About the Taiwan Lantern Festival
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Table of Contents 2 05 Taiwan Lantern Festival 20 Taichung Tourist Attractions Introduction to the Taiwan Lantern Festival 23 Selected Central Taiwan Itineraries Map of Lantern Zones Main Exhibition Area 31 Useful Information Additional Exhibition Areas Introduction to the Lantern Areas Travelers’ Services Accommodation Information Transportation Guide 16 Nearby Tourist Attractions Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area 3 4 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung About the Taiwan Lantern Festival The 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival marks the 31st time that the festival has been held, and over the years the festival has become one of the biggest tourism events in Taiwan. Through the Lantern Festival, the unique attractions of various towns and cities in Taiwan have been shown to the world. This has boosted tourism earnings and showcased the Lantern Festival culture. After hosting the event in 2003 and 2015, Taichung city is once again the location of the Taiwan Lantern Festival. The theme of this year's Lantern Festival is "Brighten Taichung. A Resurgence of Dawn." This combines the local forest environment and the image of dawn in the hope of adding vitality to the forest fantasy through traditional lantern arts. It also symbolizes the illumination of Taiwan through the Taiwan Lantern Festival, and the "dawn" light also has the meaning of the Year of the Rat as the Chinese word for dawn – “shu” – sounds like the word for "rat." This represents our hope and infinite wishes for the future. Through this annual event, the five characteristics of Taichung - rich ecological conservation, creative life, cultural assets, economic industry, and diversity and co-prosperity - are displayed, so that people can feel the city's local characteristics and beauties. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Taichung Taoyuan Yunlin Chiayi Pingtung Taichung 5 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung 6 7 8 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung 9 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung Introduction to the Lantern Areas Theme Lantern Guardian of the Forest - Tree of Light Theme Lantern Designer: Lin Shuen Long Guardian of the Forest - Tree of Light Accompanied by fluttering butterflies, chirping birds and fragrant flowers, this lantern is an artistic representation of a simple seed that emerges and transforms into a giant tree. The seed’s spirit then rises up and is reincarnated in the sky as a full moon and a rising sun floating upon the life energy of Taiwan. The 22 illuminated bands along the tree’s trunk represent Taiwan’s 22 cities and counties, while the 368 flower buds represent its districts and townships and the 2,359 heart-shaped leaves represent Taiwan’s 23.59 million people. Finally, gathering together at the top of the tree are a group of dancing butterflies and a family of White-eared Sibias. “Guardian of the Forest - Tree of Light” joins us in praying for Taiwan’s harmony, unity, well-being, happiness, and prosperity. 10 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung The Sound of Flowers Blooming - Heart of Everlasting Light Situated in the center of a big plaza, The Sound of Flowers Blooming - Heart of Everlasting Light is characterized by white flowing light like a flock of birds or a starry sky. Spectators are free to appreciate the moving lights and shadows along the area’s walking paths, or sit in a corner to enjoy the scene. This installation manifests the dynamic beauty of technology and nature. The Heart of Everlasting Light symbolizes the flow of life, with changing lights and shadow that seem to carry a rhythm, a song, a sense of time… perhaps a poem about life. Dreamlike and touching, the dots of light and mechanical devices here bring happiness that spectators can take home along with their happy memories. Note: "The Heart of Everlasting Light" was originally the title of the creation "Listen to the Voice of Flowers" at the Taichung World Flower Expo 2018. With the core concept of co-creation, it gathered industry, government, academia and artists to work together for industry, technology, art and nature. 11 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung Side Lantern A Hundred Singing Birds Blessings to the World Jazz and a Mice Wedding Traditional Side Lantern Creative Side Lantern Designer: Wang Yao-jui Designer: Lin Chi-yu Traditional Side Lantern Designer: Lan Yung-chi If you listen carefully, you will find that In traditional Taiwanese culture, “the life is as beautiful as music. Be it sweet circle inside the square, the square Inspired by an oriental Lunar New or bitter, it sounds heavenly. This side outside the circle” means to accept Year children’s tale, “The Mouse Gets lantern for the 2020 Taiwan Lantern differences with an open mind. Here, Married,” artist Lan Yung-chi presents Festival takes the shape of a Mikado each square suggests a human being a mouse wedding in detail. Following pheasant, nicknamed “the king in the having been through all sorts of a group bringing the bride home to mists.” Its life is beautiful, changing experiences - that’s how we become the accompaniment of flamboyant jazz and drifting like a cloud. The pheasant’s who we are. The circle in it represents music, spectators are free to join the life is presented as a melody here; it fulfillment, harmony and compassion. splendid wedding party in the Forest encourages people to pursue their true In between squares and circles, we all of Happy Mice, which represents an selves far beyond social norms. When have the capacity to cherish and protect aesthetic fusion of East-West styles. you are feeling blessed, your life will be one another, even the whole world. Once you enter this area, you will be like a Mikado pheasant flying higher and That means using the Earth’s resources uplifted by the “music”and the lights. higher, surrounded by its fellows. sustainably. 12 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung High-tech Lanterns_ Island of Everlasting Light Two main installations can be enjoyed here: “The Sound of Flowers Blooming _Heart of Everlasting Light” and “Fantastical Forest Land.” The latter presents Taiwan’s lighting technology and high-tech environmental theatre. The brainchild of a Taiwanese team and a French team, its mechanic-monster circus cannot be found anywhere but Taiwan. With immersive experience and interactive technology in a theatrical setting, Fantastical Forest Land brings visitors many pleasant surprises. Artistic & Creative Lanterns_ Kingdom of Fantasies This area features three characters, “the forest,” “the genie,” and “the human.” A total of 15 artists specializing in installation art, paper carving, textiles, plant-based creations, costume design, and interactive technology have created 13 artistic, sensory lanterns. Every day, a “genie parade” is held for people to learn about the beauty of the lanterns using their five senses. 13 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung Traditional Lanterns Area_Town of Traditional Crafts Named the “Genie of Traditional Crafts,” a gigantic mouse lantern serves as the guardian angel of this lantern area. Combining traditional lantern art and creative modern culture, the area includes four sub-zones that feature slow-town tourism, hot springs, high mountains, and railway tourism. Each lantern in this area shows a unique feature of Taiwan, with cartoon mice, LED lights, and light projections. To learn about Taiwan’s traditional past and diversified present, come appreciate these lanterns! Joyful Lanterns Area _ Forest of Happy Mice This is a joyous wedding party for mice genies. The prince and princess are finally to marry, and they walk towards the peak of love. The musical notes of romantic jazz music carry the joy of marriage, and you and me - the guests from the real world - will be impressed by the magic in the land of the mice genies. 14 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung International Lanterns_ Valley of Resonance Here, birds unique to Mt. Daxue gather to sing with other birds. The Mikado pheasant, known as Taiwan’s “king in the mist”, serves as the guardian angel of the Valley of Resonance (International Lanterns). International Friendship Lanterns Area Kintetsu Group Seto Inland Sea Island Jumping Tobu Group Lantern See the North, Vancouver First! Tour-Shodoshima Journey to Saga-Saga Prefecture, A Tourism City That Everyone Hokkaido. Welcome to Sapporo Nemur Lantern in Hirakawa, Aomori Kyushu, Japan Anticipates -Nagoya Prefecture 15 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung C Introduction of TheTri-Mountain Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Attractions includes three areas: Lion's Head Mountain, Lishan, and Baguashan. To promote the brand of mountain tourism in Taiwan this year, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has designated 2020 as the “Year of Mountain Tourism” with the aim of marketing the beauty of Taiwan ’s mountains and continuing the promotion of sustainable tourism in Taiwan. We welcome you to plan trips this year to explore Taiwan’s rich mountain forest ecological resources. A Lishan B Lion’s Head Mountain C Baguashan A B 16 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung Recommended 1-Day Tour 2-Day Tour itineraries: A B C Day1 Day1 Songhe Tribal Village Shaolai Trai Guguan Emei Lake Ximaopo Suspension Bridge Baguashan Ecological Visitors Center It’s Love → l → → → → Hot Spring Cultural Center Fuxing Tea Culture Museum Litchi Paradise Luoyu Pine Forest Monkey → → Exploration Well Sky Bridge Day2 Tianzhong Chishuiqi Park Qingshuiyan → Ecological Exhibition Center LOHO Hosiery → Village Museum Baiguoshan Discovery Park → A2 B1 A3 There are two entrances to the Shaolai Trail: B2 C2 the Guguan Suspension Bridge and the Shaolai Suspension Bridge, respectively. They take climbers into dense, remote and verdant mountains where they can enjoy the scenery of Dajia River, hot spring restaurants, and the valley full of scenery. The cherries bloom beautifully in spring, the maples are colorful in autumn, and the scenery is beautiful all year round. B3 C8 17 Introduction to Sun Moon Lake AttractionsWith its century-long reputation, Sun Moon Lake is one of the eight must-visit scenic spots in Taiwan.