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I remember when I was a child, Hanoi once held a lantern festival. That was the first time I saw so many animals and structures recreated through light and creative art in an outdoor space. Some things were very simple and familiar to everyday life, like tree branches, lampposts, dogs, cats, or birds, but when they took on the form of lanterns, each piece seemed to have its own story.
It wasn't until I had the chance to visit Taiwan during the Lantern Festival that I experienced the world's largest lantern festival and was truly overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the space, and the scale of this event. If there's a famous romantic drama starring the "heartthrob" Hsu Guang-Han called "Journey Towards You," then Taiwan's Lantern Festival can be described as "Journey of Light."
Taiwan Lantern Festival: Refining Visual Culture
In Taiwan, the Lantern Festival (the full moon night of the first lunar month, a festival of lights and family reunions) is the most important holiday of the year, marking the end of the Lunar New Year and the beginning of a new year full of hope. It's not only a time to pray for good fortune but also an opportunity to enjoy the art of lanterns.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival (Taiwan Lantern Festival) is the most prominent cultural event during the Lantern Festival. First organized in 1990 by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, this festival quickly attracts millions of visitors each year, making the Lantern Festival a prime time to travel to Taiwan.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival (Taiwan Lantern Festival) is the most prominent cultural event during the Lantern Festival.
The festival is held alternately in major cities such as Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taoyuan, with each location having its own unique character. The lantern display areas are always brightly lit with colorful lights, transforming the space into an open-air exhibition hall when night falls. The lanterns here not only feature the shapes of the 12 zodiac animals (the most common imagery in lantern designs) but also iconic landmarks such as Taipei 101 (once the world's tallest building), bridges, high-speed trains, and temples. The lantern designs are meticulously crafted, with attention to detail in color coordination and lighting.
Attending this festival truly reveals that the Lantern Festival is a time when entire families, across generations, gather together. Children are naturally captivated by the outdoor space filled with light and color, while adults feel a sense of nostalgia, reliving their childhood.
For the first time in 2025, the Lantern Festival in Taiwan will be held in Taoyuan City, hosted by HSR station, from February 12th to 23rd.
The world's most dangerous fireworks festival.
Fireworks are something almost everyone has seen at least once, especially during the Lunar New Year. But how many people have actually experienced having fireworks hit them and directly smelling the smoke? Come to Yanshui – the location of what is considered the "most dangerous fireworks festival in the world".
The origins of this festival are linked to the ancient practice of using fireworks to ward off disease and evil spirits in the 19th century. The unique feature of the Diem Thuy Fireworks Festival is the "fireworks barrage"—series of fireworks launched from pyrotechnic stands erected throughout the streets. Festival participants often wear special protective gear to withstand the intense sparks. Locals believe that fireworks hitting people will ward off evil spirits and disease; the more sparks hit someone in the new year, the more luck and fortune they will have.
Attending this festival, I donned protective gear like an "astronaut" and dashed into the sparks on the street. It was a very special feeling, both adventurous and exhilarating. And in my personal opinion, it wasn't as dangerous as rumored because the sparks were quite gentle, unlike the firecrackers used to be set off during Tet in Vietnam. The moment of standing close to the sparks and having the light fly towards you was very exciting and worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime.
Despite being considered dangerous, the Yanshui Fireworks Festival still attracts a large number of locals and tourists, not only because it is a traditional event but also because it symbolizes courage and the strength to overcome difficulties.
Lantern Festival in Binh Khe: Wishing for high flights
During the Lantern Festival in Taiwan, be sure to visit Pingxi to join the crowds praying for a peaceful new year and releasing sky lanterns. Pingxi is a small town in New Taipei City, famous for its tradition of releasing sky lanterns during the Lantern Festival. This custom originated during the Qing Dynasty, when people used lanterns to signal their safety to their families after social upheavals.
Today, the tradition of releasing sky lanterns in Binh Khe has become a symbol of hope and reunion. Each lantern carries wishes, from health and happiness to success in work and life. On the night of the Lantern Festival, thousands of sky lanterns fly into the sky, creating a magnificent and emotional scene. Visitors participating in the festival often write their wishes on the lanterns, then release them into the sky with their loved ones. This is not only a traditional ritual but also a meaningful and unforgettable bonding experience for everyone involved.
Similar to the lantern festival in Chiang Mai (Thailand) in November, the sky lantern festival in Pingxi takes place in cooler weather and joins the symphony of lights across Taiwan during the Lantern Festival.
Eating glutinous rice dumplings and shaved ice with raw egg
During the Lantern Festival, tangyuan (rice balls) are an indispensable symbol, representing reunion and prosperity. Made from glutinous rice flour, tangyuan have sweet fillings such as red bean paste and black sesame seeds, and are cooked in ginger and sugar syrup to enhance their warming flavor.
Besides traditional glutinous rice balls, some places in Taiwan have created more modern variations such as glutinous rice balls filled with milk, green tea, or mango, adding diversity. In addition to glutinous rice balls, other dishes like fried lanterns, braised pork, and imperial sticky rice are also popular choices on the Lunar New Year feast table. Each dish is not only delicious but also carries the meaning of wishing good luck, prosperity, and harmony for the family.
While in Taiwan during the Lantern Festival, I also had the chance to try red bean shaved ice, but served with a raw egg. It was quite unusual and a little… scary, but luckily I didn't get a stomach ache. The yellow chicken egg also symbolizes light and good fortune.
Taiwan's Lantern Festival is not just a traditional celebration, but also a unique journey of cultural, artistic, and spiritual exploration. It's an opportunity, after the Lunar New Year holiday, to share joy and hope in the vibrant and energetic atmosphere of the new year, on a journey filled with light and joyful sounds.
