By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
The “most beautiful Taiwan Lantern Festival in history” ignited a wave of online discussion after its trial run on February 15. Visitor numbers surged dramatically after the official opening on February 19, with 810,000 people pouring in on Saturday the 23rd. As of the 23rd, the total number of visitors has exceeded 3 million. The first day of the 228 holiday break set a record with 1.67 million entries. Shuttle buses and trains operated until 2 a.m. on March 1. Not only were up to 900 buses dispatched for transit, but Taiwan Railways also added and extended service hours until all visitors were transported.
Taiwan Lantern Festival is in Pingtung ! Visitor numbers hit a new high. (Photo / Pingtung City Government, same below)
In response to the 228 holiday break, the shuttle route at Kaohsiung MRT’s International Airport Station has been suspended, with capacity focused on local Taiwan Rail stations and parking lots to improve efficiency in dispersing the crowd after the event. The capacity for Taiwan Lantern Festival shuttle buses has also been shifted to Chaozhou Railway Station. The county government increased the number of shuttle buses at Chaozhou Railway Station from over 80 to more than 120. Meanwhile, Taiwan Railways added more than 8 additional train services on top of the originally scheduled 17, to serve the dispersing crowds.
The 2019 Taiwan Lantern Festival not only featured a main light display that broke away from the traditional zodiac theme, instead highlighting Pingtung’s signature produce — the “tuna” — but also pushed the festival to new heights with an AI-powered drone light show. The lantern festival evolved beyond conventional sound-and-light technology and water dance performances, incorporating synchronized drone formations, aerial and water fireworks, and high-spec integrated shows, creating a spectacular 3D visual feast on land, sea, and air.
The new immigrant art-themed main light “You Embrace Me, I Embrace You” – Goddess of the Sea in the Dapeng Bay Lantern Area is made up of individual oyster shells !
Intel Technology’s drone light show has been performed at major events around the world, such as the 2016 German Super Bowl, the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, and more, setting numerous records and amazing audiences worldwide. 300 Intel drones formed various patterns in perfect unison in the night sky, from black tuna, sails, Pingtung, the Eluanbi Lighthouse to TAIWAN, even featuring the smiling face of the Earth God. Seeing familiar elements of Pingtung displayed in the night sky not only delivered astonishing visual effects but also moved the hearts of the entire audience, leaving many visitors exclaiming, “The Taiwan Lantern Festival is really amazing!”
During the festival, international media also praised the Taiwan Lantern Festival as a “Disneyland without roller coasters,” and there was good news such as an invitation to perform at the 2020 Copenhagen Light Festival in Denmark. “I’m from Pingtung, and I’m proud” became a popular slogan of this year’s lantern festival !
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