Keelung Ghost Festival / Ten-minute fireworks show accompanied by water lanterns draws international media attention

Reported by Yu t
ru and Chen Ziying / Keelung

The highlight of the event — the “release of water lanterns” plus a spectacular ten-minute fireworks display — brought the Keelung Ghost Festival to a joyful close around 00:20 in the early hours. Crowds of visitors stayed until the end of the parade just to witness the water lantern ceremony, while this year, foreign media flocked to report on the event. Surprisingly, Florentijn Hofman, the designer of the Yellow Duck, also made an unexpected appearance and participated in the festivities throughout.


▲ Fireworks light up the sky as water lanterns are released, marking the climax of the Keelung Ghost Festival. (Photo / Reporter Yu t
ru)

The event moved to the seaside for the solemn “water lantern release” ceremony, where paper effigies of houses were set alight on the water. Coast guard personnel then pushed the burning offerings out to the sea’s center. As the offerings ignited on the water, a dazzling fireworks show lit up the sky, illuminating Wanghaixi Harbor as bright as day. The reflection of the flames and fireworks on the sea created a breathtaking scene. Onlookers gathered excitedly along the breakwater, praying for peace in the coming year.


▲ Fireworks illuminate the sea surface as water lanterns carry prayers for the year ahead. (Photo / Reporter Yu t
ru)