Everything Is Illuminated Taipei During the Lantern Festival Held in mountain town of Longci, about a 30 minute drive out of the city proper, this years event features 14 large otherworldly light installations, including an cavelike structure featuring hundreds of neon stalactites. The attractions will be concentrated in the posh East District () and Xinyi District (), and will include four major lantern display zones with over 300 lantern installation works, as well as the main theme lantern with six other major theme lanterns, spread out over a total area of 168 hectares. The diversified artworks will be scattered amongst the high-rise buildings with light fleeting between the citys alleys. We doubt youll have to look hard for them, but if you need to get your bearings, Dr.Q on at the Zhishan end of the walk is worth checking out. A word of warning, though: these are extremely busy, crowded events, and it can take hours of waiting in lines to get to and from the event. You missed World Ethnic Film Festival that takes place mid late September. The four major display zones are the Beacons of Light Display Zone (), Fount of Light Display Zone (), Lights of the Future Display Zone (), and the Central Display Zone (). The burning is the culmination of the festival, which actually takes places over eight days and includes many different rituals. Releasing the Lanterns for Pingxi Festival. The Taipei Film Festival is an awards festival focused on Taiwanese filmmakers. A simpler language to learn is Taiwanese Hokkien. Qingming Festival is celebrated on April 5th or 6th of every year, and is one of the few festivals that roughly coincide with the Western calendar. Clickheretovisit theofficial website of 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei. The idea for Nuit Blanche goes back to the late 80s in Europe and has since spread all over the world. Join Taiwan's Lantern Festival From The Comfort Of Your Home! The legend goes that during the reign of Emperor Wu there was a palace maid named Yuansiao, whose role forbid her from ever seeing her family. Some artists will be invited to tailor lighting decorations for these stores according to their types of business, space and ideas. The visual was designed by Kim Chen (), founder and creative director of Taipeis Depth Design (), who says, The orbs flowing radiance illuminates the land and nourishes everyone. Below Im going to introduce dozens the best festivals in Taiwan, many of which I have personally attended. The Hakka Yimin Festival () is a 2-day festival celebrating the cultural and historical roots of the Hakka people. LANTERN FESTIVAL TAIWAN - February 24, 2024 - National Today Along with the allure of the lanterns are the flock of night stalls and fireworks, making it one of the busiest times of the year. Highways also become clogged with traffic on certain days, and hotels can be fully booked. Local tradition believes sky lanterns appeared with the arrival of Chinese settlers in 1821. This attraction is directly across Zhongxiao East Road from National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and is accessed using the same Taipei Metro stations. This lantern captures the global and inclusive outlook of Taipei. This auspicious carnival is a major tourism hotspot and is organized by the Tourism Ministry of Taiwan. Hope does not happen out of thin air, but is born through the joint efforts of everyone who lives on the land., EVENT DATESTrial Operation February 1 to February 4, 2023Official Operation February 5 to February 19, 2023 (15 days), EVENT TIMELanterns Lit 5:00pm 10:00pm (Daily)Monday to Thursday 2:00pm 10:00pmFriday to Sunday 10:00am 10:00pm. Thanks for subscribing! At this time, thousands of tourists flock to the area, especially the village of Zhuzihu, to see or buy them. 1997: February 21~23, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei City. Take a break from bubble milk teas and visit one of the largest Chinese New Year festivals in Taiwan. An important statue of the goddess is carried on a palanquin to numerous other temples in neighboring counties, passing millions of people along its route. The Lantern Festival ( traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Yunxio ji ), also called Shangyuan Festival ( traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Shngyun ji ), is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, during the full moon. The Xinyi area is well known as the most international and fashionable business district in Taiwan, bringing together major international brands and enterprise groups. The worlds first Lantern Festival is believed to have been introduced by Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty who was a firm believer of the Buddhism philosophy. What's more, Taiwan's Lantern Festival is moderately new, as of late began by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau to increase the income of tourism revenue and to attract tourists. A compulsive-obsessive traveler and culture enthusiast, she believes that when we know more, we travel better. Lantern Festival, also called Yuan Xiao Festival, holiday celebrated in China and other Asian countries that honours deceased ancestors on the 15th day of the first month (Yuan) of the lunar calendar.The Lantern Festival aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness. Many people mistakenly call another holiday on October 10 Taiwans birthday. toyourinbox. In mid-November, a lovely rose exhibition is held at Xinsheng Park in Taipei.In late November and early December, head to the Shilin Residence (the former residence of President Chiang Kai-Shek) in Shilin District, Taipei, to see a beautiful display of chrysanthemum flowers. Shopping revellers roam the various venues following a stamp map, the venues featuring live entertainment and festooned with Christmas lighting decorations. Songshan Cultural and Creative Park() is the special site for this display zone. There are usually various activities and events held in association with the blooming of the cherry blossoms in Taiwan. Each edition of the Taiwan Lantern Festival features a central display and entertainment area with the large-scale main theme lantern, a number of smaller theme-lantern areas with works crafted by both local and international artists, and a rich program of live entertainment, from musical groups to traditional- culture performance troupes to buskers. You may immerse yourself in the creativity and energy of the city with over 20 lanterns inside the building and also outdoors in the baroque-style garden. How I (Mistakenly) Ended Up at the Lantern Festival in Taiwan The festival is free, but there is a small admission fee for Fulong Beach. Munch on this Russian Doll of a meaty treat while you explore this section of the lantern walk, which according to Taipei Tourism Bureau will bring the traditional style of Shilin to festival-goers that and a tunnel of fairy lights. Surely I havent covered them all, so do let me know in the comments below if Ive missed a good one! The 9-day pilgrimage begins and ends at Zhenlan Temple in Taichung. Taiwan Lantern Festival (2016) Josh Ellis Photography For more information about this and related events, see the festivals Facebook page. It commemorates the founding of the Republic of China (Taiwans official name) on January 1, 1912. The ROC later fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War, which is why Taiwan is today officially still called the ROC. Reportedly a show case of the city's port culture . The rising glowing sphere emits a warm, embracing radiance, symbolizing the first full moon of the newborn year, blanketing the entire city with an ethereal beauty. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. The festival is usually three days or one week long, with the main celebration happening on the night of the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. 2006: February 12~26, Anping Coastal History Park, Tainan City. You can pan-fry both sweet and savory versions of the cake and enjoy them later as a leftover snack. It is also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival. ), switching between two locations in Hsinchu and Miaoli counties. The Ear Shooting Festival is associated with the Bunun aboriginal tribe, the 4th largest in Taiwan, who live in Taitung county. On that night, locals and foreign visitors release sky lanterns with their hopes and wishes written on them to the sky. It blends seamlessly into the surrounding urban landscape and echoes from the past. Throughout the month, youll see tables of offerings on the streets in front of homes and businesses, and lots of burning of joss paper (ghost money). 2. Aside from festivals, sky lanterns are used at weddings, birthdays, casual parties, and other celebrations. For more Halloween events in Taiwan, there is usually discussion and event sharing in the Taipei Parents Group. The Chinese start using paper to make lanterns. Why do many countries set the clocks back and forth an hour twice a year? Another of the most important Taiwanese festivals originating in China is the Dragon Boat Festival (duan wu jie or ). A Guide to Lunar New Year Dining in Taiwan, From Our Guides: Secrets to Traveling around Taiwan over Chinese New Year, Your Guide to Chinese New Year Shopping at Nanmen Market, Our Picks For 8 Taiwanese Dramas On Netflix And Disney+ in 2023, The Ultimate Hiking Guide to Yangmingshan National Park, Driving in Taiwan: What Every Visitor Needs to Know, Everything You Need to Know About Getting A Scooter License in Taiwan, A First Timers Guide to Kenting National Park, Strolling Through the Taipei Summer Festival in Dadaocheng, The Sizzling Story of Taiwanese Iron-Plate Steak: A Journey Through Time and Taste, Fly! Setting off sky lanterns as a tourist attraction began in the 1990's and you can find people lighting off lanterns every day from Shifen. See here for more information on Christmas events in Taiwan. Both of these are now the centerpieces of larger- scale festivals. How the sky lanterns became commonplace is open to many speculations. One of the best ways to experience the fireworks is by SUP (stand-up paddleboard). Golden Horse is Taiwans most important film festival, equivalant to the academy awards. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of events, exhibitions, and performances catered toward children. Once every three years, on the years of the Ox, Dragon, Goat and Dog, an entire wooden ship is burned overnight in the harbor town of Donggang in Pingtung county, southern Taiwan. This event features a variety of performances, lantern displays, fireworks, laser shows, and usually one extremely large lantern representing that years Chinese zodiac animal. This unique festival called the Neimen Song Jiang Battle Array () in Kaohsiung reenacts battles between early Chinese settles and local aboriginal tribes in a series of 18 parades. The lanterns typically symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and striving to become new ones. Of all the city god temples across Taiwan, the Cheng Huang (City God) Temple () in Hsinchu is the most important. The Tourism Bureau turns the practice of releasing sky lanterns into an annual event for the lantern festival. Since 1990 the Lantern Festival has been held every year (expect 2021 due to COVID-19). Each of the 12 city districts have worked with communities to create small scale, meaningful lantern displays that reflect their culture and history. They also pose a significant fire hazard. This is a former military dependents village that was saved and has been transformed into a chic modern-facing cultural-creative hub a quintessential old-meets- new city project symbolizing the Taipei City sustainable future. Every summer in July or sometimes August, the free Hohaiyan Rock Music Festival () is held on Fulong Beach in Northern Taiwan. When a minister took notice of her condition, he hatched a plan to reunite the poor girl with her family for one night. Sky lantern litter takes a considerable time to decompose, and the wire frames have been known to strangle and maim wild animals and livestock. The latter takes places in Miaoli on the same day requires participants to throw firecrackers at a dragon. The lights are usually on from around 5:30 p.m. to midnight. More. This ceremony commences at six in the evening and is carried out till five the next morning. After the breathtakingly beautiful mass celebration, you might still be lucky to spot some lanterns released into the sky for a week or two. This was designed as a once in a lifetime Asia spectacle, with a phantasmagoria of lights put up around Taipei City Hall to transform Taipei into the Highest New Year City, a massive six-hour party through the evening with popular local and international singers and bands performing on stage, and the tremendous Taipei 101 fireworks show at midnight. Foguansgan is located in Kaohsiung City, the largest city in southern Taiwan. The city celebrates the event with a variety of cultural events, which usually includes a picnic concert and DaAn Forest Park, the citys largest park and a popular spot to see the flowers. In Taipei the event takes place at Dajia Riverside Park, and anyone who is living in Taiwan and wants to can form a team and apply to take part. Bear, the mascot for Taiwan Tourism Bureau, makes an appearance at the festival. Why are there 12 months? This article is reproduced under the permission of TAIPEI. Survey data is powered by Wisevoter and Scholaroo, Launching Lanterns in the Sky Becomes Common, The Sky Lantern Appears in Pingxi's Skies, The Sky Lantern Becomes a Local Celebration, Pingxi Lantern Festival is a Global Phenomenon. When Im not writing or compulsively planning every detail of our next family trip, Im most likely playing kitty games with Sage and Lavender, my two kids. While some festivals in Taiwan have a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar, most are tied to the traditional Chinese calendar, often called the lunar calendar, although technically it is a lunisolar calendar. Guayin is the Goddess (or Bodhisattva) of Compassion, and she is very popular in Taiwan. The illuminated rabbit rests on top of the exit 1 entrance of Sun-Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station and has fixed its gaze on a globe reflecting city landscapes. Today, visitors can try archery themselves, see beautiful Bunun weaving, and observe traditional Bunun song and dance performances. Women would crawl underneath the temple lanterns to . 1994: February 24~27, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei City. And while well be prowling into the Year of the Tiger without the giant animatronic humanoid, Lee has returned as creative director for this years edition. It is also a celebration of the coming of spring. Pingxi's Sky Lantern Festival Is Happening: Here's What You - KKday Fodors, a renowned travel guide company, includes Pingxi Lantern Festival in its 15 Festivals To Attend Before You Die. While there are some traditional rituals to be done and foods to be eaten on Qixi, in Taiwan, its also an excuse to have a second Valentines date with a partner. I maintain a list of each citys Lantern Festival for the coming year in my Taiwan Lunar New Year guide. The Baosheng Emperor () is the Taoist god of medicine, so people pray to him for good health. Therefore, during events like the Lantern Festival, we get to taste those traditional desserts that are only available on special occasions at Taiwanese restaurants. Today, the festival is celebrated with boat races in rivers and other bodies of water across Taiwan. The Lantern Festival is an annual celebration that marks the end of New Year celebrations across Taiwan. Held annually for over a decade, the Taipei Jazz Festival () showcases the local and international jazz music scene. This was a 4-day arts and indie rock music festival that took place at Eluanbi, a lighthouse on the southern tip of Taiwan in Kenting National Park. 9. The Taipei Lantern Festival is an annual tradition that commemorates the first lunar month of the new Chinese year and all the lanterns (floats) were about the year's animal. The main focus of this Tainan-based festival is, as the name suggests, mango. The rounded shape of the wide Taipei Basin in which the city of Taipei is nestled, was the base inspiration for the orb design. Starting from 1990, the Tourism Bureau integrated civilian and local governmental resources to conduct the event to celebrate the Lantern Festival (15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar) and the end of the lunar new year. Although the fireworks at the Taipei 101 building help ring in the New Year with a boom, this festival, which also takes place the first day of the lunar new year, is a much more spiritual affair. Starting from 2001, it has been touring the country, and is at last returning to its birthplace. The cake symbolizes peace, harmony, and prosperity. The Flying Fish Festival season is when the locals catch these fish, and it is common to see them hanging to dry on racks around the islands. Parks across Taiwan become an amazing sight with numerous huge lanterns depicting anything from the current zodiac animal to scenes from traditional Chinese folk stories and more contemporary scenes. See here for more information on visiting Taipei with kids and traveling around Taiwan with kids. Celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival in Taiwan! It's a Lot of Fun! Travel to Outlying islands Taiwan | Taiwan Scene, Actions, Adventure & Sports In Taiwan | Taiwan Scene, Festivals, History & Culture In Taiwan | Taiwan Scene, Art, Urban Exploration & Exhibitions In Taiwan | Taiwan Scene, Unique Experiences For Taiwan Travel | Taiwan Scene, Food & Drink Experience In Taiwan | Taiwan Scene, After 23 Years, Home at Last! Visit the festival display zones easily using Taipeis convenient public transportation system or hop on the special festival shuttle bus. One of the best displays is at Tianyuan Temple in Tamsui (Danshui) district, New Taipei City, one of the most recognizable temples in Taiwan. Of course, therell also be plenty to eat, not least because the lantern walk cuts right through Shilin Night Market. Taipei Together () | Bin Live() x BitoImmerse in the 3D video installation on the colossal box thats delivered by the adorable courier a white rabbit sitting in the box. Is Lantern Festival a Public Holiday? Her writing journey started when she had the once-in-lifetime opportunity to live and teach in Okinawa and circumvent the world with the Peace Boat. To commemorate the festival, the organizers are giving away 80,000 Year of the Rabbit-themed paper lanterns. The lantern is multi-purposeyou can fold it into a handheld lantern or turn it into a pair of rabbit ears to wear. However, a good-hearted fairy heard of the Emperor's plan for vengeance and told the townsfolk to light lanterns on the appointed day. The 15th day is the first night after Lunar New year when there is a full moon and marks the culmination of the new year festivities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website is my full-time passion project. Both of these celebrations are also major lighting-art showcases, and will set the stage for the February high-tech lighting fantasia. The small (usualy less than 1000 people) and intimate Organik festival usually takes places in April on a remote beach in Hualien county. Xinshe can easily be visited as a day trip from Taichung city center. The breathtaking view of thousands of lanterns lighting up the sky is an unforgettable experience and one not to be missed! Find out more about how to get the lanterns here. With Taipei and the world now emerging from the COVID darkness, the festival will light up the world with a breakthrough attitude, with innovative displays created by combining traditional lantern art with the latest in lighting technology. In this area, the sleek buildings themselves will be transformed into giant works of art, showcasing Taipeis leading-edge fashionable culture and digital technology. . The holiday marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year (see Lunar New Year). Time and Date AS 19952023. The tiny temple is located on Dihua Street in Dadaocheng District, which is often considered the oldest road in Taipei. Continuing north along Jihe Road as far as Meilun Park, the installations in the Shilin section will reportedly take inspiration from traditional Taiwanese Old Streets. To us, that just screams Dchng bo xiochng (), a chargrilled sausage-in-a-rice-sausage sandwich. We already have this email. Tangyuan (), aka sweet glutinous rice dumplings, are the traditional thing to go for around this time of year. Thousands of people and visitors attend the ceremony. From the gorgeous Luye Highland, dozens of hot air balloons take off every morning and afternoon. Moreover, you can make them with your favorite color combinations and decorate them with different ornaments and writings. The Sky Lantern Festival in Pingxi is an annual festivity held in celebration of the Lantern Festival every year, and it is considered as the most prominent event in Taiwan alongside the Fireworks Festival in south Taiwan. This is when numerous firecrackers are burnt and hung in the temple of Wumiao on a wooden stand at a great height. It falls on Sunday, February 5, 2023 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in Taiwan. Besides being a spectacle to the eyes, the paper lanterns serve as the courier of wishes to get sent directly to the heavens during the most auspicious time of the year. It was believed to have been invented between 220 A.D. and 280 A.D. by Zhuge Liang, a chancellor and military strategist during the Three Kingdoms period. Measuring up to 23.4 metres, the huge Ram Lantern lights up with an impressive laser display at the opening ceremony. The purpose of the festival is to spread the traditional folklore. While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary.