The world’s best festival — Taiwan Lantern Festival — holds a trial lighting event on the 13th for an early preview

▲ The Main Lantern Area of the “2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival” will have its trial lighting at 7:00 PM on the 13th, accompanied by a 3-minute fireworks show. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Bureau)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Dubbed one of the world’s best festivals by international media outlet Discovery, the Taiwan Lantern Festival is being held in Zhongxing New Village, Nantou County, for the first time. The event will officially kick off on the 14th. Organizers plan to hold a grand rehearsal starting at 5:45 PM on the 13th, featuring performances by the Ten Drums Art Percussion Group, Ju Percussion Group, and the Nantou Ethnic Dance Troupe. At 7:00 PM, there will be a trial lighting of the “Main Lantern Area,” followed by a three-minute fireworks display at the venue.

According to the Tourism Bureau, this year’s 25th edition of the Taiwan Lantern Festival, themed “Love for the Earth, Heart of Taiwan,” takes advantage of Zhongxing New Village’s geographic strengths. The main lantern area is set up around the large field of Zhongxing Auditorium, extending to the “North Lantern Area” at the Provincial Government Circle and the “South Lantern Area” at the Taipei Arena, with both highlights connected via a “green tunnel” along Guanghua Road and Guangrong North Road. This integration of Zhongxing New Village and the Taiwan Lantern Festival allows visitors to easily “enjoy the greenery by day and explore the lanterns by night.”

The highly anticipated Year of the Horse main lantern, “Soaring Dragon Steed,” stands at an impressive 23 meters, the tallest ever, and features design elements focused on “technology” and “green energy and environmental protection.” Over 200,000 LED lights create a dazzling visual spectacle. The area also includes three auxiliary lanterns — “Rare Birds in Competition,” “Prosperity and Health,” and “Taiwan Cool Bear,” designed with the Tourism Bureau’s mascot “Taiwan Oh Bear” — showcasing a rich variety of unique lantern displays.

One of the major auxiliary lanterns, “Taiwan Cool Bear,” is designed based on the Tourism Bureau’s mascot, “Taiwan Oh Bear.” (Photo / Sourced fromthe 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Nantou Facebook page)

Additionally, as this year’s Lantern Festival coincides with Valentine’s Day, the Taiwan Lantern Festival has specially set up a “Love You Forever” lantern area, decorated with heart-shaped lanterns and figures of the Western god of love, Cupid. A “Love You Forever” check-in activity is also being launched. Couples or friends who upload photos of themselves together at the lantern festival to the Taiwan Tourism Facebook page have the chance to win limited-edition lucky bags.

The Tourism Bureau also noted that well-planned transportation shuttle services have been arranged for the Taiwan Lantern Festival. The public can take free shuttle buses starting at 2:00 PM on weekdays (or 10:00 AM on holidays) from “Taichung High-Speed Rail Station,” “Taiwan Railway’s Xinyi Station,” “Taiwan Railway’s Yuanlin Station,” and “Taichung Tiger City Shopping Mall.” Buses run approximately every 5 to 15 minutes. Upon arriving at the “North Lantern Area,” visitors can walk or transfer to the “free internal shuttle bus” to reach the “Main Lantern Area” for sightseeing.