Actually I thought I just wanted to show the photos I took when going to the lantern festival this year.
Taiwan Lantern Festival is for celebrating the Lantern Festival on the first full moon of lunar year. During this time, the Tourism Bureau of Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taiwan wll collaborate with local goverment helding some events to spread the traditional folklore.
But I guess, for most people, it's just a time to get together with family or friends. And around this time we can see many beautiful lanterns.
Anyway, this year, Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in Yunlin County. When I almost forgot about this, my friend in Yunlin just told me how wonderful the Lantern Festival was and I should go and have a look. So on 18 of Feb, I took the train to Dounan Township, it's a busy town in Yunlin County and there would be free shuttle bus taking me to the place where I can see the lanterns.
And actually the place where Taiwan Lantern Festival held is in Taiwan High Speed Rail Yunlin Station. But the THSR station near my hometown is too far away to catch, so I choose train to get there.
I thought this time the local goverment did very well for the transportation. When I got Dounan train station in Yunlin, there were many sighs and stuffs showing me how to catch the free shuttle buss. And before getting the bus, they also gave a small card showing me the place where I'm from. If I forget which shuttle bus I should take, I can just show the card then I can back to Dounan train station.
What amazed me most was when I got the destination, got off the shuttle bus, there were staffs sending free cookies to everyone who's going to the lanterns.
So time to have a look. The lanterns would show different kinds of expression during day and night, so my friend went to see the lanterns almost everyday. He told me this time Taiwan Lantern Festival in Yunlin is the biggest one since 1990. It's the first time Taiwan Lantern Festival held in Yunlin...and Yunlin has nothing but big place to... have fun...I guess, it's also my first time to go to Yunlin.
There were two major lantern areas in Yunlin. The place near THSR station is in Huwei township, Yunlin; and the other is in Beigang Township, Yunlin. When I back home, I just realized about that. So all the stuffs is in Huwei Township. Besides, the festival is augmented by six sub-themes. The four photos above is about "Religious Blessings."
For the most commmon religion in Taiwan is called Taoism. So the stuff in "Religious Blessings" you see is almost about Taoism.
Like... the third photo is called wishing pool, you can throw the coins to the pool and make wish, maybe your dream will come true.
The forth photo is called Champion Bridge, if you cross the Champion Bridge, you will get wonderful grades on exams.
Well...I think, you can imitate the people what they were doing just for fun. Even for me, sometimes I really don't know what I am doing, just knowing I may get a good luck. And If you don't do this, you won't get bad luck neither. Taoism is very open-minded.
Here is the greeting...door. The image is from Taiwan's traditional temple. Looking at the roof, the curve is like the tail of swallows. Long time ago, only the magnificos can use this kind of disign to build the house. So the symbol here is something that if you pass this door, you can get good luck.
The lantern of Taipei 101 during sunset time.
The lantern of Tokyo Sky Tree. There were a vendor near here, if you use Facebook uploading the photo of this one and locate yourself you can get a shopping bag. I just suddenly wanted this shopping bag...
When the night time came, everything had changed. Here are Taipei 101 and greeting door's night time version.
The lantern of Hami melons(Cantaloupes). Hami melons are local specialty in Yunlin. When you see the golden light, they hope you can make a lot of money.
I like these lanterns of eggs. Because the symbol of this lunar year is rooster, when it comes the roosters, people will think of eggs. That's the reason why here are so many eggs. The pictures on these eggs are the images of 24 solar terms. And...a little bit complicated to me, all I know is they are beautiful.
So...this is the main lantern of this year, rooster.But they said this is phoenix. Anyway, they are all birds. During the night time every 30 mins, it will rotate and have light show. If you don't know what they are talking about when the show is on, never mind about that. They are just talking about "Thank you for your coming blah...blah...blah.."
The second big lantern. Bull up the market. The bulls, or cattles play an important role in Taiwan's agriculture. That's why you can see rice and some crops under the bull.
The lantern of Butterfly at one entrance. It's also kind of greetings.
After I took this photo, I thought it's time home. 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival.
During the time of Lantern Festival, besides Taiwan Lantern Festival, there are lots of events relating lanterns in Taiwan. But Taiwan Lantern Festival is the biggest one. If you get the chance, next year it will held in Chiayi. Hope you will have a good time.
Night image of Dounan train station.
Thanks for my friend taking me to here.
So many people waiting for the shuttle buses.
中文版? 這裡是練習英文寫作的地方。
歡迎糾正。
If you get the chance, please kindly tell me if there any problems about the English. I will really appreciate of that.
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