Five Major Themes Debut at New Taipei Lantern Festival: Romantic Lovers' Magpie Bridge Steals the Spotlight

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
 
The New Taipei Lantern Festival will be held from now until March 3 over 14 consecutive days at the Greater Taipei Metropolitan Park in Sanchong, featuring five distinctive themed zones. The event invites participation from Nanjing, Kunshan, Changzhou, and Jurong in China, as well as more than 40 temples within New Taipei City. A total of 80 large-scale lantern displays will be exhibited, allowing visitors to stroll along ChenGuang Bridge to enjoy the festive lights.

This year’s New Taipei Lantern Festival has been expanded, covering an area of 6 hectares stretching across both sides of ChenGuang Bridge. Five uniquely themed zones have been meticulously designed. The “Cross-Strait Artisans Showcase” features lanterns jointly created by Taiwanese and Chinese lantern masters. The Chinese lantern zone will include traditional structures such as an archway, sky lantern prayer installations, the Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl, as well as unique floating lanterns like the Springtime Lotus Pond. The Taiwanese lantern zone will feature the main lantern “Five Blessings Arrive, Pigs Bring Great Fortune,” designed by Master Lin Jian’er, alongside traditional figures such as the God of Wealth, the Old Man Under the Moon, Mazu, and Ji Gong, all gathering to bestow blessings.

The ChenGuang Bridge, completed last year within the park, will be transformed into a “Lovers' Magpie Bridge” during the festival. From the bridge, visitors can overlook the light sculpture of a girl blowing bubbles. The bridge is specially adorned with a Love Lantern Corridor, a Star Lantern Corridor, and an Imperial Lantern Pathway, allowing couples to stroll beneath the lanterns and enjoy a romantic atmosphere.