2015 Lantern Festivals Across Taiwan: A Nationwide Celebration

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the 2015 Yuanxiao (Lantern Festival) is just around the corner. This year, cities including Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Hualien County are all hosting lantern festivals and events. Among them, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has even been rated by international media as a must-visit carnival in a lifetime. Why not spend a weekend with family and friends to enjoy the lantern displays and extend the festive joy of the New Year holidays?

● New Taipei Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
The “New Taipei Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” is a major annual event during the Lunar New Year and has been listed by international media as one of the “must-visit” international festivals. In 2015, it officially enters its 17th year. This year’s event, themed ‘Winter Splendor, Dreams Soaring,’ follows tradition by organizing prayer lantern releases in three locations in Pingxi District: Jingtong, Pingxi, and Shifen. Each event will feature eight rounds of sky lantern releases, with over 3,500 lanterns available for free release across the three sessions.

On February 22, at Jingtong Elementary School, the festival kicks off with the ultra-popular cartoon "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf," featuring the adorable “8TN Kids' Sky Lanterns.” On February 27, at Pingxi Junior High School, there is the first cross-regional collaboration with Taitung County, releasing the “12TN Large Hot Air Balloon-Shaped Sky Lanterns.” Additionally, the highly artistic “Paper-Cut Sky Lanterns” will make their grand finale on March 5 (Yuanxiao Festival) at Shifen Square. New Taipei City invites everyone to visit the most colorful and unique Pingxi to witness the emotion and creativity of the Sky Lantern Festival.

【Info】 The 2015 Taipei Lantern Festival officially kicked off on February 14, starting with the “Love 'Embrace the Sea of Lanterns” display along Zhongshan North Road Sections 2-3. The main exhibition took place from February 27 to March 8 at the Taipei Expo Park (Yuanshan), offering a 10-day lantern art feast. The most anticipated mini lanterns for both kids and adults were unveiled at Taipei City Hall on the 28th. Featuring a variety of cute designs — including teddy bears, giraffes, lions, and more — these lanterns appeared across 12 districts of Taipei from March 1 to 2, starting at 1 pm. The Taipei Expo Park (Yuanshan) also extended the distribution period to five days for the first time, handing out lanterns from March 1 to 5 at the park’s Corridor Square.

【Info】 The 2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival, themed “Taichung Soaring,” ran from February 27 to March 15. Lantern displays lit up in three major areas: the Fengyuan Miaodong Commercial Zone, Taipei Zoo (Taipei Zoo is incorrect; should be Taipei Municipal Park / likely referring to 公园 like 台中公園), and the Wuri High-Speed Rail Special Zone. The festival featured 12 distinctive lantern zones and introduced two adorable mascots, “Fei Fei” and “Yang Yang,” who made surprise appearances at various tourist spots in Taichung during the Lunar New Year holidays.