The 2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival got under way in Changhua County Jan. 29, with major cities across the country joining forces to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
“Taking place at three separate venues in Lugang, this year’s festival will see the quaint historical town decorated with thousands of beautifully crafted lanterns,” Changhua Magistrate Cho Po-yuan said at the opening ceremony.
Running through Feb. 19, the 23rd edition of the festival is expected to draw over 5 million visitors to the Central Taiwan township, sources said.
Lugang, famous for its temple culture, was an important trading port in the 18th and 19th centuries. At the height of its influence, Lugang was the second largest city in Taiwan.
Southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City lit up with its own version of the Lantern Festival Jan. 27 with a water show and fireworks at the harbor city’s docks.
“The lights will pave the way from the riverbank downtown to the mountainous Qishan District,” said Mayor Chen Chu. Water lanterns will be seen floating on the Love River for the first time, bringing good luck to the citizens, she added. The Kaohsiung festivities will continue through Feb. 6.
In Taipei, National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, featuring an enormous dragon-themed lantern, will be the main venue for celebrations from Feb. 2 to 12. The world’s largest virtual lantern will be projected outside Taipei City Hall, resembling the Louvre Pyramid by day and a flying dragon at night.
The Lantern Festival, the traditional culmination to the Lunar New Year period, takes place on the 15th day of the first month of the year in the lunar calendar. The festival falls on Feb. 6 this year. (THN)
Write to Kwangyin Liu at kwangyin.liu@mail.gio.gov.tw