Painted cat lanterns are here—the adorable Houtong Cat Lantern Festival has arrived!

▲Photos from the 2012 Houtong Cat Lantern Festival. (Image / Courtesy ofTaiwan 319 Cat Lovers Association official website, same below, archival photo)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Houtong’s “Cat Street” is well-known far and wide. The “Houtong Cat Lantern Festival,” hosted by New Taipei City Government and Taiwan 319 Cat Lovers Association, will kick off in September. Coinciding with the current surge of rabies, the organizers have specially printed 5,000 cat care handbooks to educate the public on feline health. This year’s festival features a giant 150-cm-tall cat lantern, along with a charity fun fair and cat adoption events, where visitors can paint lanterns on-site for good luck.

The “Houtong Cat Lantern Festival” enters its second edition this year, taking place on September 7 and 8 at the square in front of Houtong Railway Station in Ruifang, New Taipei City. With a theme of charity and environmental protection, the fun fair this year showcases a 150-cm-tall, 200-cm-wide bamboo cat lantern designed by master designers. Visitors can also paint their own lanterns on-site, and all proceeds from charity sales will go to the “Cat Street” as a medical fund.

Taiwan 319 Cat Lovers Association stated that the newly launched human-cat shared “Cat Bridge” will be decorated with cat lanterns. On-site, small lanterns featuring a cute cartoon version of the Cat Bridge will also be available for visitors to paint for good wishes. There will also be cat adoption and cultural and creative product charity sales. In light of the recent spread of rabies, the organizers will distribute 5,000 adorable cat care handbooks to educate the public about rabies and feline distemper.