NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City celebrated the opening of the 2024 Lantern Festival on Friday (Feb. 16) evening at the Metropolitan Park.
To mark the occasion, the city prepared 3,000 "Prosperous Dragon" mini lanterns.
The New Taipei City Government installed a 12-meter high dragon palace lantern that hangs in the sky, a centerpiece combining lighting effects and changing visuals, creating a multi-faceted visual feast for the citizens.
With Mayor Hou Yu-ih and other officials attending the lighting ceremony, the festival will remain open until March 3, 2024.
Mayor Hou noted that the main lantern featured not just a dragon palace but also other mythical beasts such as a phoenix, Pegasus, and a nine-tailed fox.
The festival boasts nine, themed lantern areas, including five special activities, with a three-minute lantern show every half hour. These special areas were creatively planned, blending Augmented Reality (AR) technology and interactive art, highlighting the exotic charm of the festival.
Taking its inspiration from the strange creatures and legends in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas," the festival invited Spanish and indigenous artists to co-curate. Utilizing green energy from solar-powered installations, AR interactive lighting group, and an international lantern area. The festival also provides a food market, circus parade, and children's theater groups for extra fun.