Keelung’s “Water Lantern Release” Event Kicks Off on the 16th — Traffic Controls and Free Shuttle Buses Explained

▲ The Keelung Water Lantern Release is a well-known local traditional event. (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Reporter Cai Wenjun / Comprehensive Report

The annual “Ji Long Zhong Yuan Festival Water Lantern Release” and parade, organized by the Keelung City Government, is the area’s most iconic traditional event. This year, it will take place on the evening of August 16. To facilitate public attendance, the Keelung City Government will implement traffic and public transport controls starting at 5 p.m. that day. Travelers planning to attend the water lantern event are advised to take note.

The “Water Lantern Release” is a long-standing traditional custom in Keelung. It is said to allow the “departing spirits” who have exited the “Ghost Gate” to have homes and money in the afterlife. Paper houses, elaborately constructed and filled with joss paper, are burned at sea before midnight on the 14th day of the lunar month to complete the ritual. The event draws large crowds every year.

▲ The water lanterns must be burned out at sea. (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Road Traffic Controls

The Keelung City Government announced that in response to the Water Lantern Parade, traffic controls will be enforced from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the 16th, divided into the eastern, southern, western, and northern districts, during which all vehicle types will be prohibited from entering or exiting. Controlled sections include:
1. East: Fuhu Bridge Head / Dongming Intersection; Xin Yi Road / Yi Jiu Intersection; Ren Yi Road / Yue Mei Intersection.
2. South: Badu Road / Guo’an Intersection; No. 17, Lane 37, Section 117, Nanrong Road, in front of Jieshanbao Building; Ai San Road / Ren Wu Intersection.
3. West: Chenggong Yi Road / Chenggong Overpass Head; Bridge 29 (Daye Tunnel Exit) / East Bank Elevated Bridge Entrance; Zhong Si Road / Xiao Er Intersection; Chenggong Er Road / Bridge 31 Head; An Yi Road / Zhongshan Bridge Head; Zhongshan Yi Road / Minzhi Level Crossing.
4. North: Yi Yi Road / Zhongzheng Intersection; Zhongzheng Road / Xin Yi Road Intersection to Xin Wu Road Intersection and nearby junctions.

The Keelung City Government stated that the Zhongzheng Road connection to the East Bank (Zhongzheng) Elevated Bridge leading to the Zhongshan Expressway will remain open for two-way traffic without control, serving as an alternative route for normal passage.

For the water lantern release, the Keelung City Government announced that from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. the following day, two-way traffic control will be implemented on Provincial Highway 2, from Beining Road Pinglang Bridge Head (near Chaojing Park, about 500 meters from Tiaohe Street) to the intersection of Rui Ba Highway and the Coastal Highway. All vehicle types will be prohibited from entering or exiting. The public is advised to detour via Tiaohe Street and Provincial Highway 2D (Rui Ba Highway).

▲ Crowds gather annually to watch the Water Lantern Release event. (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Public Transport Controls

City buses, Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport, and Keelung Bus will also be subject to controls, including:
1. Vehicles coming from Zhongzheng District: Turn back at Zhongzheng Road / Zhongchuan Intersection.
2. Vehicles coming from Xinyi District: Turn back at Dongxin Road / Zhengxin Intersection.
3. Vehicles coming from Zhongshan District: Turn back at Zhongshan Yi Road / Chenggong Er Road Intersection.
4. Vehicles coming from Qidu District and Nuannuan District: Turn back at Nanrong Road / Qu Shui Street Intersection (near Sankeng Station).
5. Vehicles coming from Anle District: Turn back at Anle Yi Road / Chenggong Yi Road Intersection.
6. Routes for Kuo-Kuang, Fuhe, INHANG, and Capital buses:
Highway 1 – Badu Interchange – Mackin Road – Anle Yi and Er Roads – Zhongzheng Yi Road – Minzhi Level Crossing – Train Station – Zhongshan Bridge – Park Street – Zhong Si Road – Zhongshan Expressway (rejoin original route).
7. Keelung Bus national highway routes:
(1) National New City – Mackin Road (Chang Gung Hospital) – Daye Tunnel – East Bank Elevated Bridge – Zhongzheng Road (Cultural Center) – Zhongzheng Road (Port Authority) – East Bank Elevated Bridge – Zhongxing Tunnel – Zhongshan Expressway (return to original line).

▲ Scene of the Water Lantern Release. (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Free Water Lantern Shuttle Buses and Transportation Transfers

To facilitate public access, the Keelung City Government has also arranged free shuttles for the Water Lantern event. Departures are available from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the C Area Parking Lot of Bisha Fishing Port, and at 10 p.m. at the back gate of the government office on Zhongzheng Road.

The return trip departs from Wanghai Alley, passing by the C-area parking lot of Bisha Fishing Port before finally arriving at Keelung Railway Station; at midnight, Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport will also depart from Wanghai Alley via Zhongxiao East Road to Taipei Railway Station; Taiwan Railways has added 2 additional electric train services, departing at 0:10 AM from Keelung to Taipei and at 0:30 AM from Keelung to Shulin.