By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported
The 2016 Taipei Lantern Festival took place from February 20 to February 29. The most anticipated main lantern design featured an unprecedented irregularly curved light sculpture lantern named "Fortune Monkey," which was crafted by internationally acclaimed multimedia artist Mr. Lin Shumin. In addition, 12 distinctive themed lantern zones were unveiled, integrating resources from Taipei’s 12 administrative districts, presenting for the first time the creative concept of “the whole city as the Taipei Lantern Festival.” There was also an i-Voting campaign titled “12 Lantern Zones — Vote for the Most Beautiful,” where Mayor Ko Wen-je visited the top-voted lantern zone on the night of the Lantern Festival, celebrating the occasion with Taipei citizens and visitors.
The main lantern "Fortune Monkey" stands 14.2 meters tall and is shaped like a "gourd," symbolizing traditional meanings of "fortune and prosperity" and "many children and much happiness." (Image source / Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau)
The main lantern "Fortune Monkey" stands 14.2 meters tall and is shaped like a "gourd," inspired by the traditional symbolism of gourds representing "fortune and prosperity" and "many children and much happiness." The lantern was named "Fortune Monkey" as a play on the pronunciation of "gourd." The peach and goldfish on the monkey carry auspicious meanings of "longevity" and "abundance year after year." Beyond its appearance, this year's main lantern also emphasizes the combination of environmentalism and art. The surface of the "Fortune Monkey" is made of bubble wrap, and the surrounding area features recycled Styrofoam crafted into a Taipei land art installation. When viewed from above, it forms a miniature map of Taipei City. The festival aims to turn the concept of environmental protection into a form of living art through this event.
Main Lantern Design Concept
The main lantern of the 2016 Taipei Lantern Festival is a highly distinctive “light sculpture monkey.” Designer Mr. Lin Shumin broke away from the conventional flat light sculpture style used domestically and boldly attempted to create this main lantern using light projection on an irregularly curved surface. Beyond the technical innovation, the performance aspect is truly breathtaking and captivating. The artist transforms the "Fortune Monkey" main lantern into a screen, using technology as a brush to paint with light. During the festival, from 7 PM to 11 PM every evening, a 5-minute show is presented every 30 minutes. It begins with a near-realistic red curtain that swiftly transitions into a green forest, then alternates between contemporary-style lines, traditional blue-and-white porcelain vases, delicate carved gourd lacquerware, tender Lantern Festival glutinous rice balls, moments where the gourd fills with water and goldfish swarm in, and then morphs into a vast universe. The performance is vibrant and ingenious, showcasing the ever-changing forms of the “Fortune Monkey” main lantern like a treasure-filled gourd. Each transformation is achieved through technological effects, and every change delights the audience on site — an absolute must-see highlight of this year’s Taipei Lantern Festival.
The main lantern of the 2016 Taipei Lantern Festival is a highly distinctive “light sculpture monkey.” (Image source / Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau)
Highlights of the Lantern Festival Events
Another major highlight of this year’s Taipei Lantern Festival is the 12 specially crafted lantern zones by the city’s administrative districts. Starting with the “Songshan Lantern Zone,” the longest-running exhibit is the Songshan Ciyou Temple’s Rainbow Light Tunnel, resembling the brightest rainbow in the night sky. Taipei City God Temple sets up a special lantern zone on the central pedestrian walkway of Civic Boulevard and hosts a Peaceful Glutinous Rice Sharing Event. The “Xinyi Lantern Zone” features a cross-street light corridor decorated along Fude Street, extending to the main exhibition venue at Songshan Cihui Temple, with over a hundred traditional lanterns, cartoon-themed lanterns, and various interactive facilities, making it a great spot for New Year worship and hiking. The “Da’an Lantern Zone” emphasizes international connections and community participation, with lanterns painted by local residents lining both sides of Xinsheng South Road (between Heping East Road and Xinyi Road), creating a distinctive lantern boulevard. The “Zhongshan Lantern Zone” features the “Wenchang Sacred Realm” in front of Wenchang Temple, where a golden energy sphere can be scanned via mobile phone to receive digital blessings from the God of Literature, a favorite among young students. The “Zhongzheng Lantern Zone” showcases a street-spanning light display in front of Taipei City’s Taiwan Provincial City God Temple and along Section 1 of Wuchang Street (from Zhonghua Road to Chongqing South Road), making visitors feel as if they are walking under a starry sky.
New Year Mini Lantern “Lele.” (Image source / Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau)
The “Datong Lantern Zone” is the only district with two distinctive lantern areas — one centered around Taipei Bao’an Temple, the only UNESCO-recognized historic site in Taiwan, featuring nighttime light sculpture on its iconic architecture, and the other hosted by Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art, showcasing interactive experiences and the beauty of contemporary art through modern technology and diverse artistic expressions. The “Wanhua Lantern Zone” sets up a large Guanyin image prayer lantern in the Xingxiang Plaza of Bangka Park, blessing visiting tourists. The “Wenshan Lantern Zone” combines floral and horticultural displays from the Taipei Flower and Plant Wholesale Market with various light decorations, creating a beautiful interplay of “flowers” and “lanterns.” The “Nangang Lantern Zone” installs traditional celebratory and zodiac-themed lantern displays on the first-floor plaza of the A and B buildings of CITYLINK Nangang Store, while lanterns are also strung along Nanxing Park to Nangang Station to encourage local community participation. The “Neihu Lantern Zone” decorates the Neihu Old Street and its faith centers, with traditional lanterns and light strings adorning the Civic Hall to showcase the collective spirit of the area. The “Shilin Lantern Zone” partners with Ciyou Temple (Mazu Temple), installing auspicious lanterns featuring the God of Wealth and the Matchmaker, and setting up a sea of 1,200 lights on the temple square and Shilin Night Market’s Danan Road. The “Beitou Lantern Zone,” located at Guandu Temple and Guandu Waterfront Park, is the largest exhibition area, featuring a giant monkey-themed main lantern, traditional vintage lanterns, and riverside specialty light corridors in the park, as well as traditional electric lanterns inside the temple, immersing visitors in the unique atmosphere of the famous Guandu Lantern Festival.
The 2016 Taipei Lantern Festival’s main exhibition at Yuanshan Flower Expo Park ran from February 20 to 29, while the 12 administrative lantern zones were unveiled from the end of January to mid-March. February 21 and 22 were the dates for distributing the 2016 Monkey Year mini lantern “Lele.” Those planning to visit the lantern festival in Taipei are encouraged to prepare in advance. Visitors can also head to the i-Voting official website between February 16 and 12:00 PM on February 29 to vote for their favorite creative lantern zone.