News Flash / Round-shaped sky lanterns make their debut at Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, soaring high with happiness

▲ The "Round Sky Lantern" made its first public appearance on the evening of the 28th, with its round and adorable shape. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

Reporter Chen Rui-zhong / Reporting from New Taipei

New Taipei City and Taipei City have jointly launched "Round" shaped sky lanterns at the "2014 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival." On the evening of the 28th, the design of the "Round Sky Lantern" was unveiled for the first time, delighting the on-site crowd and adding an extra dose of "cute charm" to this year’s festival.

During this year’s lantern festival, the event titled "100% Hope, Rolling in Wealth" on February 3rd will feature not only ingot-shaped sky lanterns but also the distribution of 8,888 lucky money envelopes. The "Lighting Hope, Touching the World" event on February 8th will release sky lanterns carrying blessings from around the globe. On February 14th, coinciding with Valentine’s Day, the "Hand in Hand, Love Takes Flight" event will feature large heart-shaped lanterns, chocolate giveaways, and the launch of the largest licensed “Round” product to date — the "Round Sky Lantern" — allowing everyone to share in the joy.

% Male (illegible text) (left 4), Director of New Taipei City Tourism Bureau Chen Kuo-chun (right 4), jointly welcome the public to experience the fun of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hsu Chih-chien stated that many people plan one-day trips to Shilin or Pingxi during holidays, making Greater Taipei’s tourism scene more diverse, exciting, and closely connected. This year, through the “Round Sky Lanterns” produced under license by Taipei City Government, the public can feel the “adorably cute and heartwarming” happiness created by both the Taipei and New Taipei City Governments for the new year.

Chen Kuo-chun, Director of New Taipei City Tourism Bureau, mentioned that this year’s lucky money has been blessed for good fortune by the Shiding Five Roads God of Wealth Temple, aiming to bring wealth and joy to the public. The Round Sky Lantern is also a large lantern standing 450 cm tall and 350 cm wide at the waist, allowing people to see the adorable image of Round in the sky. Additionally, during the lantern festival, proper traffic control and disaster prevention safety plans will be implemented. The public is encouraged to use public transportation to reach Pingxi and enjoy the charm of the festival.

▲ The main light and mascot of New Taipei City’s Christmasland have been updated to new designs featuring pandas and the God of Wealth. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau reminds everyone that the first event on February 3rd (the fourth day of the Lunar New Year), “100% Hope, Rolling in Wealth,” will implement full traffic control from 9:00 AM to midnight. Shuttle buses will be arranged by the organizers. Also, train schedules on the Pingxi Line on festival days differ from regular times. Please check theTaiwan Railways Administration websiteor station announcements. The New Taipei Travel Facebook fan page is also hosting a “Once in a Lifetime, Happiness Takes Flight – Hope to Fly” wish campaign. Join in for a chance to win great prizes. For more event details, please visit the2014 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival official website.