Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, One of 14 Must-Go Festivals Before You Die

The Lantern Festival is one of the most colorful and thriving festivals in Taiwan, was named as one of the world’s 14 festivals a person must attend in their lifetime by the giant travel guide publisher, Fordor’s Travel. This is an annual event usually held on January 15th of lunar calendar, the first full-moon night of the lunar year. However, as the popularity of Pingxi Lantern Festival increases, New Taipei City adds two more sky lantern release events on 2014/2/03 and 2014/2/08. The most conspicuous one will be held on 2014/2/14, the 15th day of the first month of lunar calendar. There will be over 100,000 sky lanterns rising into night sky during the events; it will be a magical and breathtaking sight that you will cherish forever.

New Taipei City government plans to give away thousands of lanterns for visitors to participate the events, from which it can be seen that the activity is to spread happiness and hope. Visitor may also buy your own lanterns from street stalls. You may find several colors of sky lantern represent different kinds of whish- health, fortune, work, romance, etc. People usually write their wishes on the sky lanterns because it is believed as the lantern fly into the sky; it is a way to pass on your wishes to gods above.

This is not the first time that Pingxi Sky Lantern has been brought up in international media. It was also named one of the “52 things to do in 2013” by CNN Travel in 2013. The festival continued to gain popularity these years. Each year, the Pingxi Lantern Festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Pingxi. When the time comes, all lanterns will be released at the same time with the order from the host. Hundreds of lanterns will be full of and brightened the sky touches all participants’ heart.

Other 13 picks on Fodor’s bucket list are Carnival of Venice, IL Palio in Siena of Italy, Saint Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin, White Nights and Scarlet Sails Festival in St. Petersburg of Russia, Carnival in Rio, Oktoberfest in Germany, Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico, Albuqueque International Balloon Fiesta, Kembh Mela and Diwali in India, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and La Tomatinaand and San Fermin Fesival in Spain

Book a Taipei hotel for your Taiwan Chinese New Year travel at sinotour.com now and enjoy a wonderful Chinese New Year vacation in Taiwan!
 

How to go to Pingxi:
By Train:
1. Visitors may take a train to Badu Train Station or Ruifang Train Station and then transfer to Pingxi Branch Rail Line to Pingxi. One-day pass for Pingxi Branch Rail Line or EasyCard can be used to take a train from Ruifang to Pingxi.
※One-day pass for Pingxi Branch Tail Line can be purchased at Banqiao, Taipei, Songshan, Keelung, Badu, Ruifang, Houtong, Yilan, Luodong, Pingxi, Jingtong, Shifen Station.

By Bus:
1. Take Taipei Bus No. 795 from Muzha to Pingxi (Operating Hours: 4:50-22:40)
2. Take Keelung Bus No. 846 from Ruifang - Shifen – Pingxi (Operating Hours: 6:00-16:00)

Shuttle Service:
Visitors are recommended to take shuttle bus or public transportations to the venue as traffic control will be enforced on February 3rd, February 8th, and February 14th, 2014, from 9:00 to 24:00.

Shuttle Bus Fare:
From Muzha: TWD 50
From Shiding: TWD 30
From Pingxi District: TWD 10
Return Route: Free of charge

Shuttle Bus Route and Schedule:
February 3rd, 2014 – Jingtong Elementary School

Shuttle Bus Route	Bus Stops	Operating Hours
Taipei Zoo – Baishi Village Zhongpu	Taipei Zoo, Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway, Gu-niang Temple, Baishi Village Zhongpu	Departure from Taipei Zoo: 9:00-19:00 Return from Baishi Village: 9:40-23:30
Shifen Nanshan Bridge – Pingxi Junior High School	Shifen Nanshan Bridge, Pingxi Junior High School	Departure from Shifen: 9:00-19:00 Return from Pingxi 9:15-23:30
Ruifang Train Station – Shifen Railway Crossing	Ruigfang Train Station, Shifen Railway Crossing	Departure from Ruifang: 9:00-19:00 Return from Shifen: 9:40-23:30

February 8th, 2014 – Pingxi Junior High School

Shuttle Bus Route	Bus Stops	Operating Hours
Taipei Zoo – Baishi Village Zhongpu	Taipei Zoo, Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway, Gu-niang Temple, Baishi Village Zhongpu	Departure from Taipei Zoo: 9:00-19:00 Return from Baishi Village: 9:40-23:30
Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway – Baishi Village Zhongpu	Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway, Gu-niang Temple, Baishi Village Zhongpu	Departure from Shiding: 9:00-19:00 Return from Baishi Village: 9:30-23:30
Shifen Nanshan Bridge – Pingxi Lingjiao-liao	Shifen Nanshan Bridge, Pingxi Lingjiao-liao	Departure from Shifen: 9:00-19:00 Return from Pingxi 9:15-23:30
Ruifang Train Station – Shifen Railway Crossing	Ruigfang Train Station, Shifen Railway Crossing	Departure from Ruifang: 9:00-19:00 Return from Shifen: 9:40-23:30

February 14th, 2014 – Shifen Sky Lantern Square

Shuttle Bus Route	Bus Stops	Operating Hours
Taipei Zoo –Shifen Nanshan Bridge	Taipei Zoo, Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway, Gu-niang Temple, Xiping Bridge, Shifen Nanshan Bridge	Departure from Taipei Zoo: 9:00-19:00   Return from Baishi Village: 9:50-23:30
Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway – Shifen Nanshan Bridge	Shiding Access Road to Beiyi Freeway, Gu-niang Temple, Xiping Bridge, Shifen Nanshan Bridge	Departure from Shiding: 9:00-19:00 Return from Baishi Village: 9:30-23:30
Ruifang Train Station – Shifen Waterfall	Ruigfang Train Station, Shifen Waterfall	Departure from Ruifang: 9:00-19:00 Return from Shifen: 9:40-23:30

Pingxi Branch Rail Line
Pingxi Branch Rail Line is only 12 km long, stops at: Sandiaoling, Dahua, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jingtong.

Operating Hours of MRT Wenhu Line:
The last MRT will depart from Taipei Zoo at 24:00 on such days.

You may also check the timetable on the official website of Taipei Metro You may also visit the official website of Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival for more information.