Visitors release glowing sky lanterns at the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan
The Lantern Festival brought dazzling displays and age-old traditions to Taiwan and China on Wednesday. Thousands gathered to release paper lanterns into the night sky, admire breathtaking light installations, and enjoy glutinous rice dumplings, a signature treat of the festival.
Marking the official end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, the festival takes place annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month. In Taiwan, the famous Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival drew crowds despite rainy weather. Visitors eagerly lined up, waiting for their turn to release wish lanterns. Among them were Mae Alegonero and Shine Ceralvo, friends from the Philippines who work in central Taiwan. Inspired by viral TikTok videos, they decided to experience the magical sight in person.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Alegonero said, sharing an umbrella with her friend while anticipating the spectacle.
The event attracted people from all over the world, including tourists from Europe and Latin America. The tradition of releasing lanterns in Pingxi dates back more than a century. Originally, villagers used them as signals of safety after bandit attacks. Today, they symbolize hope, peace, and prosperity for the coming year.
For French exchange student Charlotte Cadinot, the sight of glowing lanterns floating into the sky was a dream come true. She had admired the scene in Disney’s "Tangled" and wanted to recreate it. Along with her boyfriend, Remi Delmas, she wrote a shared wish on a lantern before releasing it into the sky.
The event featured nine waves of lantern releases, with each accompanied by live music and dance performances. The highlight of the night was a pair of 12-foot (3.6 meters) pink and golden snake-shaped lanterns, paying tribute to the Year of the Snake.
While Taiwan’s festival featured sky lanterns, China’s celebrations took a different form. In Beijing, residents flocked to taste the traditional glutinous rice dumplings and explore vibrant light installations. The biggest display, held at Beijing Garden Expo Park, showcased over 10,000 illuminated structures.
Some of the installations reached an impressive 60 feet (18 meters) in height. Designs ranged from cultural icons like the God of Fortune, dragons, and phoenixes to modern, cyberpunk-style interpretations of Beijing opera headdresses.
The Lantern Festival in Taiwan & China, rich in history and symbolism, remains a cherished tradition. Whether through glowing lanterns floating in the sky or dazzling light displays on the ground, the festival continues to unite people in celebration and hope for the future.
