The Kaohsiung Lantern Festival’s Dagang Fireworks Show and the Lucky Chicken Mini Lanterns with Chicken Crowing Sounds

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

The 2017 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival and Art Festival kicked off with the vibrant theme of “Dagang Fireworks.” On the opening day, Monday, January 30, in addition to a rich lineup of performances, the first “Dagang Fireworks” show will light up the sky at 10 PM over West Side Bay. This year’s festival runs from January 30 to February 12 (Sunday) along the Love River. The Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau has decorated both banks of the river with traditional and creative lanterns under the “Happy Rooster Standing” theme, creating a magnificent spectacle. This year also features a special religious lantern area, bringing the lively atmosphere of temples to the Love River with a diverse array of colors. On the night of the Lantern Festival, February 11, the festival will host Taiwan’s only large-scale lantern parade with thousands of participants. Each evening also features a water theater light and fireworks show on the Love River, running from the third day of the Lunar New Year until the Lantern Festival. During the Spring Festival, plan your holiday itinerary early and head to Kaohsiung to enjoy the lanterns and celebrate the New Year.

To enrich the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival and Art Festival and leave a lasting impression on visitors, this year marks the first-ever “Dagang Fireworks Show.” High-altitude fireworks will be launched along the 1,000-meter breakwaters of West Side Bay and Qijin. Shows are scheduled for 10 PM on Monday, January 30 (opening night), 10 PM on Saturday, February 4, and midnight on Saturday, February 11 (during the lantern parade). Visitors from all over Taiwan are invited to Kaohsiung to witness the only fireworks show in Taiwan that combines mountain, sea, and river views. The timing of the fireworks has been specially designed: the shows on January 30 and February 4 will last 10 minutes and 6 seconds, while the grand finale on February 11, during the lantern parade, will feature a spectacular 20-minute, 17-second fireworks display to celebrate the year 2017. The stunning fireworks can be enjoyed from anywhere in downtown Kaohsiung.

The Love River area is divided into five lantern zones: the Art Lantern Area, Religious Lantern Area, Special Lantern Area, Lantern Decoration Competition, and National Creative Lantern Competition Area. There are over 100 uniquely designed lanterns that create a joyful festive atmosphere. Visitors can take the Love River cruise, gondola, or double-decker bus to experience the romantic ambiance unique to the Love River. In addition to the spectacular fireworks shows over the Love River and Kaohsiung Harbor each evening, the area’s favorable climate also allows for the creation of the “Love River Rhapsody Bar Zone.” Here, internationally renowned spirits and local Kaohsiung specialty alcohol vendors are invited, paired with delicious drinking snacks, allowing everyone to enjoy the lanterns while sipping beer and feeling the sea breeze.

To enjoy the best view of the fireworks, you can head to Starlight Riverside Park to take in the full panorama of fireworks over both the West Side Bay and Qijin breakwaters. Alternatively, staying in a hotel with a higher vantage point offers a great view of the fireworks reflecting over Kaohsiung Harbor. To get closer to the action at West Side Bay and Qijin, take the MRT to the West Side Bay Station. From there, you can transfer to a paid shuttle bus heading toward the West Side Bay viewing platform, or take a ferry to Qijin and walk to Qijin Coastal Park.
 

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