New Landmark on Jing Tong Old Street: "Sky Lantern Police Station" 5-Minute Light Show at Every Hour on the Hour

▲ The annual "Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival," which takes place during the Lunar New Year, has been selected as one of the world’s 14 must-visit carnivals before you die. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Over 100,000 sky lanterns rise gently into the sky, carrying the New Year wishes of everyone’s heart. The location of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, listed among the world’s 14 must-visit carnivals before you die—New Taipei City’s Pingxi District—now,at the entrance of Jing Tong Old Street, a giant sky lantern stands tall. This lantern-shaped building, named the "Sky Lantern Police Station," will become a new local landmark and officially open on White Day (March 14) in 2014..

The 9-meter-tall lantern-shaped structure is the origin of the name "Sky Lantern Police Station." Its most distinctive feature is the glass curtain wall shaped like a sky lantern, which presents an LED light show at the top of every hour. The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau stated that after its official opening, whether approaching from Keelung or Taipei to Pingxi, the "Sky Lantern Police Station" can be clearly seen twinkling in the night mountain forest from afar, symbolizing “You’ve arrived in Pingxi!”

▲ The still-under-construction "Sky Lantern Police Station" is expected to be completed by the end of December. (Photo / FromJing Tong Miners’ Canteen @ Red Treasure Tea Fan Page)

The Sky Lantern Police Station has three floors in total. The first floor is a restroom, which will open ahead of schedule during the Lunar New Year to address the long-standing issue of insufficient public toilet facilities for the area’s many visitors. The second and third floors house the Sky Lantern Police Station and the Tourist Service Center respectively, where basic travel information services will also be provided.

In addition, the LED curtain wall on the exterior of the “Big Sky Lantern” will recreate the concept of the Expo Sky Lantern Pavilion, not only presenting the effect of a waterfall cascading downward,but also showcasing a 5-minute sky lantern light show on the glass curtain wall at the top of every hour from 6 PM to 9 PM.On the launch day of White Day, couples will also be invited to leave sweet messages, allowing their love to shine brightly through the "Big Sky Lantern" across Pingxi’s night sky.