The 2014 Taipei Lantern Festival will be held from February 7 to 16, offering a 10-day lantern art celebration at the Flower Expo Yuanshan and Taipei Fine Arts Park. The long-awaited mini lanterns have made an early appearance, departing from the traditional single zodiac animal design. In line with the 2014 Taipei Lantern Festival’s vibrant fairy-tale theme, the mini lanterns are presented for the first time as a joyful and dreamy “carousel,” featuring a function that allows them to actually spin. The design aims to bring happiness and good fortune to everyone at the start of the new year.
This year’s Taipei Lantern Festival mini lanterns have made an early debut. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau)
The 2014 Taipei Lantern Festival mini lantern is named “Dream-骏” (Dream-Horse), inspired by the meaning of the zodiac horse galloping and roaming freely. Using the homophone of the Chinese character “骏” (meaning “fine horse”), it conveys the joy and “Dream” concept of the carousel. On the central pole of the carousel, a deep blue night sky is set against colorful fireworks, reflecting silhouettes of iconic Taipei landmarks such as Taipei 101, the Grand Hotel, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and a Ferris wheel—creating the feeling of being in a joyful Taipei amusement park. Another surprising feature of this year’s lantern is its “spinning” life-like design, vividly portraying a rotating carousel in an amusement park. It is hoped that as the “Dream-骏” spins, it will also bring a whole year of happiness and good fortune to those who hold it.
Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau Director Huang Lü-Jinru stated that the “Dream-骏” is composed of five differently colored fine horses, each representing a unique meaning. The “white horse,” styled after the image of a prince on a white steed, symbolizes boundless charm; the simple and natural “brown horse” represents enthusiasm, freedom, and a love for nature; the unexpected victor “black horse” signifies excellence; the “red horse,” inspired by the legendary brave red hare horse, stands for strength and power; while the majestic and elegant “purple horse” embodies good fortune and luck.
A total of 180,000 mini lanterns will be produced this year. They will be distributed starting at 1:00 PM on February 8 and 9 at 14 different locations simultaneously. Following last year’s method, in addition to all 12 districts of Taipei City, they will also be given out at the “lantern riddle arena side” and the “entrance of the Flower Tunnel in Taipei Fine Arts Park” during the lantern festival. The distribution follows a one-per-person limit, and quantities are limited—first come, first served.
The 2014 Taipei Lantern Festival will kick off on January 25 by lighting up a 2.9-kilometer stretch of Happiness Taipei Lantern Sea along Zhongshan North Road Sections 1 to 3, casting a romantic and warm festive atmosphere through dazzling lights reflected on streets and buildings along the route. From February 7 to 16 over a 10-day period, the main exhibition areas at the Flower Expo Yuanshan and Taipei Fine Arts Park will illuminate Taipei’s night sky with brilliant lights.
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