2015 Taipei Lantern Festival: Golden Lucky Sheep and a Lively Light Festival Celebrate the Lantern Rite

Text by / MOOK Travel & Life Net Editorial Team

The 2015 Taipei Lantern Festival officially started on February 14th, with the “Love ’Embrace the Sea of Lights” installation on Zhongshan North Road Sections 2–3 lighting up first. The main exhibition area was held from February 27th to March 8th at the Flower Expo Yuanshan Park, presenting a 10-day lantern art extravaganza. The event drew large crowds throughout the exhibition period, immersing visitors in the vibrant charm of Taipei’s lively nights.

The most anticipated mini lanterns for both children and adults were the adorable little lanterns featuring an array of cute animal designs, which made their debut from February 1st to March 2nd starting at 1 PM. These were displayed across 12 districts in Taipei, with Yuanshan Park at the Flower Expo extending its distribution period to five days for the first time—from March 1st to 5th at the park’s corridor plaza. On March 5th, which coincided with the Lantern Festival, 8,000 mini lanterns were handed out at Yuanshan Park along with complimentary sweet glutinous rice soup, allowing all visitors to soak in the festive spirit.

On the other side of Zhongshan North Road, at the opposite end of the Taipei Lantern Festival, the Beijing Cultural Temple Fair – Taipei Journey was also underway, showcasing its own lantern exhibits and attracting many visitors to stop for photos. The Zhongshan Jiuquan Pedestrian Overpass, which connects the two events across Zhongshan North Road, was transformed into a “Crystal Lovers’ Bridge,” becoming a highlight attraction.

The highlight of the Taipei Lantern Festival was undoubtedly the Golden Lucky Sheep sound-and-light theater in the main lantern area. From 7 to 9 PM each evening, special events were held around the Golden Lucky Sheep main lantern, which lit up every half hour accompanied by song, dance, and light effects. The main lantern continued to shine every half hour until 11 PM.

Each major lantern area had its own unique features, sparking not only photo opportunities but also lively discussions among attendees.

The Prayer Lantern Area

Combining traditional prayer and blessing elements with modern technology, the area featured various interactive games that allowed citizens to pray for love, wealth, health, safety, and other blessings. Special guests such as the Moon Elder, God of Wealth, and Earth God were invited back to the Taipei Lantern Festival. Here, visitors could accumulate abundant good fortune and personally write wish cards filled with hopes for a smooth and fulfilling new year.