Taoyuan readies for 2016 Taiwan Lantern Festival

2016/01/25

Taoyuan City is gearing up for the 2016 Taiwan Lantern Festival next month, with an estimated 20 million visitors set to experience the event and related activities during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Held for the first time in the northern Taiwan metropolis, the annual event kicks off Feb. 22 and features a 26-meter-high main lantern modeled after the Monkey King from the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” The design was selected to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Monkey in the Chinese zodiac.

Taoyuan Deputy Mayor Wang Ming-teh said Jan. 21 that the festival is taking place on a 32-hectare site surrounding Taiwan High Speed Rail Taoyuan Station. “It will be home to an exciting array of exhibits on the city’s rich history and vibrant urban life.

“In addition to the eye-catching lantern lineup, assorted activities are planned spotlighting the region’s diverse cultural scene and dynamic tourism resources.”

According to the local government, these include 10 themed tours covering such areas as the environment, history, shopping and traditional customs. The lineup features such must-see attractions as North Cross-Island Highway, Xiao Wulai Skywalk and Yongan Fishing Port, as well as Daxi District’s Japanese colonial-era (1895-1945) quarter and the Cihu Mausoleum of Chiang Kai-shek, late president of the ROC.

“Ethnic diversity is increasingly significant as one of Taoyuan’s most salient features,” Wang said. “This can be best experienced by paying a visit to the Hakka village in Longtan District and the Burmese community in Pingzhen District.

“Given the city’s abundance of tourist attractions, this year’s celebrations are certain to see the festival reach new heights,” he added.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241623&ctNode=2194&mp=9)