New Taipei City gives away little white horse lanterns that can also be used as hats, masks, or back scratchers

▲ The white dragon horse-shaped lantern boasts five major functions. The one on the left is a regular lantern, while the one on the right, when fitted with a stick, becomes a plaything for mock horseback battles. (Photo / Courtesy ofNew Taipei City Governmentwebsite)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The legendary white dragon horse, the steed of Tang Sanzang from "Journey to the West," has been transformed into a small lantern. As the Year of the Horse approaches, New Taipei City’s Lantern Festival features the white dragon horse as its central theme, designing multifunctional mini lanterns that can be used as hand lanterns, masks, hats, for pretend horseback battles, or as back scratchers. On February 7th at 7 PM and February 8th at 10 AM, 140,000 little white horses will be given out at various district offices across New Taipei City.

▲ Children display their lanterns in various ways—used as hats, masks, and more. (Photo / Courtesy ofNew Taipei City Governmentwebsite)

The little white horse lantern is touted as the nation’s first creative lantern with five functions, including being used as a hand lantern, mask, hat, for pretend horseback battles, or as a back scratcher. Beyond its basic function as a lantern, attaching a stick allows kids to engage in mock battles, while the lantern’s handle doubles as a back scratcher. Additionally, adding a chin strap turns it into a wearable hat, and removing the paper cutouts from the horse’s eyes transforms it into a mask.

In the classic tale, the white dragon horse accompanied Tang Seng through all hardships on the journey to India to retrieve Buddhist scriptures. New Taipei City’s Civil Affairs Bureau Director Jiang Jun-ting expressed hope that beyond offering fun and variety, the little lanterns can also inspire children, through the story behind them, to be brave, perseverant, and bold.

The 140,000 Lantern Festival mini lanterns will be distributed on February 7th and 8th at 29 district offices and cultural centers across New Taipei City, including Banqiao, Xinzhuang, and Sanchong, but supplies are limited.