The lantern festival has long been Taipei's most internationally visible tourism event and a symbol of the city's preeminent position as the country's capital and cultural nerve center. However, Taiwan's other major cities, especially Kaohsiung, have long taken exception to Taipei's hogging of the spotlight and hope to use this year's lantern festival to boost their images.
Previously, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication organized the huge lantern festival that centered on Taipei's Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Then in 1997, Taipei also played host to a rival lantern festival focused on City Hall and organized by the Taipei City Government under then mayor Chen Shui-bian (
According to Ho Te-fu (
Taipei City Government will again take over Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall plaza and the surrounding area for its lantern festival, with another zodiac animal theme -- this year a laser snake created using digital technology.
Kaohsiung and Taichung have decided to shift away from a zodiac theme and are using the event to promote their image as cultured and economically vibrant cities.
Taichung has chosen a theme of the "five elements," a concept fundamental to Chinese cosmology. The five elements are associated with five mythical beasts, which in turn relate to the five directions -- north, south, east, west and center. Funding for the 12m by 12m theme lantern was raised through donations, another element in the community spirit that the event intends to evoke.
PHOTO COURTESY TIM
Kaohsiung's theme lantern is called "the giant turtle springs from the ocean to fly like a dragon" and is, according to Ho, a symbol of Kaohsiung's ambition to be recognized as one of Taiwan's foremost cities, rather than the neglected cousin of Taipei. The city's maritime culture is also celebrated with the extension of the lantern festival to the harbor, where activities will begin on Feb. 3.The official start of the lantern festival, however, is on Feb. 7, when Chen is scheduled to participate in the lighting of the main theme lantern.
The lantern festival will also be used to showcase a number of recently completed cultural facilities and urban renewal projects.
According to Chen Li-hua (
PHOTO COURTESY TIM
The events in each city will mostly be a celebration of the traditional Chinese holiday, but authorities also hope to use the occasion to boost social issues and environmentalism and promote their images as modern, sophisticated cities.
For your information:
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival (Feb. 3 - Feb. 14)
Tomorrow 4pm - 11pm: Official opening (Harbor city area)
Feb. 4 - Feb. 14, 11am to 11pm: Cultural/folk performances
Feb. 7, 7:30pm: Lighting of the main lantern by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at the Ai River lantern area.
Greater Taichung Lantern Festival (Feb. 2 to Feb. 11)
Today 3pm: Inauguration of the theme lantern.
Tomorrow 7pm - 7:30pm: Official lighting of the theme lantern
8pm and 8:30pm: Five elements dance performance.
Cultural and folk performances will be held between approximately 7pm to 8:30pm from tomorrow until Feb. 11. On Feb. 7, the actual day of the lantern festival, performances will be held between 6:30pm and 10:30pm.
Taipei City Lantern Festival (Feb. 3 to Feb. 11)
Feb. 3 - Feb. 5 3pm - 4:30pm: Cultural/folk performances at Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Feb. 6 3pm - 6pm: Cultural/folk performances and rehearsal for lighting of main lantern.
Feb. 7 3pm - 10pm: Cultural/folk performances and official lighting of main lantern.
Feb. 8-10 3pm - 5pm: Cultural/folk performances.
Feb. 11 7pm - 10pm: Light show for main lantern and outdoor concert featuring rock and folk music groups.
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