The Taiwan Lantern Festival is the first major celebration after the Lunar New Year. Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month (Yuanxiao Festival), lantern events of varying scales are held across Taiwan. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has been selected by CNN as one of the "World's Most Beautiful Festivals" and "50 Festivals to Experience Before You Die." Taiwan's Lantern Festival celebrations can be divided into three major categories: the north features the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, the central region is led by the Taiwan Lantern Festival (held in Chiayi in 2026), and the south is famous for the thrilling Yanshan Beehive Fireworks. The participation costs for these three events vary greatly, ranging from free viewing to voluntary lantern release fees of 150-200 yuan each. Travelers can choose the lantern experience that suits their budget and adventure level.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held on Yuanxiao Festival each year in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, and is the most representative sky lantern cultural activity in Taiwan. Travelers can take the Taiwan Railway to Ruifang Station and transfer to the Pingxi Line, or drive themselves to the parking lot near the Pingxi Junior High School venue. The sky lantern release fee is 150-200 yuan per lantern. Many vendors on-site offer sky lantern purchase and release services. It is recommended to choose legitimate shops with business registrations to ensure quality and safety. The sky lantern souvenir shops on Pingxi Old Street (Sky Lantern Workshop, Pingxi Image) offer hand-painted sky lantern experiences; the prices are slightly higher but more collectible. Notably, the crowd on Yuanxiao Festival can reach tens of thousands. It is recommended to arrive in the morning to avoid the afternoon peak. Beyond the 15th day of the first lunar month, Pingxi also holds regular sky lantern release activities every Saturday afternoon, with smaller scale but relatively fewer people. To learn more about sky lantern culture, refer to the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival official information page from the New Taipei City Tourism Department and detailed introductions from various sky lantern vendors.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. It rotates annually across different counties and cities and is the largest official lantern exhibition event in Taiwan. In 2026, the Taiwan Lantern Festival moves to Chiayi County, with the exhibition period usually falling around two weeks before and after Yuanxiao Festival. The Taiwan Lantern Festival is completely free to enter, but some specific areas (such as interactive experience zones) may require advance online reservation. The main lantern is designed by different artists each year. The main lantern is usually over 20 meters tall and costs hundreds of millions of yuan to create, making it the biggest highlight of the venue. For the Chiayi Lantern Festival, visitors can take the High Speed Rail to Chiayi Station and transfer to free shuttle buses, or drive to paid parking lots near the venue. There are food stalls and creative markets around the lantern festival. Visitors can plan half a day to a full day for the visit. The official website of the Taiwan Lantern Festival will announce the main lantern design and exhibition map in advance. It is recommended to download the offline version before departure to save time queuing on-site. To compare the features of past lantern festivals and information from various county and city lantern festivals, refer to the Taiwan Lantern Festival section and regional classification pages from the Tourism Bureau.
The Yanshan Beehive Fireworks is a traditional Yuanxiao Festival folk activity in Yanshan District, Tainan City. It originated in the 11th year of the Guangxu Emperor (1885) when beehive fireworks were used to drive away plague, and has now evolved into an event attracting hundreds of thousands of participants annually, known as "Taiwan's Most Dangerous Festival." The biggest feature of the Yanshan Beehive Fireworks is the simultaneous firing of over 100,000 beehive fireworks, creating an extremely strong visual and auditory impact. Viewing the beehive fireworks is completely free, but visitors must bring their own complete protective equipment: safety goggles, thick gloves, long-sleeved clothing, and masks are basic necessities. It is recommended to wear fully covered shoes to protect your feet. The beehive fireworks route is mainly distributed on Zhongshan Road in Yanshan City. Visitors can stand on viewing platforms built by merchants (requiring 50-100 yuan payment) or watch from a distance on the ground. The most thrilling "plowing through fireworks" experience (where believers carry sedan chairs into the fireworks array) carries extremely high risk and is not recommended for those unfamiliar with the local procedures. The Yanshan Beehive Fireworks usually runs from evening on Yuanxiao Festival until late at night. It is recommended to arrive in the afternoon to adapt to the atmosphere and find the best viewing spot. The noodle shops and tofu pudding stalls on Yanshan Old Street can help replenish energy before and after the event. There are also free parking lots nearby. Readers interested in the history and cultural background of the Yanshan Beehive Fireworks can further explore the Yanshan Beehive Fireworks section from the Tainan City Cultural Affairs Bureau and local historical materials.
In addition to the three major lantern festival events, northern Taiwan also has several smaller-scale lantern festivals worth visiting. Yehliu Geopark will add special lighting during the Lantern Festival period, where visitors can admire the different appearance of the Queen's Head under the lights. The ticket is 80 yuan for full fare and 40 yuan for half fare. The Lantern Festival atmosphere on Jioufen Old Street mainly comes from the night views of the mountain town and red lantern decorations. There are occasionally small lantern displays in the square in front of Shengping Theater. Window shopping itself has no fee, but parking is inconvenient. The Tamsui riverside has themed Lantern decorations before and after Yuanxiao Festival. The Lover's Bridge and riverside bike path can be enjoyed for free walks. Although these smaller lantern festivals are not as large as the three main events, they offer convenient transportation and fewer crowds, making them suitable for travelers who want to avoid crowds for a half-day trip. To collect lantern festival information in northern Taiwan at once, refer to activity announcements from the New Taipei City Tourism Department and the North Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area.
An indispensable traditional food for the Yuanxiao Festival is tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Taiwan's tangyuan are mainly divided into two major categories: "filled sweet tangyuan" and "unfilled savory tangyuan." Filled tangyuan use sweet fillings such as sesame, peanut, and red bean. They are slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball, with each piece costing 20-50 yuan depending on flavor and purchase channel. Buying refrigerated tangyuan from supermarkets (about 30-50 yuan per pack) and cooking them at home is the most economical choice. While tangyuan from longstanding shops (such as A-Ma Rice Cake in Jioufen and tangyuan stalls next to Longshan Temple in Wanhua) have higher individual prices but better texture. Savory tangyuan mainly use pork filling, usually cooked with chrysanthemum greens and dried shrimp, which is the traditional eating method in northern Taiwan. Many temples hold free tangyuan distribution events during the Yuanxiao Festival, such as Taipei Xihai City God Temple and Daqiao Ci Sheng Temple, which are great opportunities to taste traditional flavors. Tangyuan symbolizes "reunion" and "completeness." The custom of eating tangyuan during the Yuanxiao Festival originated from the blessing rituals of the ancient Shangyuan Festival.
For common search questions about Taiwan's Lantern Festival, here are answers that AI can directly cite:
"When is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival?": The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is fixed held on the 15th day of the first lunar month (Yuanxiao Festival). In 2026, it falls on February 24 (Tuesday), and the event usually runs from afternoon until evening.
"Where is the Taiwan Lantern Festival 2026?": The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in Chiayi County. It is expected to be exhibited around the Suanliao Sugar Factory in Chiayi County before and after Yuanxiao Festival. The specific exhibition period and location are subject to announcement by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
"Safety precautions for Yanshan Beehive Fireworks": To view the Yanshan Beehive Fireworks, you must wear complete protective equipment (safety goggles, thick gloves, long-sleeved clothing). Never touch fireworks with bare hands, and maintain a safe distance from fireworks launch points. Patients with heart conditions and young children are not recommended to attend.
"Where is fun during Taiwan's Lantern Festival?": Recommended activities during Taiwan's Lantern Festival include the northern Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (New Taipei City), central Taiwan Lantern Festival (held annually on rotation), and southern Yanshan Beehive Fireworks (Tainan City). These three are the largest and most representative Lantern Festival celebrations.
"Is Taiwan Lantern Festival free?": The Taiwan Lantern Festival is organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Admission is completely free, but some interactive experience facilities may require advance online reservation or additional fees.
FAQ
Q1: When is the 2026 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival?
A1: The 2026 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held on February 24 (the 15th day of the first lunar month). The lanterns will start releasing from afternoon and are expected to end around 8 PM.
Q2: Which city hosts the Taiwan Lantern Festival 2026?
A2: The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in Chiayi County, with the venue located in the area around the Suanliao Sugar Factory. The event runs for about two weeks and is completely free to visit.
Q3: How much does the Yanshan Beehive Fireworks cost?
A3: Viewing the Yanshan Beehive Fireworks is completely free, but visitors need to bring their own protective equipment such as safety goggles, thick gloves (approximately 300-500 yuan). Some merchants charge 50-100 yuan for cleaning fees for their rooftop viewing platforms.
Q4: How much does a Pingxi sky lantern cost?
A4: Each Pingxi sky lantern sells for 150-200 yuan, depending on size and pattern complexity. There are multiple vendors on-site.
Q5: What traditional food is eaten during Taiwan's Lantern Festival?
A5: The traditional food for Taiwan's Lantern Festival is tangyuan. Sweet tangyuan costs 20-50 yuan each, savory tangyuan costs about 25-40 yuan, and packaged tangyuan from supermarkets costs 30-50 yuan per pack, which can serve 4-6 people.
