By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
Last year’s highly acclaimed New Taipei City Lantern Festival, which attracted over 1.2 million visitors, is back this year from February 18 to March 3 for 14 consecutive days at the Greater Taipei Metropolitan Park in Sanchong, expanding to five distinctive themed zones featuring collaboration between lantern artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, romantic settings for couples, and the chance to stroll along the ChenGuang Bridge for beautiful views of the lanterns.
The newly completed ChenGuang Bridge will be transformed into a “Lovers’ Magpie Bridge” during the festival. (Photo screenshot from / New Taipei City Government, same below)
The New Taipei Prayer Lantern Festival “Pig Fortune Lantern Festival” will be lit up at 7 PM on February 18. The opening ceremony will be hosted by celebrity Wu Yipei, featuring performances by top-tier artists such as Show Lo, Lina Lee, and Eggplant Egg, as well as a captivating drum performance by the local traditional arts group “Song Kun Chuan Yi” from Sanchong.
The signature main lantern “Pig Fortune Double Blessings.”
This year’s lantern festival covers an area of 6 hectares, with the venue divided into five distinctive themed zones. The event has expanded invitations to cities across the strait including Nanjing, Kunshan, Changzhou, and Jurong in mainland China, along with participation from over 40 temples within New Taipei City, showcasing up to 80 large-scale lanterns. It promises a lively, exciting, and fun experience—everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the Lantern Festival.
Traditional lanterns galore, crafted by artisans from both sides of the strait.
The “Cross-Strait Artisans Zone” features lanterns co-created by master lantern makers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The mainland lantern area will include traditional structures such as archways, sky lantern prayer zones, the Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl, and unique lanterns like the lotus pond in spring floating on water. The Taiwan lantern area will feature the main lantern “Five Blessings Arrive, Pigs Bring Great Fortune,” along with traditional deities such as the God of Wealth, the God of Love, Mazu, and Ji Gong, all gathering to bestow blessings.
The Lovers’ Magpie Bridge shines brightly at dawn.
During the festival, the ChenGuang Bridge will be transformed into a “Lovers’ Magpie Bridge,” where visitors can overlook the glowing sculpture of a bubble-blowing girl. The bridge is specially decorated with a love-themed lantern corridor, a starlight lantern corridor, and a palace lantern pathway. Next to the main lantern, the “Pig Fortune Bumping Pig” zone features 30 roly-poly pig lanterns that light up when touched, creating an interactive play area for both kids and adults.
Fluorescent fun bouncing pig balls – an interactive light zone that lights up with a touch.
- 1
- 2