2017 Taipei Lantern Festival @ Ximending (Taipei, Taiwan)

(中文版本:2017 台北燈節 @ 西門町 (台灣台北))

On Feb. 6, 2017, I went to Taipei Lantern Festival in the evening. I tried to avoid the crowded people on the 1st weekend, but the people that day were still more than I expected.

This year the exhibition areas of Taipei Lantern Festival are along Zhonghua Rd. from MRT Beimen Station to MRT Ximen Station.

The official website of 2017 Taipei Lantern Festival: https://2017.lanternfestival.taipei/en/

My personal suggestion is that you walk from MRT Beimen Station to MRT Ximen Station and then go back to MRT Beimen Station. I also did this way that day. It can help you avoid the crowd at MRT Ximen Station.

I started at MRT Beimen Station.
The start (Taiwan, Taipei)
MRT Beimen Station
Before you get to the main theme lanterns, please don't forget to enjoy the beautiful night view on the overpass on Zhonghua Rd. in the west Taipei!

The overpass on Zhonghua Rd. (Taiwan, Taipei)
The overpass on Zhonghua Rd.
And then I saw the cute lantern, Mazu(Lin Mo-Niang). 

媽祖--林默娘(2017台灣台北燈節)
Mazu--Lin Mo-Niang-1
媽祖--林默娘(2017台灣台北燈節)
Mazu--Lin Mo-Niang-2
The Mazu, Mo-Niang Lin, has been one of the important traditional religions in Taiwan.
The adorable lantern of Mazu(Mo-Niang Lin) looks more kinder than the sculptures in temples in Taiwan.

Although the eyes of the lantern looked horrible initially, the organizer soon invited Tzong-Cheng Wei(韋宗成), the creator of Mazu, Lin Mo-Niang in manga, to fix the terrible bug! 



This lunar year is year of the rooster. Inevitably, most of lanterns are related to the rooster! For example, the main theme lanterns.



the lantern of the rooster (Taipei, Taiwan)
the lantern of the rooster

There were too many people in the main theme area!

The main lantern(Chicken, rooster) Taipei, Taiwan
The roosters (main lanterns)
Soon I went to Zhongshan Hall, the other exhibition area.

There were also some special lanterns and the food stands!
The David with Taiwanese Tattoos (Taipei, Taiwan)
The David with Taiwan-styled tattoos 

The street stalls near MRT Ximen Station in Taipei, Taiwan
The street stalls
The street illumination was also attractive!

The street illumination (2017 Taipei Lantern Festival)
The street illumination
Finally I arrived at the exhibition area near Zhongshan Hall.
Zhongshan Hall (2017 Taipei Lantern Festival)
Zhongshan Hall
I liked the chicken lantern so much. It consisted of the plastic bottles and bottle caps! It looked not only beautiful but also sophisticated.

The beautiful chicken lantern (2017 Taipei Lantern Festival)
The beautiful chicken lantern
Please don't miss the light sculpture show at Zhongshan Hall! The show starts at 19:00 and repeats every 30 minutes!


And then I went back to the starting point today, MRT Beimen Station. There was also a light sculpture show near MRT Beimen Station.

It starts at 19:00 and repeats every 20 minutes. The old north gate of Taipei looks like this during the show gap!

The light sculpture show at Taipei Old North Gate.
The light sculpture show at Taipei Old North Gate.




Personally speaking, I'd like to give the organizer a like for moving the lantern festival to Ximending. You can not only enjoy the lanterns and light sculpture shows but also go shopping in Ximending after the lantern festival. There are also many good restaurants for dinners and night snacks!

But 2017 Taipei Lantern Festival is going to end on Feb. 12, 2017. Please grab your time to enjoy the beautiful lantern festival!

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