How to Enjoy the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival: Free “Happy Horse” Mini Lanterns Given Away to Celebrate Lantern Festival

Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network

 

The 2014 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival has kicked off. Whether you take public transport, ride a bike, jog, walk, or plan a one-day or two-day trip—whether you’re alone or with friends—you can roam around the Kaohsiung Lantern City Carnival and enjoy food, fun, shopping, and entertainment all in one go. This year’s lantern displays stretch along Zhongshan Road, Wufu Road, and both banks of the Love River, connecting popular commercial districts such as the San Duo, Wufu, Yuzhu, and Nan Hua business areas. These include trendy shops beloved by young people in Xinqijiang, as well as major department stores like Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, SOGO, Pacific Sogo, Tatung, Dayi Boutique, and Hanshin. Major hotels and business lodgings in Kaohsiung are also nearby, offering convenient transportation and easy shopping.

 

Xu Chuansheng also recommends that visitors take advantage of the convenient Kaohsiung MRT, and not miss visiting the Formosa Boulevard Station and Central Park Station. These two stations have been ranked second and fifth respectively among the “World’s 8 Most Beautiful Metro Stations” due to the breathtaking design of their “Dome of Light” and the grand architectural exteriors. They have even been listed by discerning New Yorkers as world-renowned metro stations that one must visit in a lifetime. Both metro stations are located near the Wufu business district lantern displays during the festival and are essential photo spots that travelers shouldn’t miss.

 

Additionally, the Kaohsiung City Government will distribute the first wave of mini lanterns at 17:00 on February 8. These will be handed out not only at the Zhongshan Sando Service Desk and Hedong Wufu Service Desk in the city center but also simultaneously at Gangshan Riverside Park and Qishan Railway Station. Another distribution session will take place at 19:00–19:30 on February 14, in conjunction with the “Love Happiness” Lantern Parade event, along the section of Zhonghua Road to Yingxiong Road on Wufu Road. After receiving a lantern, the public can immediately join the parade and stroll the streets together, reliving the traditional joy of lantern-lit processions and celebrating Lantern Festival together.

 

February 14 is both Lantern Festival and Valentine’s Day. The Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau is calling on everyone to come admire the lanterns, watch the floats, and join the parade. Couples can plan ahead to spend the holiday together. Many hotels in Kaohsiung have introduced special holiday packages that include enjoying the lanterns, watching fireworks, and staying overnight. In addition, from now on, every evening from 19:00–21:00 there will be an hourly Colorful Butterfly Light Show in the Sando business district, as well as weekly Saturday events featuring Love River fireworks shows with different themes, competitive lantern displays, street performer acts, and riverside food streets. For more details on the events, please check the official website of the 2014 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Art Festival.

 

 

●   Further Reading:

The World’s 8 Most Beautiful Metro Stations: Two Kaohsiung MRT Stations Make the List

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