Comparing the Taiwan Lantern Festival Experience to the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival Adventure
Hunt down the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival on a web browser, and you'll likely stumble upon an array of pictures showcasing an enticing sight - lanterns ascending into the darkness. Some might think it's the breathtaking Taiwan Lantern Festival, while others may consider it a catastrophic blow to the environment. But rest assured, it's neither; it's the fabulous Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival.
This dazzling event takes place during the same period as the Taiwan Lantern Festival around Lunar New Year (February or March), but don't be fooled - these are different celebrations in various locations. Luckily, planning a visit to both is achievable with a bit of planning.
While Taiwan's Lantern Festivals may not boast centuries of history, their roots can be traced back over 2000 years to the Han dynasty. Traditions vary across Asia, from enchanting floating displays in Hoi An, Vietnam, to aerial releases such as those during the unforgettable days in Pingxi. Taiwan's main Lantern Festival showcases exquisite stationary creations, mesmerizing light shows, and engaging performances, making it an awe-inspiring time to explore this captivating island.
What Sets the Taiwan Lantern Festival Apart from the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival?
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is a national event, created by the tourism board in 1990. Lasting for a few weeks, its location changes every year to attract visitors to a new part of the country. While the lanterns are more intricately designed, they remain motionless, and cultural events take center stage. Flying lanterns are not part of the scene at all.
On the other hand, Pingxi's Sky Lantern Festival features lanterns soaring into the night sky, though only on a few occasions per year. This authentic, century-old tradition takes place in the Pingxi District, New Taipei City, particularly in Shifen. Individual, year-round lantern launches occur at this enchanting location. When the highly-anticipated nights arrive, swarms of people descend on these quaint villages, so set aside an entire day for this extraordinary event.
Experiencing the Taiwan Lantern Festival
Despite an unexpected downpour during my visit, I thoroughly enjoyed the Taiwan Lantern Festival. Upon arriving at the main location in 2025 (Taoyuan City), I found it smaller than expected. I discovered an area housing various lantern displays, including both professional and children's creations, and a stage where contemporary and folk performers representing each of Taiwan's counties performed. After watching a couple of dances and an enchanting light and music show, I wandered through rows of lanterns, marveling at the sights for about an hour.
However, I soon realized there was another section, which led me on an adventure through hundreds of additional lantern displays, temporary temples, fun activities for all ages, and more. After walking for two exhausting hours and reaching the next train station, I hopped on the train and returned to Taoyuan HSR. Friendly locals (staff and tourists alike) were more than willing to help this foreign visitor, often using a translation app to explain different elements and displays.
Every year, the Taiwan Lantern Festival is hosted by a different county with a unique theme. Check schedules on the Taiwan Tourism Board's website for the relevant year for accurate details.
In 2026, Chiayi County will host events in various city locations between the 3rd and 15th of March. In 2027, Miaoli County (Zhunan is likely one location) will take over the festival in late February. Wherever it is, it should always be relatively effortless to reach using Taiwan's high-speed rail network.
Is the Taiwan Lantern Festival Worth Visiting?
If you find yourself in Taiwan already, a resounding 'yes' is the answer. I wouldn't suggest planning your Taiwan trip around the festival alone, but there are other compelling reasons to visit during Lunar New Year. The country's infrastructure is festively lit with lanterns throughout the season, adding a festive touch to your travels. Incorporating the Lantern Festivals into your itinerary is an extra bonus, unless you prefer to secure better weather, in which case you'll want to visit a bit later in the spring.
Attending the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
While the national Taiwan Lantern Festival lasts a couple of weeks, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is limited to just a few days. Throughout those days, some lanterns are released every night. However, the main lantern releases only occur on one (possibly two) particularly spectacular nights, and these are the nights immortalized in photos. Like the main Lantern Festival, the dates vary - consult the Taiwan Tourism Board's website for the specific details for the relevant year.
Unlike the main event, which changes location annually, the Sky Lantern Festival is always around Pingxi, with the main release taking place in Shifen. Year-round, this enchanting valley serves as a popular spot to release a wish lantern, which you can easily purchase before jotting down your wishes and launching them. It's also intriguing to explore the old train line remnant of the Japanese occupation and the coal mines. On a typical day, it's a couple of hours from Taipei by train, but during the Festival, you'll need to dedicate an entire day to the experience due to the influx of attendees.
Attending the main lantern release is free; you'll just need to pay a small fee for each lantern you'd like to release. Online registration can be complicated for foreigners, so you can opt for a Klook excursion or simply show up. Arrival early is essential for registering if you plan on releasing lanterns or securing a good spot to watch the spectacle. Releases commence at 6:30 pm and continue every half hour until 9:30 pm.
The Environmental Impact of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
In one word, no, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is not environmentally friendly. Although recent efforts have been made to alter the construction of lanterns to natural or biodegradable materials, such as rice paper and bamboo cases, launching multitudes of flaming paper lanterns into a forest is never going to be earth-friendly.
To Taiwan's credit, the main Lantern Festival does not release lanterns. Additionally, a forest cleanup team is deployed after the festival, primarily concentrated around Pingxi. However, the dense canopy makes it challenging for them to find every lantern. I returned to Pingxi a few weeks after the festival and spotted remains of lanterns in trees and along riverbanks.
While I'm not out to criticize a cherished tradition, we should consider our participation as travelers, especially when the option to simply watch presents itself and can help slightly reduce the number of lanterns released.
Other Reasons to Visit Taiwan Around Lunar New Year
Even though the Lunar New Year may bring an unexpected chill to Taiwan's air, it is still a fantastic time to explore this captivating island. Alongside enjoying the main Lantern Festival, Sky Lanterns (if you prefer), and the Lunar New Year celebrations, the Sakura season adorns the country with cherry blossoms.
The timing of the Lunar New Year will determine whether you're visiting during the height of winter or on the brink of spring. Thankfully, Taiwan's Sakura season is relatively extended - longer than in Japan - so northern blossoms usually start appearing in early February and continue until late March or even early April in the south.
Upon the conclusion of the Lunar New Year holidays, touring the country becomes easier and more affordable, making it an ideal time to embark on a Taiwan adventure. During my trip, I was able to book both Sun Moon Lake and Alishan Railway excursions just a few days in advance, while in high season, a ticket would have been impossible to secure without advance booking. I also found reasonable accommodation easily by only planning 24 hours ahead.
Getting to Taiwan
For those departing from London, direct flights with British Airways and China Airlines are available. My personally recommended airline for this journey is EVA Air (discount code: EVATW). The onboard service and setup were solid, making the lengthy economy class flight bearable. There are, however, layovers in Bangkok, Thailand, adding a couple more hours to the journey but also providing an opportunity to stretch your legs and grab a coffee before the final leg of your flight.
Consider capitalizing on this stop and extending your vacation with a beach island escapade, especially if you're traveling for the Lantern Festival, as this will offer a warmer contrast to Taiwan's end-of-winter temperatures. Take advantage of the discount code EVATW for 10% off your EVA Air flights.
Taiwan Tourism and Traverse Events sponsored my visit to the Taiwan Lantern Festival. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. I returned to Taiwan a few weeks later for additional exploration and a second visit - a testament to my affection for this exceptional island nation.
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- Despite the Taiwan Lantern Festival and the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival both taking place around Lunar New Year, they are different celebrations with unique characteristics: the Taiwan Lantern Festival is a national event that lasts for a few weeks and takes place in different locations each year, featuring intricately designed stationary lanterns and cultural events, while the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is a century-old tradition held in the Pingxi District, New Taipei City, particularly in Shifen, where lanterns soar into the night sky.
- As the Taiwan Lantern Festival and the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival offer distinct experiences, travelers can plan their itinerary to include visiting both, making the most of their trip to Taiwan during Lunar New Year.
