The Qingshui Lantern Festival faces uncertainty; Tourism Bureau Director: Proceed as planned

The city government stated that the Qingshui Lantern Festival will still be held as scheduled, so children’s expectations won’t be disappointed. (Provided by the service office of City Councilor Yang Dianzhong)

As the overall budget has not yet been approved, the city government indicated that no small lanterns will be given out during the Lantern Festival. Residents in the coastal area are worried whether the Qingshui Lantern Festival will face any uncertainties? City Councilor Yang Dianzhong called Tourism Bureau Director Chen Shengshan and was relieved to learn that it will “proceed as planned.” Yang emphasized that the failure to pass the budget is a serious matter, and hopes that a meeting will be convened soon for review so that municipal affairs can proceed smoothly.

The Taichung Lantern Festival has been held in Qingshui for two consecutive years, allowing coastal residents to avoid the crowded city center. Locals have praised the integration of the lantern displays with the Minnan-style architectural complex at the Harbor Art Center, as well as the extension of lantern arrangements to the Qingshui Veterans’ Village Cultural Park, saying it’s very distinctive and has received widespread acclaim.

Yang Dianzhong said that due to the Taichung City Government’s overall budget not yet being passed, this has affected the production of this year’s small lanterns, causing public concern about potential uncertainties for the Qingshui Lantern Festival. On the 17th, Yang called Tourism Bureau Director Chen Shengshan and learned that it would “proceed as planned,” bringing relief to everyone.

Yang Dianzhong pointed out that reviewing the overall budget is a statutory duty under the Local Government Act. The failure to pass the budget is a serious issue. Just the budget for the lantern festival alone has caused significant worry among local residents. If political infighting affects the progress of municipal governance, it is definitely not what citizens want to see.