【Friday Fun in Taiwan】Sky Lanterns in the North, Beehive Rockets in the South – A Romantic Lantern Night to Celebrate the Yuanxiao Festival

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin

 

Today (14th) is the annual Yuanxiao Festival, as well as the romantic Western Valentine’s Day. The whole of Taiwan is immersed in the lively atmosphere of the Yuanxiao Festival, and the time-honored traditions of “Sky Lanterns in the North, Beehive Rockets in the South” will also take place today. In addition, another highlight of this week — the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival — will officially kick off tonight, with Japan’s Sleeping Dragon King giant lantern making its appearance again in Hsinchu’s Xinzhuang. Kaohsiung’s Lantern Festival parade and Love River fireworks show will also be held and light up the night today.

New Taipei City — Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

 

The 2014 Taipei Lantern Festival shines bright at the Flower Expo Park from now until February 16th. The Flower Expo Park’s “Lantern Festival Bus & Beijing Earth Altar Cultural Temple Fair” specially organizes a series of Yuanxiao Festival and Valentine’s Day celebration events to mark the romantic 2014, the year symbolizing “love you for a lifetime.”

 

The Flower Expo Lantern Festival Bus has launched the “Cupid Bus, Love You for a Lifetime” event. On this very day (14th), it has prepared a romantic Valentine’s photo spot featuring Cupid’s love arrows and love locks that bring couples closer together. The Moon God from Xiahai City God Temple will also make an appearance. Visitors who take photos with the Valentine’s photo spot and upload them to their personal Facebook with a check-in at the Flower Expo Park can exchange a free “Xiahai City God Temple Official Moon God Bookmark” (limited to 600 copies) with the bus conductor by showing their Facebook page. The first 120 passengers taking the evening bus shift (5:30 PM – 8:30 PM) and participating in the activity will also receive one “Miramar Ferris Wheel Ride Ticket” (limited to 120 copies) to enjoy the stunning night view of Taipei and celebrate a romantic Valentine’s night. In addition, riding the Flower Expo Park Lantern Festival Bus gives you a chance to join the surprise lucky draw for great gifts — nearly ten thousand NT worth of high-performance water purifiers (9 units in total) and thousand-NT meal vouchers (10 winners in total) are given out daily. With only three days left, don’t miss your final chance to win big and take home amazing prizes while enjoying spring outings and admiring lanterns.

 

Date: From now until February 16th

Venue: Flower Expo Park

 

Besides the 2014 Hsinbei Lantern Festival being held from now until February 16th and the Bao Shan Township Noon Culture Festival & Hakka Opera on February 13th, the “Xinzhuang Lanterns Welcome Tianguan – The Return of Japan’s Sleeping Dragon King” festival event will kick off on February 14th. A pre-Tianguan Night Festival will be held at 6:00 PM on the 14th, featuring a static display of the Sleeping Dragon King giant lantern at Xinzhuang Elementary School, the Righteous People’s Giant Lantern at Xinzhuang Junior High School, the Tianguan Sky Lanterns along Tianxin Outer Ring Road, and the Maitreya Giant Lantern at the God of Wealth Temple. On February 15th, a creative street carnival will be held in front of Guanghe Temple in Xinzhuang Town, recreating the spectacular beelike street parade seen during the 2013 Taiwan Lantern Festival.

 

Date: From now until February 16th

Venue: Xinzhuang Elementary School, Xinzhuang Junior High School, Tianxin Outer Ring Road, among others

 

The 25th edition of the “2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival” is being held in Zhongxing New Village, Nantou for the first time. From today until the 23rd, this 10-day dazzling lantern festival is themed “Love of the Earth, Heart of Taiwan.” The main lantern area is centered around the large field of Zhongxing Auditorium, extending to the “North Lantern Area” at Provincial Highway Roundabout and the “South Lantern Area” at the Taipei Arena, all connected via a “green tunnel” along Guanghua Road and Guangrong North Road. This integrates Zhongxing New Village and the Taiwan Lantern Festival seamlessly, allowing visitors to “enjoy the greenery in the daytime and admire the lanterns at night.”

 

Date: From now until February 23rd

Venue: Zhongxing New Village, Nantou

 

To celebrate the arrival of the Yuanxiao Festival on February 14th (the 15th day of the first lunar month), the annual Yanshui Beehive Rockets event in Tainan City is about to kick off at the Yanshui Junior High School playground. This year’s Yanshui Beehive Rockets go beyond previous years — the Wu Temple has specially created a 12-foot tall statue of “Guan Yu Riding the Red Hare,” symbolizing the spirit of a dragon and horse, set to make its debut. There will also be a main fireworks fortress integrating high-tech LED lights and 400,000 beehive rockets, creating a spectacular and colorful display. Over 200 additional smaller fireworks forts will be scattered throughout Yanshui District, allowing participants to experience the thrilling bee hive rocket action in various spots. The Wu Temple’s divine palanquin parade will be held on February 13th and 14th (the 14th and 15th of the first lunar month), where the public can follow the palanquin and personally experience the excitement of dodging beehive rockets. On the night of the Yuanxiao Festival at 9:00 PM, a centralized firing zone will be set up at the Yanshui Junior High School playground. The theme fortress “Spirit of the Dragon and Horse, Success Upon Arrival” will begin launching rockets, promising an unforgettable memory for all.

 

Date: From now until February 15th

Venue: Yanshui Junior High School Playground