The main lantern and lanterns at the Taoyuan Lantern Festival are truly eye-catching, and the water-based lakeside light show is absolutely dazzling.

▲ The main lantern at 2017 Taoyuan Lantern Festival. (Photo / Reposted from the iQtao fan page, the same applies below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As the Lantern Festival approaches, the "2017 Taoyuan Lantern Festival" with the theme "Happiness Begins at Home" will be held from February 10 to February 19 at Longtan Pond. Recentlythe iQtao fan pagereleased images of the main lantern after it was lit, prompting netizens to exclaim, "So beautiful!" In addition, this year’s thoughtfully designed interactive Tao Le Ji (Happy Chicken) lanterns have been very popular with both children and adults, making everyone even more excited to carry them out on the streets during the festival.

▲ The daytime view of the rooster-shaped main lantern above the pond.

Not to be outshined by the Taipei Lantern Festival, the 2017 Taoyuan Lantern Festival is also fully prepared. This year’s lantern festival in Taoyuan has five major highlights: First, the lantern displays are designed in combination with Longtan Pond, featuring a lakeside light show; second, there is a daily themed activity during the lantern festival period, with a water dance performance every half hour from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, and a high-altitude water fireworks show at 7:00 PM on the opening day and 8:00 PM on holidays.

▲ The lakeside light show.

Third, in conjunction with the Dragon God Welcoming Festival at Longtan Longyuan Temple, a “Welcoming the God of Wealth and Filling the Wealth Treasury” event will be held on February 11, as part of the century-old tradition of Longtan, forming the custom of “Southern Firecrackers, Northern Sky Lanterns, and Longtan Welcoming the God of Wealth.” It also incorporates the street parade tradition of Longtan’s God of Wealth Welcoming Festival, holding an “Antique Carnival” on February 12 to revive Hakka street parade customs. Fourth, the lantern display area is designed in harmony with the scenery of Longtan Pond, including a water theater, visitor center, water lion dance, and Longtan Suspension Bridge. Fifth, 100,000 small “Tao Le Ji” chicken-year lanterns have been created as piggy banks; when coins are inserted, the wings flap, symbolizing the launch of the Taoyuan Airport MRT and Taoyuan’s takeoff.

▲ The Tao Le Ji lantern that flaps its wings after coins are inserted.

2017 Taoyuan Lantern Festival
Dates: February 10 to February 19
Venue: Longtan Pond