail station.

Parking and transit information for the three major lantern zones:

▲The entire Fongyuan Miaodong Revival Commercial Area will become the 2015 lantern festival zone. (Photo / Courtesy of Taichung City Bureau of Economic Development)

Fongyuan Miaodong Commercial Area   Lighting period: February 27 – March 15

1. Driving yourself:You can park at nearby public parking lots such as Guangwu Parking Lot, Hulu Dunzhen Parking Lot, Pacific Parking Lot, Guangjian Parking Lot No. 2, Xi’an Parking Lot, and Shepi Underground Parking Lot, then walk to the lantern zone.

2. TRA Train:Visitors can take the TRA train to Fongyuan Station, with the lantern zone right outside the station.

3. National Highway & Intercity Bus:You can take Ubus 1617, Fongyuan Bus 6606, or 6506 to get there.

4. City Bus:You can take bus routes 12, 63, 55, 90, 91, 92, 182, 183, 185, 186, 200, 202, 203, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 212, 213, 215, 217, 218, 220, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240 to reach the area.

▲ During the lantern festival, Taichung Park will become one of the three major lantern zones. Viewing the dazzling lanterns under the night sky from the Lake Heart Pavilion is sure to be especially enchanting. (Photo / Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Taichung Park Lantern Zone   Lighting period: February 28 – March 15

1. Driving yourself:You can park at nearby parking areas such as Da Hu Parking Lot, Zhonghua Parking Lot, Fuyin Parking Lot, Dacheng Multi-level Parking Lot, Xingzhong Parking Lot, Xinxing Parking Lot, Taichung Park Underground Parking Lot, Ziyou Road Multi-level Parking Lot, Gan Cheng Multi-level Parking Lot, and Nanjing Multi-level Parking Lot, then walk to the park.

2. Taichung BRT:You can take the BRT to Ren’ai Hospital Station, then walk to Taichung Park.

3. TRA Train:You can take the TRA train to Taichung Railway Station, transfer to the BRT to Ren’ai Hospital Station, then walk to Taichung Park.

4. City Bus:You can take bus routes 7, 6, 12, 168, 169, 99, 55, 5, 58, 65, 158, 21, 105, 18, 50, 56, 59, 61, 73, 83, 86, 87, 159, 6, 8, 9, 14, 14副, 15, 16, 26, 29, 35, 41, 57, 70, 71, 82, 88, 100, 108, 115, 142, 163, 1, 25, 31 to reach the area around Taichung Park Station.

▲ The plaza at Taichung Wuri High-Speed Rail Station becomes a key lantern zone in 2015, where you step right into a sea of lights upon exiting the station. (Photo / Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Wuri High-Speed Rail Special Lantern Zone   Lighting period: March 4 – March 15

1. High-Speed Rail:Get off at Taichung High-Speed Rail Station and exit through Exit 4A to reach the light festival area. During the event, the last northbound high-speed rail train at 23:59 will make stops at Banqiao and Taipei along the way; the last southbound train at 23:04 will stop at Chiayi, Tainan, and Zuoying.

2. Taiwan Railways (TRA):Take the TRA to “Xinwuri Station,” and exit through Exit 3 to reach the light festival area. The last northbound train at 23:09 is a local train that terminates at Houli Station; the last southbound train at 23:46 is a local train ending at Changhua Station.

3. Weekend shuttle bus “Tiger City–Wuri Light Festival Area”:

Boarding location: Front square of Tiger City Shopping Mall
Operating dates: Only on Saturdays and Sundays (3/7, 8, 14, 15)
Operating hours:

【Tiger City → Light Festival Area】10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
【Light Festival Area → Tiger City】11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes, with additional services added as needed and operated until passenger demand is met.

4. National freeway and intercity bus services:Yuanlin Bus lines 6797 and 6798, Changhua Bus lines 6933, 6936, and 6937, Nantou Bus lines 6670 and 6883, Taichung Bus line 6188, and Ubus line 1657

5. High-Speed Rail Express:Ubus line 159, Ho-Hsin Bus lines 160 and 161

6. City buses:Lines 26, 33, 69, 70, 82, 93, 101, 102, 156, 133, 166, 153 branch, 99, 3, 85, 158, 39, 125, 151, 151 branch, 155, 155 branch