Among the more notorious is "Fireworks in the South, Sky Lanterns in the North." The former, Yanshui Beehive Rockets Festival, held in Tainan county, is perhaps the most dangerous, yet liveliest of the festivals. The pyrotechnic event begins when men in well-protected gear carry the palanquin of Guang Gong from the God of War temple. Skyrockets and fireworks create a wall of fire and noise that climaxes when the "cannon wall" is lit and thousands of fireworks go off in succession.
Those who attend are recommended to bring protective gear. The festival starts Tuesday at dusk and continues until dawn the next day. There is no train station in Yanshui so the best way to get there is to take a bus from Tainan.
For a more serene appreciation of the holiday, head north to the mountain town of Pingsi for the Sky Lantern Festival. The annual event attracts visitors from all over the island who come to make, decorate and launch sky lanterns.
This year lanterns will be set off both tomorrow and Wednesday beginning at 6pm. Given the large number of spectators, trains and traffic will be congested. To get there take an eastbound train to Pingsi station.
Those hoping to catch the festival in the nation's capital can venture through the Tunnel of Light illuminating Renai Road in Taipei's Xinyi district. The 2005 Taipei Lantern Festival began last Friday but the official lighting ceremony will take place tomorrow at Taipei City Hall. The show begins at 7pm Saturday and includes a light and laser show in addition to live performances. To get there take the MRT to Taipei City Hall.
● Additional information on Fengyuan's Disney Lantern Festival (in Chinese only) is available at http://www.fengyuan.gov.tw/2005lantern.
● Information on lantern festivities taking place around the island (in Chinese and English) is available at http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/news_event/events_all.jsp.
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