Taiwan Lights Up the Year of the Snake
Lustrously designed lanterns sparkled, cultural dancers twirled gracefully around the stage, and cameras clicked away, capturing the enchanted atmosphere as raindrops fell silently from up above.
While persistent during the two hours, the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the performers or gathered visitors – all 690,311 who attended the opening ceremony on Wednesday 12 February 2025. However, with the sun shining brightly on the first weekend, 2.2 million people joined the festive fun.
Many Asian nations are concluding their Chinese New Year celebrations at the first full moon of the year, but for the Taiwanese, it marks the beginning of their joyous Lunar New Year celebrations with the Taiwan Lantern Festival from 12 to 23 February this year.
This exciting festival, first held in 1990, is a shining highlight of Taiwan’s cultural calendar. Held annually between February and March, depending on when Chinese New Year falls, it lights up the winter with vibrant colours and creativity. Bringing a captivating blend of tradition and innovation, carrying lanterns during the Lantern Festival has evolved from a simple folk activity into a breathtaking international tourist attraction.
The main lantern show is nothing short of a stunning extravaganza, featuring an incredible lineup of traditional and modern performances from local and international folk groups. In fact, when filming the Lantern Festival in 2007, the Discovery Channel named it one of the world’s top celebrations.
This year, the Year of the Snake, marked the 36th official festival. Taking place in Taoyuan, co-organised by the Taoyuan City Government and the Taiwan Tourism Administration, it’s been nine years since Taoyuan last hosted this fabulous festival, and locals were notably excited.
Spread over two vibrant areas; the festival dazzled attendees with its leading lantern exhibition set opposite A18 Taoyuan HSR (high-speed railway) Station. At the same time, a whimsical lights playground at A19 Taoyuan Sports Park Station delighted families with five incredible lantern installations. Plus, all 13 administrative districts in the city showcased their own charming displays and performances.
Persistent rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of attendees.
The 2025 centrepiece was a mind-blowing 18-metre-high infinity symbol, ingeniously merging technological futurism with a mesmerising snake lantern adorned with geometric shapes that rotated 360 degrees. Designed by the talented Akibo Li, it brilliantly combined elements of local arts and baseball, truly showcasing the heart of Taiwan.
His design manifests the joyfulness for which the Taiwan Festival is renowned. The inspiration coming from roller coaster and waterslide theme park attractions and the fact that international media have dubbed the annual festival a “Disneyland without roller coasters.”
During the festival, the spectacular light show activates every half hour until the end on 23 February. It features auspicious blessings written in the native languages of exchange students in Taiwan and artistic efforts by Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng, Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai and Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui.
Colourful lantern characters and their reflections in the rain.
No matter where you are in Taiwan, the annual Lantern Festival is a monumental event that brings excitement to every city and county. With impressive illumination festivals happening worldwide, none I’ve seen compared to the grand scale and splendour here.
Leading up to this magical festival, people get creative, painting and constructing their own paper lanterns or piecing together a handheld lantern of the animal year that traditionally accompanies the main installation to carry around on the night. Many lanterns are adorned with beautiful messages of hope, love, wishes for the future, and cherished memories of those who have passed.
The delightful handheld snake lantern of 2025 is both adorable and incredibly versatile. Designed by renowned artist Lin Chia-wei, it features seven vibrant cardboard parts that can be adjusted up to 90 degrees at the joints to create a playful wriggling effect. She has been crafting these enchanting handheld lanterns for the past five Taiwan Lantern Festivals, and this one was a real hit with both young and old.
The main stage viewed from the media platform.
Traditions abound during the Lunar New Year as families exchange red envelopes filled with money and indulge in delicious treats like the sweet glutinous rice ball (tangyuan) which was in abundance at the festival. With nearly 150 food stalls offering a feast for all, attendees were spoiled for choice, from Japanese to local Taiwanese street food like oyster omelettes, dumplings, and Taiwan’s homegrown bubble tea, as well as international delights like burgers, fries, and ice cream.
Just after 7pm, the excitement reached a new peak as President Lai Ching-te officially kicked off the festival hitting the switch that began an exhilarating eight-minute illumination program of the central lantern, ‘Infinite Paradise,’ directly facing the main stage and A18 Taoyuan HSR Station.
Smoked swirled around the central lantern symbol. Lights flashed across the sky. The crowd watched in awe as the mighty beast huffed and puffed, then sprung to life, turning around slowly in an array of kaleidoscopic hues. Water cascaded down back-flipped umbrellas as the mesmerised patrons looked skyward, phones held high to capture the unfolding magic.
The 18-metre-high revolving infinity symbol was a technological marvel.
When the breathtaking show finally concluded, reality set in as we realised how soaked we were. Splish, splash, like little ducks in our cheerful yellow rain ponchos, we made a beeline for the comforting shelter of the HSR Station across the road. Crisp, uniformed men guarding the doorways were handing out plastic bags for our sodden umbrellas. But you couldn’t wipe the ear-to-ear grins as exhilarated groups huddled over their phones, comparing the captured highlights of a most unforgettable evening.
The 2026 official Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in the country’s southern county of Chiayi at the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum on Taizih Boulevard and the Chiayi City Government Plaza between March 3 and 15. It will surely be another international extravaganza combining ‘new Chiayi’ and integrating digital technologies and multimedia applications.
Images: © Nannette Holliday
