The highly anticipated 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival begins today, February 11th (January 15th on the Lunar Calendar). The illumination of the Lantern Festival lights will continue to be on display for the following 9 days, finishing February 19th. President Tsai Ing-wen, Executive Yuan Chief Lin Quan, Yunlin Magistrate Li Jinyong, all placed their hands on a spherical light switch that illuminates the main lantern of the Lantern Festival to initiate the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival. The festival opening ceremony consists of 6 theme songs; Yumi Yunlin County, Hometown for Lanterns, Sugar Cane Opera, Yao Rongguang Treasure Island, Peace and Prosperity, and Dance of the Phoenix. At the center, the 23 meter main lantern sculpture of a Phoenix stands with its head pointing to the sky, wings spread ready for flight to symbolize Taiwan flying towards a new era. The glimmering Phoenix illuminates the night with many different colors and accompanying with 500 seconds of fireworks, presents a grand opening performance.
Magistrate Li Jinyong announces that the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival is designated across two lantern districts, Huwei main lantern district and Beigang lantern district. The Beigang lantern area has been officially opened since February 7th, with tourists being amazed by the craftsmanship of the lanterns. The official opening for Huwei main lantern district is today, with all domestic and foreign visitors warmly welcomed to come enjoy the Yunlin Lantern Festival. Ministry of Transport Tourism Bureau says the main lantern display, The Advent of the Phoenix, is sponsored by Chunghwa Telecom. This year, 2017, the main lantern is designed as a Phoenix, King of the Wind, with its eyes set to the skies ready to take flight. Others visualize the Phoenix as having soared down from the peaks of the mountains to grace the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival. The 23 meters main lantern is the first lantern design to have more than 19,000 sets of lighting circuit systems, connecting high-performance full color LED modules, and presenting the most vibrant and elegant visual feat. The first radiance of the grand Phoenix lantern is accompanied with 6 theme songs; Yumi Yunlin County, Hometown for Lanterns, Sugar Cane Opera, Yao Rongguang Treasure Island, Peace and Prosperity, and Dance of the Phoenix. Traditionally, the lanterns display Taiwan’s arts and culture. Integrating modern science and technology into the traditional art, we get an exquisite main lantern situated on a smooth and steady 360 degrees rotating platform for all to view as a symbol of social harmony, sincerity and wealth.
Lantern designers created 4 traditional major supporting lanterns to symbolize traditional arts and culture in Taiwan. These 4 major supporting lanterns (Niu Zhuan Qian Kun, Xiang Shi Xian Rui, Niao Zhuan Hua Kai, and Yu Yue Long Men) are displayed surrounding the main lantern to create a visual spectacle of combining modern technological lantern with traditional cultural lanterns.
For more information, visit the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival Official website: http://2017taiwanlantern.net