With the theme “Glorious Tainan (龍耀台南),” the 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival is a vibrant and culturally significant event that lights up the night sky with colorful lanterns and showcases Taiwan’s rich heritage and traditions.
Sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Administration, the Lantern Festival this year was held at the High-Speed Rail Display Zone and the Anping Display Zone in Tainan from February 24 to March 10. This is the first time in 16 years that the Taiwan Lantern Festival has returned to Tainan, as the historic city celebrates the 400th anniversary of its founding in 1624.
Please watch the following video for more interesting 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival images.
The Lantern Festival featured various lantern art installations with intricate designs inspired by mythology, folklore, and daily life in Taiwan. From towering structures depicting legendary figures to exquisite lanterns adorned with auspicious symbols, each piece showcases the skill and craftsmanship of Tainan’s artisans, offering visitors a captivating glimpse into the city’s cultural tapestry.
The Main Lantern of the Lantern Festival
Standing at the heart of the Main Display Zone of the High-Speed Rail Display Zone is the towering 22-meter Main Lantern titled “Dragon Comes to Taiwan (龍來台灣),” which is the homophone of “Everything comes to Taiwan” in Taiwanese.
The lantern can rotate on a platform and move its forearms, and its scales can also shimmer. Reflecting the people’s hopes and dreams, it can make visitors feel the energy of this mythical creature, bridging ancient legends and modern aspirations.
In particular, the lantern is environmentally friendly, using solar energy to power its movements. Energy conservation is a theme of this year’s festival, making it entertaining and educational.
History of the Taiwan Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao Festival (元宵節), is the first formal festival after the Lunar New Year. It is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. This folk tradition ushers in the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, marking the end of the Lunar New Year.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is an annual lantern festival that started in 1990 as a folk festival in Taipei. It was expanded to other parts of Taiwan in 2001 and officially became the “Taiwan Lantern Festival” in 2003. The Taiwan Tourism Administration and local governments jointly organize it.
Highlights of the 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival
This year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival featured more than 300 lantern art installations, including some from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Belize, St. Christopher’s, and Nevis. The festival is deeply rooted in local customs and folklore and poignantly reflects the region’s rich heritage.
In addition to the vast array of lanterns, the Taiwan Lantern Festival featured over 170 performances, including six international performances, attracting 110 foreign media companies to cover the event.
Recognized by the Discovery Channel as one of the world’s best festivals and selected by a travel agency as one of the top four global highlights, the Lantern Festival attracted more than 15 million tourists this year.
Simultaneously with the festival, the 23rd World Orchid Conference was held at the Tainan International Convention Center adjacent to the High-Speed Rail Display Zone. As a result, visitors could also immerse themselves in this world-famous orchid expo to appreciate some of Asia’s most exquisite orchids.
