By Liu Jiawen / Compiled and reported
To celebrate Lantern Festival, celebration events are taking place across Taiwan, including the ongoing Kaohsiung Lantern Festival and Central Taiwan Lantern Festival. The Taipei Lantern Festival, featuring both physical and virtual main lanterns, opened last night, and this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held on the 6th in Lukang, Changhua. In addition, major traditional Lantern Festival events across the island will kick off this weekend, including the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City, the Hakka tradition of the Miaoli Beehive Fireworks, the historic Tainan Yanshui Beehive Rockets, and Taitung’s Kan Kan Darts, among others. Don’t miss out if you’re interested!
The highlights of the New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will take place tomorrow and next Monday, featuring two large-scale sky lantern release events. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
This year’s Taipei Lantern Festival’s main lantern is located at the National Father Memorial Hall, with the golden-colored main lantern named “HAPPY Dragon.” Meanwhile, the virtual main lantern 3D “Auspicious Dragon Theater” set up in front of the City Hall Plaza is a high-tech main lantern featuring a massive naked-eye 3D floating projection diamond tower. Notably, the “HAPPY Dragon” mini lanterns, which were originally distributed across 12 administrative districts, still have 5,000 available for public collection. Therefore, starting at 1 PM tomorrow (the 4th), they will once again be handed out at the corridor near the entrance of Daxiao Gate at the Zhongzheng Memorial Hall, with one per person. The Taiwan Lantern Festival to be held on the 6th in Lukang, Changhua, will not only feature the spectacular “Dragon Soaring in Radiant Glory” main lantern area but also allow visitors to explore the entire Lukang town by visiting different lantern zones.
This year’s Taipei Lantern Festival runs from now until February 12th, with the HAPPY Dragon main lantern at the National Father Memorial Hall being displayed every night from 7 PM to 11 PM, with a show every 30 minutes. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Civil Affairs Bureau)
“Northern Sky Lanterns, Southern Beehive Rockets, Eastern Kan Kan Darts” are deeply traditional Lantern Festival celebrations that will take place successively from this weekend to next Monday. The Pingxi Sky Lantern releases in New Taipei City will be held on Saturday and next Monday, both at Shifen Square. Limited-edition wooden sky lantern amulets will also be given out at the event. Participants in the lantern riddle games at the evening parties may also win LED sky lantern badges. Tainan’s Yanshui Beehive Rockets provide a striking cultural and dynamic contrast to the “Northern Sky Lanterns” as part of Taiwan’s Lantern Festival traditions. The daytime palanquin parades will begin this Sunday, featuring performances such as the Songjiang Battle Array, dragon dances, and drum performances. The highlight – the beehive rocket displays – will take place next Monday at the Yanshui High School sports field.
The Miaoli Beehive Dragon event follows Hakka traditional rituals, from the eye-dotting ceremony for the dragon, to the nine-grid dragon team performing dragon dances to thank the gods, to the dragon transforming and returning to the heavens. It is the most traditional Hakka-style Lantern Festival celebration. Tomorrow, festive street parades and Hakka food and product exhibitions will be held in downtown Miaoli and along Zhongshan North Road. On Sunday evening, there will be a Beehive Dragon evening party at the riverside park. The Taitung Lantern Folk Carnival, which has a 63-year history, is the most thrilling Lantern Festival event, with numerous divine palanquins, folk performance troupes, and floats taking part every year. This year’s Kan Kan Darts (fireworks shot at the deity Kan Kan) will be held in 10 sessions, with the first session starting at 12:30 PM on the 6th at the Shinjuku Fashion Hotel in Taitung City. The event will run until February 8th.
A list of Lantern Festival celebrations across Taiwan:
|
Event Name |
Date and Time |
Activities |
Venue |
Notes |
|
Taipei Lantern Festival
|
Now ~ 2/12 |
Happy Dragon Main Lantern Area |
National Father Memorial Hall |
Starting 1 PM on 2/4, mini lanterns will be distributed at the corridor near the Daxiao Gate entrance of Zhongzheng Memorial Hall (next to Aiguo East Road), one per person per day. |
|
3D Auspicious Dragon Theater – City Hall Lantern Area |
Civic Square |
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New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
|
2/4 6 PM ~ 9 PM |
Large-scale lantern blessing event |
Shifen Square
|
Transportation: Shuttle buses available from Muzha Zoo, Shiding Connector of the Northern Cross-Island Highway, Yeren Valley, and Ruifang Railway Station. Fee structure: |
|
2/6 6:30 PM ~ 8:20 PM |
Sky Lantern Festival: A Grand Prayer Event Celebrating Lantern Festival with Thousands of Lights |
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2012 Yonghe District Lantern Festival Celebration, New Taipei City
|
2/4 19:00～21:00 |
Lantern Festival Gala Evening |
Yonghe Lehua Night Market |
|
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2/5 19:00～21:00 |
Traditional Opera Performances |
Ren’ai Park, Yonghe District |
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2012 Shulin’s Beauty Spring Festival Carnival Lantern Festival in New Taipei City
|
From now until 2/7, 17:00～21:00 |
Lantern Exhibition |
Zhen Gong and Bao’an Second Street, Shulin District |
|
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2/4 Starting at 17:00 |
Religious Parade and Prayer Ceremony |
Haiming Temple, Shulin District |
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2012 Taoyuan Lantern Festival Series Events at Luzhu
|
From now until 2/6 19:00～22:00 |
Luzhi Dragon Main Light Show, Water Dance Performances and Fireworks Display |
Nanxi Riverside Park
|
Transportation: Free shuttle services are available daily from 17:00 to 23:00 at major parking lots including the intersection of Jinxi Road and Rong’an Road, Taiwan Mao Shopping Mall, Taoyuan Arts and Cultural Park (Tongde Fifth Street), and Zhongzheng North Road (on-call stops along the route). |
|
From now until 2/6 19:00～22:00 |
Cultural and Artistic Performances
|
Playground of Guangming Junior High School |
Small lanterns are distributed in limited quantities at the main stage from 18:00 daily, one per person. |
|
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From now until 2/6 15:00～22:00 |
Family Interactive Games |
Guangming Riverside Park |
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2012 "Miaoli Fire Dragon" Series of Events
|
2/4 18:00～22:40 |
Folk Street Parade |
Miaoli City Area (from Nanmiao Triangle Park, along Zhongzheng Road to Beimiao Railway Station) |
|
|
2/5 17:00～22:00 |
Fire Dragon Evening Gala |
Miaoli Riverside Park |
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|
2/8 22:00～24:00 |
Dragon Ascension Ceremony |
Wuwenchang Temple |
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|
Taichung Lantern Festival
|
From now until 2/12
|
Cloud-Flying Dragon Main Lantern Area |
Wenxin Forest Park |
Small lanterns will be distributed daily from 18:00 starting now until 2/6. |
|
2/3～2/8 |
Fengyuan Arts Week |
Fengyuan District Office Cultural Square |
Small lanterns will be given out daily from 18:30 from 2/3～2/8. |
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Taichung Dragon Soars, Mazu Celebrates Lantern Festival Reunion Night
|
2/6 19:00～21:00 |
Lantern Festival Celebration Gala |
Dajia Zhenlan Temple |
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|
2/6 19:30～21:30 |
Wuchi Haotian Temple |
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2/10 19:00～21:00 |
Nantun Wanhe Temple, Hangan Lecheng Temple |
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2/11 19:00～21:00 |
Fengyuan Ciji Temple, Shenkeng Shekou Wanxing Temple |
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|
Taiwan Lantern Festival
|
February 6 – February 19 |
Main Lantern Area: Majestic Dragons and Glorious Clouds |
Lukang Sports Park |
Small lantern distribution locations include Happy Lantern Area, Jianguo Road Intersection, Longshan Temple, and Wenchang Temple. Distribution runs from February 5 to February 19, starting daily at 3:00 PM until supplies last, limited to one lantern per person. |
|
Zhongshan Road Charm Lantern Area |
Tianhou Temple, Public Hall, Folklore Museum, Longshan Temple |
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South Lantern Area |
Wenchang Temple, Hugan Temple, Ksitigarbha Temple |
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2012 Mad Dance of the Bee City – Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Series of Events
|
February 5 at 8:00, February 6 at 7:00, February 6 at 12:00 |
Beehive Fireworks Activity (Palanquin Parade) |
Yanshui Wu Temple |
From now until February 6, events of the Moon River Lantern Festival will be held around Yujiang Port, Qiaonan Old Street, Wangye Lane, and the outdoor plaza of Yongcheng Theater. |
|
2/6 21:00 |
Beehive Fireworks Activity (Main Cannon City Fireworks Display, Aerial Fireworks Show) |
Yanshui Junior High School Playground |
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Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Arts Festival
|
From now until February 6
|
Naked Dragon Blessing Ceremony |
Qishan Drum Mountain Park |
Transportation: Take the National Freeway 10 Express Bus from Zuoying HSR Station to Kaohsiung Bus Qishan South Station, then walk to the destination. |
|
Fortune-Turning Blessing Lantern Vehicle |
Gangshan Riverbank Park |
Transportation: Take the Red 7, Red 71, or Red 69 shuttle buses from Qiaotou Railway Station MRT to Gangshan Riverbank Park. |
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|
From now until February 6 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
Water Dance Performances, Stage Shows |
Glory Pier
|
Transportation: Take the Red 20 bus to Glory Pier Station |
|
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2012 Taitung Lantern Festival Folk Carnival – Dragon Leaps to Bestow Blessings and Exploding Cold Deity Series of Events
|
Today ~ February 12 |
Creative Lantern Competition and Exhibition |
Central Lawn Plaza on Nanjing Road |
|
|
2/4 Starting at 3:00 PM |
Street Parade
|
Route: Old Railway Station → Zhonghua Road → Datong Road → Zhongshan Road → Zhengqi Road → Nanjing Square (Citizens’ Square) |
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|
2/4 7:00 PM ~ 9:00 PM |
Folk Performance Troupes Show |
Nanjing Road (Citizens’ Square) |
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|
2/5 7:00 PM ~ 9:00 PM |
Stuffed Fried Huan Dan God Parade & Lantern Festival Gala |
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|
2/6 Starts at 12:30 PM ~ February 8 |
A total of 10 Stuffed Fried Huan Dan performances |
Venues include: Shinjuku Fashion Hotel, Xinsheng Road Triangle Park, Zhengqi Road Sifang Goose Meat, and Nanjing Road Plaza in Taitung City |
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Mazu Liangma Yaolongteng – 2012 Liangma Twin Cities Spring Lantern Festival |
2/4 |
Includes: Pre-loaned Prosperity Fund {J Cup}, Food Carnival, Lantern Lighting Ceremony & Light Show, Celebration Gala & Fireworks Display |
Jieshou Square |
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Related News Reports:
“Happy Dragon” Appears at the National Father Memorial Hall, Mini Lanterns Distributed Today:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6952
“Cloud-Flying Dragon” Debuts at Taichung Lantern Festival, “Jadeite Cabbage” Draws Crowds:
http://www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6953
Release Sky Lanterns in Pingxi & Experience Janet’s Pingxi Impressions:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6936
Listen to Love Songs, Release Water Lanterns, Dine on Lantern Feast – Asia’s Only Waterside Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6898 2012
Taiwan Lantern Festival Kicks Off in Changhua for the Yuanxiao Festival:
www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=6859