Axi shoots a parody video for the Sky Lantern Festival & publicly dresses up as a pig while proposing: "Marry me already!"

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

What was your word of the year in 2013? The 2013 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City will take place on February 14, February 17, and February 24. Three warm-up events—"Shout Your Love," "Love’s Word of the Year," and "Thousand People Build Dreams"—have kicked off. Internet celebrity Axi has also released a parody version of Shuowen Jiezi, dressing up as a pig nose and even proposing: "I hope someone will marry me soon."


▲ Internet celebrity Axi also released a parody version of Shuowen Jiezi. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The 2013 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will take place on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day on February 14. The organizers have specially decorated this "Starry Night, Happiness Soars" lovers-only lantern release event with romance. Not only is the main lantern an 8TN heart-shaped sky lantern, but they have also prepared 120 4TN heart-shaped lanterns for couples to release.

In line with the romantic theme of the event, the online activities "Shout Your Love" and "Love’s Word of the Year" have also begun. The "Shout Your Love" campaign invites couples to upload their love declarations to the 2013 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival official website from now until January 20. Selected declarations will be open for public voting from January 21 to 25, and the top three couples with the most votes will get to release an 8TN heart-shaped lantern at the "Starry Night, Happiness Soars" lovers-only lantern festival held at Jing Tong Elementary School on Valentine’s Day, letting everyone and the heavens witness your sweet love.

%What is your word of the year? Why not take a quick look? (#, # The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau provides the answer)

Internet celebrity Axi has also shot a short video, releasing a parody version of Shuowen Jiezi, sweetly inviting everyone to vote online. Currently, the character "伴" (companion) is the favorite among netizens, temporarily ranking first. The activity runs from now until January 25, and the organizers will announce the most popular 2013 Love Word of the Year on February 5. They will also draw super lucky participants from those who voted to win romantic prizes such as a classic room stay certificate at Tamsui Fleur de Chine Hot Spring Resort.

The second lantern release event on February 17 (Sunday), the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, titled "Unique Present Tense, Piecing Together a Great Future," will feature a 20TN mosaic sky lantern created by the dreams of a thousand people. This large lantern will be made by piecing together 2,000 colorful small lantern papers inscribed with wishes into the shape of "I'dTW."

The "Thousand People Build Dreams" activity, which collects wishes, has already begun. Locations to collect the colorful small lantern papers include six spots: the Jing Tong Mining Life Museum in Pingxi District, New Taipei City; Qiaomen Western-style Pastry Cake Shop; Pingxi Painting Workshop; Pingxi Railway Story Museum; Shifen Visitor Center; and Shifen Railway Art Gallery. The organizers invite everyone to collect the colorful small lantern papers and write down your wishes at the designated locations from now until January 25, to jointly create this lantern of shared dreams.



▲ The 2013 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will take place on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The lantern release event on February 24 (Sunday), the day of the Lantern Festival, titled "Hand in Hand for Reunion, Celebrating the Lantern Festival," will be held at Shifen Square, where 2,000 lanterns will be released in 10 waves. On the first full moon night of the Year of the Snake, why not come to Pingxi with your dearest family, beloved lover, or closest friends to release lanterns? Amid the glow of thousands of lanterns, illuminate a whole year of happiness and hope. Related event informationhttp://tour.tpc.gov.tw/2013skylantern/.