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CityShopperPlace:

COMPASS MAGAZINE, February 2003

By Lishea Cheng
Translated by Maria King

Jia Li Decorations Shop 198, Jing Wu Road (04) 2211-4477, 2360-9909 Website: chali-craft.com.tw Hours: 10 am-10 pm (holidays open to 12 am)

       In addition to eating, drinking and being merry during the New Year holiday, the first 15 days of the lunar year is the Lantern Festival [CHECK]. Taichung now has a bulk-sales lantern shop which retails everything from cheap NT$15 paper lanterns to the more expensive traditional models for NT$100. There are also the circular, plain "do-it-yourself" (DIY) variety, from which you can make something quite original. The small and large ones are respectively NT$60 and NT$100. For a fancier "noble palace" lanterns, prices are NT$66 for 3.5-inch ones and only NT$300 for the 12-inch ones. DIY palace lanterns are NT$200, with materials costing extra. Each plastic lantern is different and costs between NT$35 and NT$200 each. Each time you visit Jia Li, you'll be pleased with the price and variety of these fine lanterns. There is also Austrian crystal 3 mm and 4 mm cut beads, costing NT$105 for 100. If you like the DIY approach, you can purchase simple styles of bracelets, earrings and necklaces for just NT$300. These items make nice gifts and include free crafting instructions.