Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival Collects “Blessings from Around the World” – Yuanbao Sky Lantern Makes Early Debut

▲ Rated the world’s second-largest carnival – the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival lifts a thousand dreams into the sky. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Recently hailed by international media as a “must-visit in a lifetime” and one of the “52 most worthwhile experiences in the world,” the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival kicks off on February 3, featuring three major events this year. As the first event falls during the Lunar New Year holiday, the New Taipei City Government has unveiled the “Yuanbao (Treasure) Sky Lantern” ahead of time to let the public get a taste of the festive atmosphere and herald the upcoming ascent of the Pingxi sky lanterns.

▲ The Yuanbao Sky Lantern makes its debut at the 2014 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The New Taipei City Government stated that the first Pingxi Sky Lantern event, themed “100% Hope, Prosperity Galore,” will be held on February 3 at Jing Tong Elementary School. Since the date coincides with the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, which welcomes the God of Wealth, 120 four-ton Yuanbao sky lanterns will be available for release. Advance registration is required, and the public can start signing up starting at 12:00 noon on January 9 viathe event website.

The second event, themed “Ignite Hope, Touch the World,” will take place on February 8 at Pingxi Junior High School. A large 12-ton wish collage sky lantern will be released, with messages of blessings collected in advance from people all over the globe, which will then be mosaic-ed onto the lantern. This allows those who cannot attend in person to join in the celebration. The blessing message collection begins at 12:00 noon on January 8.

▲ The 2014 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival aims to gather blessings from around the world. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The third Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival event is scheduled for February 14. The city government noted that since the date is both the Lantern Festival and Valentine’s Day in the West, the theme will be “Hand in Hand for Reunion, Love Soaring Aloft.” Two hundred heart-shaped sky lanterns will be available for release, with online reservations also required. Reservations open at 3:00 p.m. on January 9.

The city government added that this year marks the 16th edition of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. Over the past two years, the festival has attracted more than 800,000 visitors, generating over NT$650 million in tourism revenue. More than 100,000 lanterns are released annually, and besides purchasing and releasing lanterns along the old street, visitors can also enjoy surprise fireworks displays. For details, please visit the“2014 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” official website.