The 2015 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is here – The Eye of Kaohsiung shines brightly on the Love River

The 2015 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival will take place from February 21 to March 15 along the Love River and in the City Light Corridor. The Kaohsiung City Government’s Tourism Bureau continues the theme of “Love & Happiness,” with “Overflowing Happiness” as the main concept, showcasing a series of artistic lantern displays. It also introduces the highly eye-catching “Eye of Kaohsiung” water theater, which incorporates cutting-edge technology, and a light projection show set against the backdrop of Taiwan Bank Building, a century-old iconic structure. The festival will run for 23 days.

This year, the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival invited artists to design16large themed lanterns based on four themes: “Harbor Mambo,” “Play of Water and Light,” “Prayers for Peace,” and “Going with the Flow.”180These displays were arranged according to local culture, historical background, and geographic landscapes, transforming the Love River into an ideal stage for the lanterns. By using the reflection of lights on the river surface, they create a rich visual feast. To further enrich the lantern displays, this year introduces an innovative “Lantern Display Competition,” issuing a challenge with a total prize pool of

Kaohsiung Lantern Festival brings new creativity every year. This time, it has specially introduced an internationalOwater screen projection to Taiwan, launching the “Eye of Kaohsiung” specially designed for the festival. Located in the middle section of the west bank of the Love River, about20meters from the shore, it combines flame effects, high-altitude spotlights, water dance nozzles,LEDcolor-changing lights, special-effect fireworks, water screen images, and laser projections. Along with the Love River’s water fireworks and dance performances, it projects beautiful images of Kaohsiung via water screens, creating a spectacular show never before seen in Taiwan. With the backdrop of Taiwan Bank Building — a century-old Chinese northern palace-style structure along the Love River — the transformation of Kaohsiung from an industrial city to a hub of pop culture and music is presented through a light projection show. There is also the annually popular “Blessing Lantern Area” at Fo Guang Shan and the “Lantern Competition Area.” This year’s festival offers rich and exciting experiences to delight everyone.

Additionally, to align with the festive spirit of the Year of the Sheep,2015the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival has specially designed cute little sheep lanterns holding Kaohsiung’s specialty “lychees,” named “Live Lychee Sheep,” representing Kaohsiung’s vibrant energy and joyful welcome to an2015year full of happiness and abundance.This year’s mini lanterns will be distributed3on5, during the Yuanxiao Festival (Lantern Festival), at the Love River Service Desk.3On7, additional lanterns will be given out at fixed points along the parade route during the “Love & Happiness – 10,000 People Lantern Parade.”The annual mini lantern distribution always creates a huge rush among visitors. To ensure more people can get one, this year individual businesses or citizens can order them200at a time.