2016 Taiwan Lantern Festival unveils glass flower lantern "Universe Tower" as eye-catching highlight

The Taiwan Lantern Festival is the country’s largest and most internationally recognized tourism event, hailed by international media as a “Disneyland without roller coasters.” For the first time in 26 years, Taoyuan is hosting the Taiwan Lantern Festival. The exhibition area spans 32 hectares and is divided into six major lantern zones, showcasing the charm of Taiwan’s tech industry and highlighting the unique diversity of Taoyuan’s culture. This year, special lantern zones have been set up by the outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu, while international cities such as those from Japan have also been invited to participate with their own lantern displays or performances. The goal is to offer both domestic and international visitors a unique experience that showcases the distinct characteristics of Taiwan and Taoyuan.

Additionally, the biggest highlight of this year’s festival — the "Universe Tower" — combines Taiwan’s local industries, craftsmanship, and culture. It marks the first time a glass-designed lantern has been exhibited since the festival’s inception. As the first large-scale creative lantern primarily made of glass in the history of the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the "Universe Tower" was constructed by hundreds of artisans using nearly 4,000 square meters of glass. In terms of technique, it employs a steel frame structure paired with cutting-edge processing methods such as glass grinding, polishing, strengthening, carving, laser inkjet printing, and lamination, along with high-altitude construction techniques. It is expected to deliver an unprecedented lantern festival experience to visitors.