The Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival Becomes a Major Spring Festival Hit & Shuttle Buses Increase Frequency, Extend Operating Hours

▲ Tainan Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival. (Photo / Reproduced from Tainan City Government)

Reported by Lai Wenxuan / Taipei

The Tainan Yanshui Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival debuts on January 30 and continues until February 28 (Sunday). To serve the public, the Tainan City Government Transportation Bureau has specially coordinated with bus operators to extend the operating hours of the Brown Trunk Line buses, and has also added “Brown Trunk Line shuttle buses” from the Yanshui Station to Xinying. During the lantern festival period, the last bus departs at 22:05, allowing visitors to enjoy the lights and sightsee at a more leisurely pace.

The Tainan City Transportation Bureau stated that multiple bus routes, including the “Brown Trunk Line, Brown Line 1, Brown Line 2, Brown Line 3” and intercity bus services, pass through the Yanshui Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival area. “Taking the bus to the lantern festival” helps avoid traffic jams and the hassle of finding parking, making it very convenient. The bureau also reminds passengers that the section between Xinying and Yanshui falls within the free basic fare zone, and using an electronic ticket provides this benefit.

▲ The Tainan City Transportation Bureau coordinates with bus operators to extend service hours in support of the Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival. (Photo / Reproduced from Tainan City Government)

From January 30, 2016, until the end of the lantern festival, the evening bus schedules from Yanshui to Xinying are as follows: 18:55 (Brown Trunk Line extra shuttle bus), 19:17 (intercity bus 7408), 19:28 (intercity bus 7410), 19:47 (Brown Trunk Line), 20:15 (Brown Trunk Line extra shuttle bus), 20:47 (Brown Trunk Line), 21:25 (Brown Trunk Line extra shuttle bus), 22:05 (Brown Trunk Line extra shuttle bus). Lantern festival visitors are encouraged to make use of these services.

In addition, to serve lantern festival visitors, the Transportation Bureau has set up a temporary “Qiaonan Old Street” bus stop at the entrance of Qiaonan Old Street (Nanmen Road). Passengers can get off at this stop and walk for three minutes to reach the lantern festival venue; returning passengers should also wait at this stop.

In view of past traffic congestion during the Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival, and in response to traffic control measures while ensuring the safety of bus passage, in 2016 the bus routes (Brown Trunk Line, Brown Line 1, Brown Line 3) will be rerouted via Sanfu Road–Wenwu Street–Zhishui Road during the Lunar New Year’s Day to the Fifth Day and on public holidays during the lantern festival period. The original stops “Land Administration Office” and “Yuejin Elementary School” will be temporarily canceled. Please use nearby stops instead.

▲ The Tainan Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival is lively and spectacular. (Photo / Reproduced from Tainan City Government)

2016 Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival

Event Period: January 30 (Saturday) to February 28 (Sunday)
Lighting Time: 17:30–23:00
Closing: February 28, 2016 (Sunday) at 18:30
Lantern Festival Exhibition Theme: Moonlight Treasure Box, Illuminating Today’s Harbor