The 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival is here！The North Lantern Area in Zhongxing New Village will be lit up first on the 7th.

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

The North Lantern Area of the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be lit up at 7 PM on February 7, with the inauguration ceremony to be held at the Family Park in the North Lantern Area of Zhongxing New Village. On February 14, the main lantern will be officially unveiled. Once the entire area is illuminated, the Zhongxing Hall surroundings, which form the core of the Main Lantern Zone, will feature differently designed welcome gates. These are surrounded by a Competition Lantern Area, a Prayer Lantern Forest, a Traditional Lantern Area, and a Craft Lantern Area, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle of stars surrounding the moon and thousands of dazzling lights. Further along Glory North Road beneath the Main Lantern Area toward Glory East Road Second Street lies the Friendship Cities Lantern Area, which connects to the Rural Lantern Area and the Industry Lantern Area, showcasing a rich variety of local flavors.


▲The main lantern of the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival. (Photo / From the official website of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Republic of China)

The North Lantern Area of the Taiwan Lantern Festival will hold its lighting inauguration ceremony at 7 PM on February 7 at the Family Park in the North Lantern Area of Zhongxing New Village. On February 14, the main lantern will be officially lit. Once the whole area is lit up, the Zhongxing Hall vicinity—forming the heart of the Main Lantern Zone—will feature variously shaped welcome gates, encircled by a Competition Lantern Area, a Prayer Lantern Grove, a Traditional Lantern Area, and a Craft Lantern Area, together presenting a magnificent scene of a multitude of lights shining like stars around the moon. Continuing along Glory North Road from below the Main Lantern Area to Glory East Road Second Street leads to the Friendship Cities Lantern Area, which links with the Rural Lantern Area and the Industry Lantern Area, decorating the space with diverse regional charms.

For the first time, the Indigenous Peoples Lantern Area this year features large lanterns themed around love stories, music and dance, and legendary tales, showcasing the characteristics of the indigenous peoples within Nantou County. During the lantern festival from February 7 to February 23, those who shop in Ren’ai Township and Xinyi Township will have the chance to receive exquisitely crafted indigenous dolls—ten different designs for the public to collect!

The “Religious Lantern Area” has set up an Interactive Blessing Pavilion with a Lucky Draw Gate to engage with visitors. It promotes an eco-friendly spirit by not burning joss paper or collecting incense donations, and also gives away souvenirs to visitors. The “Community Lantern Area,” where residents make their own lanterns by hand for the first time, showcases rich human warmth and local enthusiasm. As Nantou is known as the capital of crafts with numerous master artisans, the “Craft Lantern Area” highlights exquisite handmade artistry.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
The 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival features a “Craft Lantern Area,” unprecedented in other county and city-hosted lantern festivals. Over twenty art manufacturers have been invited to install lanterns. Aside from displaying Nantou’s bamboo and pottery crafts, these artists also use various special materials such as artistic glass to present different themes. The artworks reflect the refined craftsmanship of Nantou County and, through the festival’s massive attendance, help promote and elevate the image of the “Nantou Craft Industry.”

In addition, participating organizations have used their creativity to craft a variety of lanterns. For example, the Tourism Lantern Area features a giant “Angry Birds” made of piggy banks, the Zhushan Township Lantern Area showcases lanterns hand-woven from bamboo by eight artists, and community lanterns include panda lanterns of “Tuan Tuan” and “Yuan Yuan.”