A glittering festival of lights! What is the Taiwan Lantern Festival?
From traditionally designed lanterns to those featuring animals and characters, the Taiwan Lantern Festival is a sight to behold, filled with a myriad of lights. Held annually on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, this event celebrates the Lantern Festival and is widely known as one of the biggest winter events. Since ancient times, the Lantern Festival has seen people gather with lanterns and torches to celebrate the climax of the Lunar New Year. This deeply rooted folk tradition is said to have taken place in various locations, including Taipei Beitou Guandu Temple, Songshan Ciyou Temple, Wanhua Qingshan Temple, and Longshan Temple. The Taiwan Lantern Festival was launched in 1990 with the aim of bringing these festivals together in one place for even more spectacular enjoyment.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival, which celebrated its 28th anniversary in 2017, is a major event that changes locations each year. The venue is filled with colorful lanterns, including a huge main lantern with the year's zodiac animal as its motif, as well as sub-lanterns and observation lanterns, creating a gorgeous and fantastical atmosphere. During the festival, there are musical performances, food stalls, and live performances, and the town where the festival is held is filled with a festive atmosphere. The festival has grown in scale every year, and is now a global event that attracts tourists from all over the world.
It is the closest cultural sphere to Japanese people, and its appeal lies in the ease with which you can drop in. Why not experience the worldview depicted by this global festival that began as a folk event this winter?
2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival Held in Yunlin County!
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in a different location every year, but this year it will be held in Yunlin. It will be held for nine days from February 11th (Sat) to February 19th (Sun) 2017. The main lantern area is the Agricultural Expo Ecological Park from the front of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Yunlin Station, and the area around Zhongshan Road and the Sightseeing Bridge is designated as the Beigang Lantern Area. If you use the Taiwan High Speed Rail, it only takes about an hour and a half from Taipei Station to Yunlin Station. If you leave Japan early in the morning, it is quite possible to arrive at the site in time for the lanterns to be lit up! It is also recommended to take a casual weekend trip to enjoy the twinkling lights.
Well, the highlight of the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival is the main lantern that will be displayed at the main venue, which is easily accessible from Yunlin Station. At last year's festival held in Taoyuan, a 26m-tall main lantern with a "Son Goku" motif was displayed in honor of the Year of the Monkey. Many spectators were captivated by the colorful main lantern with countless shining LED lights. Since 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, what kind of main lantern will be displayed? You can enjoy the sight by visiting the venue. In addition, the sub-lanterns and mini-lanterns displayed in various places are of course impressive. The sight of thousands of lanterns shining as far as the eye can see is simply spectacular. Every year, there are many fireworks, parades, dance performances, music concerts, and more, so be sure to check out the live events held during the festival!
*The photo is from the 2016 Taiwan Lantern Festival.
There's more to Yunlin County than just festivals!
If you're planning a trip to Yunlin County, you'll want to enjoy more than just the festival. Located in central Taiwan, Yunlin County is known as the "kingdom of agriculture." Facing the sea to the west, it's blessed with abundant seafood, making it an area where you can enjoy local cuisine made with fresh ingredients. Yunlin County is also known as a nostalgic region, with many buildings from the Japanese colonial era remaining. There are many areas dotted with retro architecture, including Xiluo Yanping Old Street, located about a 20-minute drive from Yunlin Station, so a stroll around the area is recommended. Also in the Beigang area, one of the venues for the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival, is the Beigang Chaotian Temple. Experience the majestic atmosphere of this place of worship, a place that has long been a place of worship!
The 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival, held from February 11th to 19th, is a great opportunity to experience a different charm from Taipei! If you love Asia, this is a must-see destination!
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Yunlin Station (Taiwan High Speed Rail) was newly opened in December 2015, making Yunlin County extremely accessible. After enjoying sightseeing in Taipei, we recommend taking a 2-3 night trip to Yunlin by train!
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
