The carousel kicks off the festive fun—Wanjin Christmas Carnival takes place every weekend.

By MOOK Travel & Living Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

 

The Wanjin Christmas season has begun with the lights switched on—and that includes the magical carousel Christmas tree in front of the Wanjin Basilica, as surrounding streets also glow with festive illuminations, kicking off nearly a month of holiday cheer. Pingtung County Government has also invited the Chimei Mandolin Orchestra to perform, filling the air with melodious tunes echoing through the basilica while visitors stroll under the beautiful starlit night sky. The most popular attraction, the carousel Christmas tree, will be open for free rides from 5 to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Catholicism has been practiced in Wanjin Village, Wanluan Township, for over 150 years. Come December, the once quiet village springs to life, with nearly every household decking out their homes with Christmas lights to welcome the season and boost the festive mood. This year, the county’s Tourism and Communications Department commissioned the Wanjin Community Development Association to expand the Christmas light displays beyond the area around the Wanjin Basilica and main village streets to include Chishan Village, Wugou Village, and the Ulaljuc Tribe in Taiwu Township—even the temporary parking lot at the entrance to Wanjin Village features a Christmas light tree, making the Wanjin night scene even more “spectacular.”

The Tourism and Communications Department stated that this year’s Wanjin Christmas season runs from December 1 to December 25. Not only can visitors enjoy the warm glow of Christmas lights at night, but there are also activities nearly every Saturday and Sunday: On December 9, the Wanjin Basilica celebrates the 151st anniversary of its founding as the patron church with a grand procession of the Virgin Mary; from December 15–16 and 22–23, there are Christmas Carnival events; December 22–25 features a four-day Christmas market selling Christmas-themed cultural and creative goods and local agricultural specialties, plus a Christmas evening party on the evening of the 24th. On December 15 and 22, there’s also a Starlight Coffee Concert at the Ulaljuc Tribe in Taiwu Township, and on December 24, there’s an Indigenous Peoples’ Market, a Coffee Expo, and a Christmas Eve Party, offering a different kind of indigenous Christmas atmosphere. For details, please visit the event website www.2012wjxmas.tw.