Central Taiwan Lantern Festival’s 40-meter Flying Dragon Main Light Sets Record

By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported

The Central Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held grandly at Taichung’s Wenxin Forest Park from February 1 to February 12. This year’s main light, the “Cloud Soaring Dragon,” is 40 meters long and 15 meters high, setting a record for the longest main light in the history of Taiwan’s Lantern Festivals. The small lanterns given out are also uniquely designed as “little flying dragons” holding Taichung’s iconic sun cakes and bubble tea, showcasing the city’s reputation as a food capital. The event also features an overseas lantern area, displaying large lanterns from Hong Kong, Zigong in Sichuan, Xiamen, and other places. Additionally, to complement the lantern festival activities, an Arts Week will be held from February 3 to 8 at the Fengyuan District Office Cultural Plaza, featuring a massive two-story-tall ink-painted lantern co-painted by 20 artists.

This year’s main light show breaks away from tradition by using a dynamic, freely swaying mechanism instead of a static rotating base. The entire dragon-shaped main light moves vividly, enhanced by colored mist and sound effects, creating the illusion of dancing amidst clouds and fog—an eye-catching spectacle. The overseas lantern area showcases large lanterns from Hong Kong, Sichuan, Xiamen, and other regions. Among them, Hong Kong’s lanterns feature six uniquely designed theme dragons representing the city’s diverse culture. Zigong Lantern Festival in Sichuan contributed two sets of lanterns: “Jadeite Cabbage” and “Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity.” The “Jadeite Cabbage” is exquisitely crafted, using internal and refracted lighting to produce a crystal-clear, luminous effect. The “Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity” is made from multicolored glass bottles, showcasing a vibrant array of colors.

The Fengyuan Arts Week, starting February 3, also includes lantern exhibitions, evening galas, and night market food events. Among them, the two-story-tall, 3.3-meter-wide hand-painted ink lantern will be showcased alongside a sound-and-light performance. At Wenxin Forest Park, small “flying dragon” lanterns will be handed out every evening starting February 1 through February 6 at 6 PM. The Fengyuan District Office Cultural Plaza will distribute them from February 3 to 8, beginning at 6:30 PM, with a total of 50,000 lanterns available until supplies last.

For more Spring Festival entertainment information, you can download the free “Spring Festival Fun App”:

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