Who made the blue dragon-shaped sky lantern? It was “sculpted” by master craftsman Hu Mingshu, a national treasure.

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

The “Blue Dragon” sky lantern has sparked widespread discussion due to its unique design—its spiraling green body paired with a red forked tongue has led many netizens to liken it to “a lump of green poop.” In fact, the Blue Dragon was created by Hu Mingshu, a master craftsman in Pingxi. Hu Mingshu stated that though the lantern looks simple, it is one of the most difficult designs ever attempted. Since it was meant to be showcased globally, “we couldn’t make it small,” so they built it to nearly two stories tall.


▲ The Blue Dragon sky lantern was crafted by Master Hu Mingshu. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Hu Mingshu, a master craftsman from Pingxi District, New Taipei City, has over 50 years of experience making sky lanterns. In the year 2000, he set a Guinness World Record by crafting an 18.9-meter-tall super sky lantern. Together with his daughter, he continues to innovate in sky lantern designs. Past creations include Valentine’s Day heart-shaped lanterns, and this year they took on the challenge of a coiled snake-shaped “Blue Dragon” lantern as well as the world’s first giant “chicken essence bottle-shaped sky lantern.” Hu Mingshu said the original plan was for a 12TN lantern, but considering it was commissioned by a global company and would be introduced worldwide, they decided not to skimp—and kept making it bigger until it reached nearly two stories in height.


▲ Valentine’s Day heart-shaped sky lantern. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Hu Mingshu said, “I can make any shape you can think of.” His daughter complains that her father is full of ideas and often comes up with sudden inspirations. For instance, when she first heard about the “Blue Dragon” concept, she thought it was impossible. But father and daughter explored and improvised together, and eventually made it a reality.

Hu Mingshu added that sky lanterns are actually “sculpted.” After conceptualizing the design, only a simple one-page sketch is made, and the rest is done by feel and experience. But the process must be completed in one go. This time, the “chicken essence bottle-shaped sky lantern” took three full days and nights. The “Blue Dragon” lantern was the most difficult ever, requiring two people and twenty days to complete.

Hu Mingshu said that preparing for the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival takes at least half a year, and the final rush involves sleepless nights and reversed day-night schedules, which take a toll on his health. When the client heard about this, they even sent him chicken essence as a gift. He joked that drinking chicken essence while making a chicken essence bottle sky lantern was quite amusing.


▲ Hu Mingshu with the chicken essence bottle-shaped sky lantern. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

As for how the public can ensure that their sky lanterns, filled with heartfelt wishes, are launched smoothly and safely? Hu Mingshu explained that sky lanterns aren’t afraid of rain but are vulnerable to wind—the key is mastering wind direction and airflow. There’s also a trick to launching them: pull and hold the four corners of the lantern, move it upward parallel to the ground, light the paper inside, then lay the lantern flat on the ground. Step on the bamboo frame beside the base to hold it down until the lantern fully inflates, then release your foot. If the lantern tilts during launch, it can easily catch fire.