By MOOK Travel & Living / Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
The "2014 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival," themed "One Life, One Love, Happiness Takes Flight," began with its first event at Jing Tong Elementary School on February 3 — the "Wish for 100% Success and Prosperity" God of Wealth Blessing Lantern Ceremony, which commenced with a new-year-inspired ingot sky lantern symbolizing fresh hopes. On February 8, the "Ignite Hope, Touch the World" Blessing Lantern Ceremony was held at Pingxi Junior High School, where 1,040 messages of goodwill from friends across the world’s five continents, submitted via the event website, were released in the sky along with a “Peace & Love” wishing lantern, designed as a mosaic of national flags from around the globe. The grand finale will take place on February 14, the Lantern Festival, at Shifen Square, featuring the debut of the “Round Baby Lanterns.”
The second event of the New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival was held on February 8, with the grand finale scheduled for February 14. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
The wishing lantern, featuring messages of goodwill from across the world’s five continents, took flight on February 8. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
The New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival was recognized in 2013 by both CNN and the world’s largest travel publisher, Fodor’s, as one of the “52 Things to Do in 2013” and among the “14 Must-Experience Festivals in a Lifetime,” respectively. The 2014 edition will continue on February 14, which is both the Lantern Festival and Valentine’s Day, with the “Hand in Hand, Love Soars” Blessing Lantern Ceremony at Shifen Square. In addition to the romantic heart-shaped lanterns, the “Giant Panda Round Baby Lantern,” a collaborative creation between New Taipei City and Taipei City, will make its first appearance to celebrate the festival. The New Taipei City Government invites everyone to gather under the first full moon of 2014 with family, loved ones, and close friends in Pingxi to release lanterns. Under the warm glow of the lanterns, may you reunite, reconnect, and let love take flight.
Wishing lanterns soar into the sky along with many others. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
On February 14 (Lantern Festival), comprehensive traffic controls for cars and motorcycles will be in place from 9:00 AM to midnight. Control points include the Shuangxi Intersection at Provincial Highway 106 and 106B, the tunnel entrance before the Shiding Fort Tunnel on Highway 106B, Zhuangjing Bridge, the entrance and exit of Shifen Scenic Area, the entrance before Ping-Shuang Tunnel (entrance to Shuangxi Mana Villa), and the intersection of Ruiping Highway and Dingping Highway (Ruifang Industrial Area). To avoid traffic congestion, the New Taipei City Government urges the public to take trains or shuttle buses to the event. Shuttle bus pick-up points are available at Taipei Zoo, Ruifang Railway Station, and the Shiding Connector of the Taipei-Yilan Expressway. Fare is NT$50, NT$30, and NT$30 respectively when boarding, with no charge when descending.
The adorable Round Baby Lanterns will make their debut at Shifen Square on February 14, the Lantern Festival. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
In addition to the lantern festival events, the “New Taipei Travelers” Facebook fan page is hosting a “One Life, One Love, Happiness Takes Flight – Hope to Fly” wish campaign. Fans who share their lifelong dreams on the fan page will have a chance to win a NT$10,000 dream fulfillment grant or a small blessing lantern charm (200 winners). The campaign runs until February 23.
● Further Reading:
[Monday Food] S.T.A.Y., The Sexiest Three-Star Dining Experience
www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=9596