The Taipei Light Sea is Lit Up – Be the First to Immerse Yourself in the Joyful Lights of the Taipei Lantern Festival

▲ The light sea on Zhongshan North Road has already been lit up early, with enchanting “light” scenery along the route. Cute panda cub “Yuan Zai” is also hidden among the lights – can you spot it? The photo shows a view of the light sea near the outer area of the Taipei Expo Park. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The “2014 Taipei Lantern Festival” will begin on February 7th at the Taipei Expo’s Yuanshan and Fine Arts Park zones. The “Happy Taipei Light Sea,” stretching from Zhongshan North Road all the way to the Taipei Expo Park, has already illuminated the night sky ahead of time. To welcome the festival, Taipei City has specially launched the nation’s firstLantern Festival Painted TrainMRT train andLantern Festival Bus, which will take the public on a tour of the Taipei Expo park areas and allow them to enjoy the dazzling light displays along the way during the 10-day lantern festival.

Click here to preview more photos of the “Happy Taipei Light Sea” along Zhongshan North Road<<<<<<<<<<<<

Since 2013, the Taipei Lantern Festival has been moved to the Taipei Expo Park. A pedestrian overpass connects the two sides of the park, making the scale of the lantern event even larger than before and the content more varied. Coupled with the brilliant light sea along Zhongshan North Road, it offers a dazzling spectacle.

In addition to the various unique lantern displays in the park this year, the Taipei City Government’s Civil Affairs Bureau selected the newly opened MRT “Xiangshan–Beitou Line,” and launched the nation’s first “Lantern Festival Painted Train.” With a color scheme based on purple blended with red—purple symbolizing the night and red representing the festive spirit—the train features the playful and adorable Lantern Festival mascot “A-Jun,” taking the public straight to Yuanshan’s Taipei Expo to enjoy the lanterns.

%The creative design? Inspired by the phrase “Ride the train, rush to the lanterns,” it evokes the feeling of a “lantern-lit express.” The creative team members are from Taipei City’s Department of Civil Affairs (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau)

Meanwhile, the Taipei Expo Park has also introduced aLantern Festival Bus, which provides free shuttle service to the Expo during the lantern festival. The bus is also staffed with friendly conductors who guide passengers to park performances and events, host themed lantern riddles with prizes, and offer surprise gift bags and lucky draw opportunities for riders. The “Lantern Festival Bus” operates from 12:30 noon to 8:30 pm, with a bus every 15 minutes. Stops include MRT Yuanshan Station, Tatung University (Fine Arts Park) Station, Zhongshan Elementary School Station, and Lin An-Tai Historical House Station, but the service is not available on Mondays.

The Civil Affairs Bureau recommends that visitors plan a “One-Day Lantern Festival Tour”: take the Lantern Festival Bus at noon to the Qingguang Shopping Area for a bite to eat, visit the Taipei Botanical Garden Collection and the Mobile Dream Museum in the Xinyi Park area in the afternoon, and then return to the Fine Arts and Yuanshan Park areas in the evening to enjoy the Taipei Lantern Festival, which lights up at 5:30 pm every day, for a fulfilling day out.