Celebrate Lantern Festival in Taitung with the thrilling Bombing of the God of Wealth (Han Dan)

The "2010 Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival & Fortune-Bringing Han Dan Bombing Series", jointly organized by the Taitung County Government, Taitung City Office, and the National Taitung Living Arts Museum, will officially kick off on February 23. This year’s events include three main bomb-blasting performances dedicated to the God of Wealth (Han Dan), and visitors are welcome to “come to Taitung for the festivities and experience the unique Han Dan bombing.”

The "Han Dan Bombing" has become a signature event in Taitung, often referred to as one of Taiwan’s “Three Major Festivals”—alongside “Sky Lanterns in the North, Beehive Rockets in the South, and Han Dan in the East.” This thrilling Han Dan Bombing event attracts tens of thousands of tourists and avid “Han Dan chasers” every year. Thanks to extensive coverage by domestic and international media, this traditional folk activity has been listed by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications as one of Taiwan’s “flagship tourism events.” This year’s events will take place at various locations across downtown Taitung, Taitung Tianhou Temple, Nanjing Road, Bao-Ting Art and Cultural Center, and the Seaside Park.

The festivities will begin on February 23 with the Lantern Festival Folk Arts Street organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, featuring traditional and folk art experience workshops. On February 27 and 28, there will be Han Dan bombing gunner training sessions and live bomb-blasting activities. The Taitung Living Arts Museum, in collaboration with the Taitung City Office and the Taitung chapter of the China Youth Corps, will host lantern riddle guessing, lantern painting, and street parades on February 26 and 27 in downtown Taitung and Nanjing Road Square. Additionally, from February 16 to 20, the Taitung Forest District Office, Taitung Living Arts Museum, and Taitung City Office will present the "2010 Tiger Year Spring Driftwood Creative Exhibition" at Seaside Park near Datong Road in Taitung City, allowing the public to explore the creative aesthetics of driftwood.

Other highlights include traditional folk performance troupes, creative lantern competitions and exhibitions, and divine blessings during parade processions. On March 3, a “Fortune-Bringing, Fun Fireworks Night” will be held at Seaside Park in Taitung City. There will also be Taitung folk performance troupe competitions and parades, with top-performing groups eligible for rewards of up to NT$100,000. In addition to the three official Han Dan Bombing performances scheduled for February 28, March 1, and March 3 at Nanjing Road Square, Tianhou Temple, and Seaside Park in Taitung City, the Xuanwu Temple—where the God of Wealth (Han Dan) is enshrined—will also perform upon invitation by local businesses.

This year, Taitung City is offering a special "2-Day Han Dan Bombing Tour Package" for just NT$1,988 per person, including hotel stays, transportation, flower sea viewing, and other great value services. The organizers have also thoughtfully provided earplugs and masks for spectators. For more event details, you can call the Taitung County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau Recreation Section at (089)357-131, the Taitung City Office Civil Affairs Division, or EasyTicket Travel Agency at (089)232-666, or visit relevant Taitung tourism websites.

Taitung County Official Website: http://www.taitung.gov.tw
EasyTicket: http://www.ezcoupon.com.tw
Taitung County Tourism Website: http://tour.taitung.gov.tw
Taitung City Office Official Website: http://www.taitungcity.gov.tw

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