The "Little Dragon" debuts as the main lantern at Taiwan Lantern Festival, kicking off in Hsinchu County on Feb. 24

By MOOK Travel & Living Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

Representing the culmination of festive celebrations, the annual Lantern Festival attracts numerous domestic and international visitors. Now entering its 24th year, the Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held from February 24 to March 10 in the High-Speed Rail Station Special Zone of Zhubei City, Hsinchu County. This year’s main lantern, “Rising Dragon, Flourishing Times,” stands over 20 meters tall and wide, weighing approximately 26 metric tons. For the first time in the festival’s history, the main lantern features a snake—often referred to as the “little dragon”—as its design. The lantern will be officially illuminated on the evening of February 24, Lantern Festival. This year, the event is also expected to distribute 80,000 small “Whirlwind Mischievous Snake” lanterns to the public.

The 2013 Taiwan Lantern Festival has planned a total of 12 themed lantern zones. The official lighting ceremony will take place at 19:15 on the evening of February 24, Lantern Festival. In consideration of the high-speed rail schedule and station announcements, the tradition of hourly and half-hourly main lantern performances—maintained for 23 years—has been adjusted. The main lantern shows will now take place at the 15th and 45th minutes of each hour. The music for the lantern displays has been composed by Associate Professor Huang Xinzai from the Department of Chinese Music at the National Taiwan University of Arts. Aligned with the six-step lighting ceremony, the music blends traditional Chinese folk instruments, orchestral arrangements, Taiwanese folk tunes, and local Nanguan music to create a festive, joyful, and culturally rich atmosphere. Additionally, this year’s event includes lantern displays from cities such as Xi’an, Shenyang, and Fuzhou in China, as well as participation from Japan’s Aomori Nebuta Festival and Kochi Yosakoi Festival groups.

The small lanterns to be given away during the festival, named “Whirlwind Mischievous Snake,” reflect the strong tech vibe and strong seasonal winds (known as “Cape Winds”) of Hsinchu County. These colorful mechanical snake lanterns feature vibrant bodies and propellers that interact with the wind. They can be carried by hand or strapped to the wrist using a band to mimic a coiled snake, allowing for more interactive fun for both adults and children. Additionally, from now until January 16, there is a small lantern raffle. By joining the “2013 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Hsinchu County” Facebook fan page, you can enter to win a Whirlwind Mischievous Snake lantern.

For transportation, visitors can take the high-speed rail or the Taiwan Railways Administration’s Liujia Branch Line directly to the festival site. Shuttle buses will also be available from Hsinchu Railway Station and Zhubei Railway Station to transfer visitors to the festival. For those driving, there are seven nearby parking lots in Zhubei City—including those on Ziqiang North Road, Zhonghua Road (near Philips), and Xinglong Road (near National Taiwan University of Science and Technology)—offering nearly 20,000 parking spaces. From there, visitors can take shuttles into the lantern viewing areas.

 

To encourage daytime exploration of Hsinchu and nighttime lantern viewing, the event offers 16 tour packages, including one-day and two-day trips. Participants can enjoy evening lantern displays as well as daytime visits to Beipu Old Street, Neiwan Old Street, Shei-Pa National Park, Smangus, Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area, and Lavender Cottage, among others. For more details, visit the official event website: 2013taiwanlantern.net/tw/index.php.

 

 

● Read more: 12 Major Hakka Festivals Announced, Featuring Hsinchu’s “Noon Festival” Tradition for the First Time

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