The 2014 Central Taiwan
Lantern Festival's main "Flying
Horse" lantern
symbolizes the
leading of Greater Taichung
towards a bright future.
Sichuan province's Zigong city
is bringing its
unicorn lantern
to the festival, adding to the
joyful new-year atmosphere.
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The Fairy of Happiness brings light to the city
As Taichung is glamorously illuminated at night
The Central Taiwan Lantern Festival, founded in 1999 by the Taichung City Government, is marking its 16th anniversary in 2014. This light-filled event will take place during the lunar new year period and lasts for a month. A series of lantern-themed exhibitions are also being specially held during the festival. After the previous years featuring the "amazing soaring dragon" and "fantastic ascending snake", all are looking forward to witnessing the "flying horse" mascot for this year's festival. Central Taiwan residents certainly will not want to miss this auspicious opportunity.
The 2014 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival will begin on Feb. 9 at Wenxin Forest Park. The arrival of the Year of the Horse is immediately associated with the famous, well-known Chinese proverb, "Horses bring success". During this year's thrilling event, the main "Flying Horse Brings Great Fortune" spectacle, powered by the electricity to demonstrate the vigor and speed of the horse, will symbolize a colorful future filled with hope and happiness in Greater Taichung.
The Fairy of Happiness welcomes the Flying Horse with heavenly singing
Utilizing 3D projection mapping technology, two eight-meter-wide, five-meter-high screens will display Taichung's urban landscapes. During the opening ceremony, organizers have specially invited Coloratura Soprano Huang Shuan-wen to play the role of the Fairy of Happiness as a warm-up for the Flying Horse before it flies out of the music box. After Ms. Huang gives a singing performance, the Flying Horse will spread its wings and step onto a 16-meter-high rainbow light beam--a sight guaranteed to elicit awe and admiration from observers.
Coincidentally, this year's Lantern Festival romantically falls on Valentine's Day. Thus, four themed areas and two lantern-watching routes have been carefully arranged to create an atmosphere that says "I love you forever". Immersed in a fairytale-like setting with glittering soft light, visitors can fully experience a romantic aura.
In the "Garden of Happiness" themed area, visitors can stroll in the "Rainbow of Hope" and "Corridor of Crystal Light", make a wish beneath the "Rose Wishing Clock", or take a ride on the "Happy Rocking Horse" while enjoying pleasant childhood reminisces. The "Bole Horse Area" (Bole being the god in charge of horses in heaven) offers a fun program specifically designed to enable visitors to choose their ideal fast horse from lanterns painted with Chitu horses ("Chitu" horses widely being considered the best breed), zebras, hippos, sea horses and llamas.
Overseas participants present cultural, festive lanterns
Besides the main lantern area and the main festival lantern, an area has been specially reserved over the past three years for overseas participants from places like Hong Kong, Macao, Qingdao city, Xiamen city and Sichuan province--famed for its "No. 1 Light in the World", created by Zigong city's lantern team. Such participants have undoubtedly added to the glory of the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival.
The Overseas Lanterns Area is dedicated to promoting natural landscapes and cultural heritage. Joining this activity the first time, Macao and Qingdao city have incorporated local landscapes into their lanterns. Participating for the second time, Xiamen city has designed its lantern with a "Minnan Traditional House" theme, naming its creation "Dear Visitors, Xiamen Welcomes You" to complement the joyous, happy feelings of this event. Co-organizing this event for the third time, the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office is basing its lantern designs on Hong Kong's authentic cuisine, such as "da peng cai" (a mix of dishes displayed on a big plate), hot pots and dim sum, all appetizing and interesting. Famed for its lantern-making skills, Zigong city in Sichuan province--also participating for the third time--came up with a unique lantern style, the "flying unicorn". It also will bring along grand imperial-style lanterns that exude a rich Chinese ambiance, thereby enhancing the varied, festive atmosphere.
Embracing sustainable, low-carbon concepts; loving the Earth via action
Government-organized, large-scale activities tend to be criticized for using up large volumes of resources such as electricity without discretion. Therefore, Taichung city government has adopted a sustainable management system, ISO 20121, to carry out operations for the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival. From planning and preparation, energy supervision and control to resource-usage regulations, all procedures strictly follow the same standards practiced during the 2012 London Olympics.
Continuing sustainable, low-carbon concepts, this celebratory event has been certified as an "Environmental and Low-Carbon Activity" by the Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan, R.O.C. Energy-saving light bulbs are utilized as much as possible around the site, generators are the last option as a power source, and pamphlets and flyers are made of FSC--certified, environmentally-friendly paper printed with environmentally-friendly soybean ink. At the end of the event, all flags used to promote this event will be collected by Lida Skill Training for Disabilities and recycled into shopping bags, while all waste cooking oil produced at the event site will be used as soap-making material by Xichuan Community Development Association with profits from soap sales benefitting minority groups. All these measures fully showcase Taichung as a low-carbon, sustainable and international city.
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Must-have Mini Flying
Horse Lanterns
These mini lanterns--replicas of the main festival lantern--have in the past attracted huge crowds, lining up to take them home for good luck. This year's "Mini Flying Horse" is decorated with shiny diamonds and colorful rainbow totems to symbolize "Ma Shang Zuan"--meaning "a diamond on a horse" or "making money immediately"--and "Ma Shang Hong"--meaning "a rainbow on a horse" or "becoming popular immediately". These lucky charms can be picked up at the following locations: |
日期 |
時間 |
地點 |
| Feb. 9 (Sun.)~Feb. 14 (Fri.)
Wenxin Forest Park |
From 6 p.m. until all
lanterns are distributed.
(Queuing starts from 5 p.m.) |
Service Centers are set up at the
intersections of XiangShang and
WenXin roads ands HuiWen Rd.
and DaDun 7th St. |
| Feb. 9 (Sun.)~Feb. 16 (Sun.)
Fengyuan District Office |
From 6 p.m. until all
lanterns are distributed. |
Central Taiwan Lantern Festival
Fengyuan Art Week Service Center |
Lantern Festival Performances
Six wonderful performances will take place at the Fulfillment Amphitheater in Wenxin Forest Park during the 2014 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival: |
 |
Feb. 9 (Sun.), 7-10 p.m. Opening Ceremony
Popular singers Ricky Xiao, A-FU Deng and many others will sing at the opening ceremony. |
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Feb. 14 (Fri.), 7-10 p.m. Lantern Festival Night
Enjoy your Valentine's Day with lovely singing by Yen-j, Canace, Voter Hsu and many others.
|
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Feb. 15 (Sat.), 6:30-10 p.m. A Night of Swinging
Soy La Ley Cuban Jazz Band, Umikaji Band and Japan Totorri Performing Art Exchange Troupe will inspire you to swing with their melodies. |
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Feb. 16 (Sun.), 7-10 p.m. A Night of Aborigine Music
Zamake Band, Taiwan Aboriginal Dance Culture and Arts Group and other indigenous musical groups will present their rocking beats. |
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Feb. 22 (Sat.), 7-9 p.m. A Night of Drum Beats
Acro Dynamic and Centro Flamenco Taiwan will dance to the beat of drums with you. |
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Feb. 23 (Sun.), 6:30-10 p.m. Closing Ceremony
Famous musicians, including Ailing Dai and William Wei, will present their songs while Alex Du, Kay Xie and Hong Kong Cheongsam will put on a fashion show. Don't miss this great opportunity. |
| Please visit the official website of the 2014 Central
Taiwan Lantern Festival for more information at
http://www.2014taichunglantern.com.tw . |
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February 2014
