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President Lai Ching-te opened the 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival March 3 in Chiayi County, expressing optimism for the nation, social progress and peace and contentment in the coming year.
The president praised Chiayi as a county with thriving agriculture, industry and technology sectors. Its future is promising, he said, citing the establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., advanced packaging and testing facilities and noted that a drone base is scheduled to be set up in Chiayi.
According to Lai, this year’s festival has added significance as many international artists have come to Taiwan to create lanterns and take part in performances. Taiwan’s Tech World pavilion from last year’s Osaka Expo was recreated for the event to display the country’s industrial power to visitors, he said.
Lai went on to say that the festival has won worldwide recognition over the past three decades, adding that it was praised by the Discovery Channel as one of the best festivals in the world, and was described by foreign media as “Disneyland without roller coasters.”
The president concluded by thanking the Ministries of the Interior and Transportation and Communications for supporting the Chiayi County Government in organizing the event, and expressed appreciation for the central authorities’ focus on tourism.
Running until March 15, the 37th Taiwan Lantern Festival features over 600 lanterns in 22 areas, with one main lantern and two auxiliary lights. Drawing inspiration from the sun, sacred trees, and mist as symbols, the 21-meter-tall main lantern “Alishan, Veiled in Luminous Mist” traces Taiwan’s journey from its oceanic origins through the evolution of life to the rise of human civilization, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said, adding that it sends a luminous signal from this island to the world, expressing Taiwan’s positive energy in facing the future. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
The president praised Chiayi as a county with thriving agriculture, industry and technology sectors. Its future is promising, he said, citing the establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., advanced packaging and testing facilities and noted that a drone base is scheduled to be set up in Chiayi.
According to Lai, this year’s festival has added significance as many international artists have come to Taiwan to create lanterns and take part in performances. Taiwan’s Tech World pavilion from last year’s Osaka Expo was recreated for the event to display the country’s industrial power to visitors, he said.
Lai went on to say that the festival has won worldwide recognition over the past three decades, adding that it was praised by the Discovery Channel as one of the best festivals in the world, and was described by foreign media as “Disneyland without roller coasters.”
The president concluded by thanking the Ministries of the Interior and Transportation and Communications for supporting the Chiayi County Government in organizing the event, and expressed appreciation for the central authorities’ focus on tourism.
Running until March 15, the 37th Taiwan Lantern Festival features over 600 lanterns in 22 areas, with one main lantern and two auxiliary lights. Drawing inspiration from the sun, sacred trees, and mist as symbols, the 21-meter-tall main lantern “Alishan, Veiled in Luminous Mist” traces Taiwan’s journey from its oceanic origins through the evolution of life to the rise of human civilization, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said, adding that it sends a luminous signal from this island to the world, expressing Taiwan’s positive energy in facing the future. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News