Sky lantern releases, lantern festivals, and beehive firecracker displays kick off across Taiwan this weekend to celebrate the Lantern Festival
By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported
To mark the arrival of the Lantern Festival, celebration events are springing up across Taiwan, including the ongoing Kaohsiung Lantern Festival and Central Taiwan Lantern Festival. The Taipei Lantern Festival, which features both physical and virtual main lanterns, opened last night, and this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held on the 6th in Lukang, Changhua. Additionally, major traditional Lantern Festival events across the island will kick off this weekend, including the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City, the Hakka tradition of the Miaoli Beehive Rocket Festival, as well as the historic Tainan Yanshui Beehive Fireworks and Taitung Bombing of Lord Handan. Don’t miss out if you’re interested!
The highlights of the New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will take place tomorrow and next Monday, featuring two large-scale sky lantern release events. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
This year’s main lantern at the Taipei Lantern Festival is located at the National Father Memorial Hall, with the golden-themed lantern named “HAPPY Dragon.” The virtual main lantern, a 3D “Auspicious Dragon Theater,” set up in the plaza in front of the city hall, is a high-tech installation featuring a massive naked-eye 3D floating projection diamond tower. It’s worth noting that the “HAPPY Dragon” mini lanterns, originally distributed across 12 administrative districts, still have 5,000 available for the public to collect. Therefore, starting at 1 PM tomorrow (the 4th), they will be redistributed at the corridor near the Daxiao Gate entrance of the Zhongzheng Memorial Hall, with one lantern per person. Meanwhile, the Taiwan Lantern Festival to be held on the 6th in Lukang, Changhua, not only features the spectacular “Dragon Soaring Amidst Rosy Clouds” main lantern area but also allows visitors to explore the entire Lukang town by visiting various lantern zones.
This year’s Taipei Lantern Festival runs from now until February 12th, with the HAPPY Dragon main lantern at the National Father Memorial Hall performing every evening from 7 PM to 11 PM, with shows every 30 minutes. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau)
“The Northern Sky Lanterns, Southern Beehive Fireworks, and Eastern Lord Handan” are traditional Lantern Festival celebrations rich in cultural heritage, set to take place consecutively this weekend through next Monday. The Pingxi Sky Lantern releases in New Taipei City will be held on Saturday and next Monday at the Shifen Plaza. Limited-edition wooden sky lantern amulets will also be given out at the event. Those who participate in the lantern riddle games during the evening party may also win LED sky lantern badges. Tainan’s Yanshui Beehive Fireworks present a vivid contrast of culture and intensity with the “Northern Sky Lanterns,” forming a dynamic part of Taiwan’s Lantern Festival celebrations. The daytime palanquin parades will begin this Sunday, featuring performances by traditional troupes such as the Songjiang Formation, dragon dances, and drum performances, while the highlight—the beehive fireworks—will take place next Monday at the Yanshui High School sports field.
The Miaoli Torch Dragon Festival follows ancient Hakka customs, from the Eye-Dotting Ceremony for the dragon, to the nine-grid dragon team’s thanksgiving dance, and finally to the dragon ascending to heaven. It is the most traditional Hakka celebration of the Lantern Festival. Tomorrow, lively folk street parades and Hakka food and product exhibitions will be held in downtown Miaoli and along Zhongshan North Road. On Sunday evening, there will be a Torch Dragon evening party at the riverside park. The Taitung Lantern Folk Carnival, which has a 63-year history, is known for its daring performances, with numerous divine palanquins, folk art troupes, and floats taking part each year. This year’s Bombing of Lord Handan event will feature 10 sessions, with the first one starting at 12:30 PM on the 6th at the Shinjuku Fashion Hotel in Taitung City, continuing until February 8th.
Overview of Lantern Festival Celebrations Across Taiwan:
|
Event Name |
Dates |
Activities |
Venue |
Notes |
|
Taipei Lantern Festival
|
Now until 2/12 |
Happy Dragon Main Lantern Area |
National Father Memorial Hall |
Starting 1 PM on 2/4, mini lanterns will be given out at the corridor near the Daxiao Gate entrance of the Zhongzheng Memorial Hall (next to Aiguo East Road), one per person per day. |
|
3D Auspicious Dragon Theater – City Hall Lantern Area |
Civic Square |
|
||
|
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City
|
2/4 6 PM to 9 PM |
Large-scale sky lantern blessing festival |
Shifen Plaza
|
Transportation: Shuttle buses available from Taipei Zoo, Shiding Connector of the Yilan Highway, Yeren Valley, and Ruifang Railway Station. Fee structure: |
|
2/6 6:30 PM to 8:20 PM |
Sky Lanterns Grand Blessing Lantern Festival Celebrating Lantern Festival with Thousands of Revelers |
|||
|
2012 Yonghe District Lantern Festival Celebration in New Taipei City
|
2/4 19:00～21:00 |
Lantern Festival Gala Evening |
Yonghe Lehua Night Market |
|
|
2/5 19:00～21:00 |
Traditional Opera Performances |
Ren'ai Park, Yonghe District |
||
|
2012 New Taipei City Shulin Beauty Spring Festival Carnival Lantern Festival
|
From now until 2/7, 17:00～21:00 |
Lantern Exhibition |
Zhen Gong and Bao'an Second Street, Shulin District |
|
|
2/4 Starting at 17:00 |
Blessing Parade Ceremony |
Haiming Temple, Shulin District |
||
|
2012 Taoyuan Lantern Festival at Luzhu Series of Events
|
From now until 2/6 19:00～22:00 |
Luzhi Dragon Main Light Show, Water Dance Performance and Fireworks Display |
Nanxi Riverside Park
|
Transportation: Free shuttle service is available daily from 17:00～23:00 at major parking lots including the intersection of Jinxi Road and Rong’an Road, TaiMall Shopping Center, Taoyuan Arts and Cultural Park (Tongde Fifth Street), and Zhongzheng North Road (on-call stops along the route). |
|
From now until 2/6 19:00～22:00 |
Cultural and Artistic Performances
|
Playground of Guangming Junior High School |
A limited number of small lanterns will be given out daily at 18:00 in front of the main stage, one per person. |
|
|
From now until 2/6 15:00～22:00 |
Family Interactive Games |
Guangming Riverside Park |
|
|
|
2012 "Miaoli Fire Dragon" Series of Events
|
2/4 18:00～22:40 |
Folk Parade |
Downtown Miaoli (from Nanmiao Triangle Park along Zhongzheng Road to Beimiao Railway Station) |
|
|
2/5 17:00～22:00 |
Fire Dragon Night Festival |
Miaoli City Riverside Park |
||
|
2/8 22:00～24:00 |
Ceremony to Return the Dragon to Heaven |
Wuwenchang Temple |
||
|
Taichung Lantern Festival
|
From now until 2/12
|
Cloud Flying Dragon Main Lantern Area |
Wenxin Forest Park |
Small lanterns are distributed daily from 18:00 starting from now until 2/6. |
|
2/3～2/8 |
Fengyuan Art Week |
Fengyuan District Office Cultural Arts Plaza |
Small lanterns are handed out daily from 18:30 from 2/3 to 2/8. |
|
|
Taichung Dragon Soaring Mazu Lantern Festival – A Reunion Night for Lantern Festival
|
2/6 19:00～21:00 |
Lantern Festival Celebration Gala |
Dajia Zhenlan Temple |
|
|
2/6 19:30～21:30 |
Wuqi Haotian Temple |
|||
|
2/10 19:00～21:00 |
Nantun Wanhe Temple & Hanxi Lecheng Temple |
|||
|
2/11 19:00～21:00 |
Fengyuan Ciji Temple & Shenkeng Shekou Wanxing Temple |
|||
|
Taiwan Lantern Festival
|
February 6 to February 19 |
Dragon Soaring in Radiant Splendor Main Lantern Area |
Lukang Sports Park |
Small lantern distribution points are located at the Happy Lantern Area, Jianguo Road Intersection, Longshan Temple, and Wenchang Temple. Distribution runs from February 5 to February 19, starting daily at 15:00 until supplies last, with a limit of one lantern per person. |
|
Zhongshan Road Charm Lantern Area |
Tianhou Temple, Public Hall, Folk Culture Museum, Longshan Temple |
|||
|
Southern Lantern Area |
Wenchang Temple, Hugan Temple, Ksitigarbha Temple |
|||
|
2012 Mad Dance Bee City — Yanshui Beehive Rockets Series of Events
|
February 5 at 8:00, February 6 at 7:00, February 6 at 12:00 |
Beehive Rockets Event (Palanquin Parade) |
Yanshui Wu Temple |
From now until February 6, activities for the Moon River Lantern Festival will be held around Yuejin Port, Qiaonan Old Street, Wangye Alley, and the outdoor plaza of Yongcheng Theater. |
|
2/6 21:00 |
Beehive Rockets Event (Main Rocket Fort Firing & Aerial Fireworks Display) |
Yanshui Junior High School Playground |
||
|
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Arts Festival
|
From now until February 6
|
Naked Dragon Blessing Ceremony |
Qishan Gushan Park |
Transportation: Take the National Freeway 10 Express Bus from Zuoying High-Speed Rail Station to Kaohsiung Bus Qishan South Station, then walk to the venue. |
|
Fortune-Turning Blessing Lantern Vehicle |
Gangshan Riverbank Park |
Transportation: Take the Red 7, Red 71, or Red 69 shuttle buses from Qiaotou MRT Station to Gangshan Riverbank Park. |
||
|
From now until February 6 19:00 to 22:00 |
Water Dance Performances & Stage Shows |
Glorious Pier
|
Transportation: Take the Red 20 bus to Glorious Pier Station |
|
|
2012 Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival — Dragon Leaps to Bestow Blessings & Flying Han Dan Series of Events
|
From now until February 12 |
Creative Lantern Competition and Exhibition |
Central Lawn Square on Nanjing Road |
|
|
2/4 Starting at 3:00 PM |
Street Parade
|
Route: Old Railway Station → Zhonghua Road → Datong Road → Zhongshan Road → Zhengqi Road → Nanjing Plaza (Citizens' Square) |
||
|
2/4 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
Folk Performance Troupes |
Nanjing Road (Citizens' Square) |
||
|
2/5 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
Deep-Fried Hán Dān God & Lantern Festival Gala |
|||
|
2/6 Starting at 12:30 PM until February 8 |
A total of 10 Deep-Fried Hán Dān performances |
Venues include Shinjuku Fashion Hotel, Xinsheng Road Triangle Park, Zhengqi Road Sifang Goose Meat, and Nanjing Road Square in Taitung City |
|
|
|
Mazu’s Two Horses Soaring in Splendor – 2012 Mazu & Mawei Joint Lantern Festival |
2/4 |
Includes advance loan of Fortune Funds, {J Cup}, Food Carnival, Lantern Lighting Ceremony & Light Show, Celebration Gala, and Fireworks Display |
Jieshou Square |
|
Related News Reports:
“Happy Dragon” Makes an Appearance at the National Father Memorial Hall, Mini Lanterns Distributed Today:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6952
“Cloud-Flying Dragon” Debuts at Taichung Lantern Festival, “Jadeite Cabbage” Draws Crowds:
http://www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6953
Release Sky Lanterns in Pingxi and Experience Janet’s Pingxi Impressions:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6936
Listen to Love Songs, Release Water Lanterns, Enjoy Water Lantern Cuisine – Asia’s Only Waterside Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6898 2012
Taiwan Lantern Festival Kicks Off in Changhua for the Yuanxiao Festival:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6859
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