Tainan Yuze Port Lantern Festival 2022: 22 Themed Lantern Zones & The Saltwater Riverside Scroll Unveiled Early

▲ 2014 Yuze Port Lantern Festival artwork “Bamboo Jellyfish.” (Photo provided by Urban Art Studio)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Tainan Yuze Port Lantern Festival kicks off on the 25th in Yanshui, Tainan. In addition to the waters of Yuze Port, 22 major themed lantern zones are spread throughout the small town of Yanshui. The Tainan City Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the lantern festival covers a wide area, featuring small bridges, flowing water, alleyways, and markets—much like the content of the famous Song Dynasty painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” Now, with the addition of dazzling, colorful lantern displays, it has become a real-life version of the “Saltwater Riverside Scroll.”

The Yuze Port Lantern Festival will hold its opening ceremony at 7 p.m. on the 25th on the stage of Shuiyue Bridge in the port area. This year, the exhibition period has been extended to 37 days, ending on March 2, and the number of themed lantern scenes has doubled to 22 zones. The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that this year’s lantern festival is themed “Saltwater Riverside Scroll,” inviting domestic and international art teams to create works that combine Yanshui’s local culture and environment. In addition to the port waters, areas such as Qiaonan Old Street, Beidi Temple Front, Yongcheng Theater, Yiyin Alley, and Wangye Temple Alley are also part of the exhibition.

<<<<<点我看更多Yuze Port Lantern FestivalThemed Sculptural Lanterns

▲ 2014 Yuze Port Lantern Festival artwork “Moon River Bridge.” (Photo provided by Urban Art Studio)

The main lantern “Sunlight Domain,” located on the opposite bank of Shuiyue Bridge, was designed by the creative team “Luxury Logico.” The artwork repurposes discarded outdoor lamps to create a giant 9-meter spherical main lantern. Its light body, made up of 241 LED bulbs, flickers in sync with music melodies. Viewed from the direction of Shuiyue Bridge, “Sunlight Domain” nestles by the stream, flanked by a large tree and a traditional sanheyuan courtyard, resembling an elegant painting of a small bridge over flowing water.

▲ The 2014 Yuze Port Lantern Festival main lantern, a spherical glowing structure “Sunlight Domain” composed of 241 LED bulbs. (Photo provided by Urban Art Studio)

Japanese artistAtsushi MizutaniHis work “First Month Sight” resembles a giant fried egg. At night, it emits a warm glow over the river surface. The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that other pieces such as “Jinxi Box,” “Riverside Feast,” “Bamboo Jellyfish,” “Bamboo Fire Path,” “Yuejin Sky Lantern,” and “Sea Moon Sky” are equally creative and fun.

The 22 themed lantern zones include 18 set up in the waters of Yuze Port and 4 hidden within the town’s ancient alleys. In addition to the main lantern, the Yuze Port area is also decorated with net lights and string lights. Various performance troupes and film screenings will take place during the lantern festival period. The Cultural Affairs Bureau emphasized that the entire town of Yanshui will be enveloped in a magical and romantic atmosphere, and visitors are encouraged to slow down and soak in the experience.