Yes, there’s snakes galore! It’s the Year of the Snake, and snakes feature highly in the Lantern Festival events being held all over Taiwan in recent weeks. There are snake lanterns of every shape and size, and of every description, from fierce and fiery to cute and cuddly! But it’s not all snake lanterns, there’s also a desire to showcase each local area’s history, culture, traditions, famous landmarks and people too. Then there are also lantern displays by schools, families, prisons, community groups, temples, and even churches. And I’ve seen lots of lantern displays promoting tourism in India, Belize, Korea ~ and even hot spring bathing in Japan. There’s something for everyone!

The main Taiwan Lantern Festival is always opened by the President of Taiwan on the date of the Lantern Festival itself, which this year was February 12. It’s held in a different city or county each year, last year for the Year of the Dragon, it was held in Tainan to celebrate Tainan’s 400th anniversary, while the previous year, 2023, for the Year of the Rabbit, it was held here in Taipei City. This year, Taoyuan!

Yes, this year’s main Taiwan Lantern Festival is being held in Taoyuan, not far from Taipei, and famous for being the home of the international airport, old streets, Indigenous people, Hakka people and more. The main lantern area is located in the plaza right outside the Taoyuan High-Speed Rail Station, to make it easy for public transport to and from every direction. It’s only 20 minutes on the high-speed train from Taipei Main Station, one way ticket: NT$130, and worth every dollar! Or you can go on the Airport MRT line, which takes a bit longer. The setting is amazing, with the plaza surrounded by high-rise buildings, though it’s also quite cold and windy! The main lantern is not actually a snake but is based on the infinity symbol (∞), although from a distance that too could resemble a snake. This lantern display bursts into life every 30 minutes from 6:00 pm onwards each evening, revolving full circle accompanied by music and lights. In between, there are music performances by local orchestras and school bands, plus the MC teaching everyone words and phrases in local Hakka or Indigenous languages. The Taiwan Lantern Festival is on now until February 23. If you can, go, it’s well worth it!

Around the Lantern Festival area are displays of hundreds of smaller lanterns, and I always prefer these, they’re made by schools, families, community groups and prisoners, which involve a lot of time, energy and creativity, and always look really good….

This year, Taipei City has also hosted its own, smaller, lantern festival in the popular shopping area of central Taipei between the historic gates of Beimen and Ximen, so it’s always full of people, day and night. The central lantern is a large snake – though from the side it looks like it might be sitting in a large hardbacked chair – breathing smoke as it rotates around in a circle with music and lights. There are also a lot of smaller lanterns, many featuring Taipei 101…

And then there is also the New Taipei City Lantern Festival, held at the New Taipei Metropolitan Park at Sanchong, with scenic sunset views!

New Taipei City opted for a different approach. It has a very charming central snake lantern as its centrepiece, a cute and cuddly snake that moves through a curtain in and out and up and down, accompanied by a lot of smoke…

Lots of other lanterns…

It also has a large religious section. Alongside the usual large temple lantern displays, most unusually, there is also a display of Bible Story lanterns.

There’s Jesus’ birth, the visit of the wise men, Jesus the Good Shepherd, Jesus with the 5 loaves and 2 fish, Jesus’ crucifixion and ascension. Also Noah’s Ark, Moses and Jonah.

It also has one of the Rev. Dr. George Leslie Makay, possibly Taiwan’s most famous missionary, who worked out of Tamsui, part of New Taipei City. These lanterns were sponsored by different churches in the New Taipei City area and also Christian businesses, including at least one restaurant. It’s the first time I’ve seen so many Christian lanterns. Kudos New Taipei City!

Next year, 2026, the main Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Chiayi, in southern central Taiwan, and I can’t wait! 🏮🏮