By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
The “2019 Taiwan Lantern Festival” marked its 30th anniversary and officially lit up on the evening of the Lantern Festival, February 19, at Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area in Donggang Township, Pingtung County. This year’s festival shone with renewed brilliance, showcasing three key features: the main lantern, the mini lanterns, and innovative secondary lanterns.
The 2019 Taiwan Lantern Festival’s main lantern “Giant Tuna Bringing Prosperity” and the mini lantern “2019 Ping’an Pig.” (Photo / Pingtung County Government)
This year marked the first time the Taiwan Lantern Festival was held at a national scenic area, breaking from the tradition of using zodiac animals as the theme for the main lantern. Instead, it drew inspiration from Pingtung’s Donggang’s famous blackfin tuna, integrating the scenic seascape of Dapeng Bay. The main lantern was placed over the water, with the shimmering sea reflecting its colorful lights. Plans were also made to preserve the main lantern as a new landmark of Dapeng Bay after the festival.
The main lantern “Giant Tuna Bringing Prosperity” is designed around the blackfin tuna. (Photo / Pingtung County Government)
The main lantern “Giant Tuna Bringing Prosperity” stands 16 meters tall and uses a lighting circuit system of more than 20,000 sets. Its interior is outfitted with full-color LEDs producing over 12 million pixels of color, offering stunning visuals from any angle. For the first time during the festival, night cruises were offered, providing a fresh perspective to admire the lantern.
The traditional secondary lantern “Southern Harvest” features “The God of Wealth” as the central figure, surrounded by Pingtung fruits and produce, symbolizing abundance and wealth. It conveys the message of “smooth wishes and annual harvest.” (Photo / 2019 Taiwan Lantern)
The innovative secondary lantern is based on a local cultural legend from Pingtung — “Prosperity Pig Deity.” With dazzling lights, it sits confidently, slightly tilting its head, at the entrance green space of the Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Management Office visitor center, welcoming visitors. Meanwhile, the traditional secondary lantern “Southern Harvest” centers on “The God of Wealth,” who governs the land, and “Lighting Up Ping’an” is designed based on the Spring South Gate, crafted using paper-cut techniques to create a hollowed-out effect.
The traditional secondary lantern “Lighting Up Ping’an” is modeled after Hengchun’s South Gate and incorporates themes such as the King Welcoming Festival, Donggang’s Three Treasures, and the cross-sea bridge. (Photo / 2019 Taiwan Lantern)
The most anticipated mini lantern for children, the “2019 Ping’an Pig,” is both eco-friendly and practical. Inspired by the Donggang Pig Deity, it features various symbolic elements, including bats (symbolizing fortune), wild peonies (symbolizing spring), pairs of coins, and intricate patterns from Pingtung’s indigenous Rukai and Paiwan tribes. It also doubles as a coin bank that can hold up to 2,019 coins.
The mini lantern “2019 Ping’an Pig” is eco-friendly, practical, and functions as a coin bank. Limited to 80,000 pieces. (Photo / Pingtung County Government)
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