04/03/2025

TUESDAY | MAR 4, 2025

25

LYFE

Taiwan Lantern Festival

o Fusion of light, innovation

T HE recent 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taoyuan, Taiwan’s gateway city, marked the festival’s 36th edition, coinciding with the 36th anniversary of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Integrating baseball elements into the festival’s design, it relived the exhilarating moments of Team Taiwan’s championship victory at the Premier12 Tournament, embodying the passion and glory of the sport. This year’s festival merged technology with sustainability principles, combining artificial intelligence (AI) innovations with traditional lantern artistry to attract international visitors eager to explore Taiwan’s artistic and cultural charm. President Lai Ching-Te said this festival marked his first participation in the Taiwan Lantern Festival since taking office. Hosting the event in Taoyuan holds special significance, as the city is a symbol of baseball culture and a major international transport hub. Themed “Taoyuan: Light Gathering on a Thousand Ponds”, the festival’s exhibits spanned the Main Lantern Exhibition Hall at Taoyuan Airport MRT A18 Station (THSR Taoyuan Station) and the Light showcasing country’s infinite possibilities

Main lantern ‘Infinite Paradise’, designed by Lee, breaks new ground by using abstract and modern symbolic shapes.

A baseball lantern to reflect Taoyuan’s national sport. Playground near A19 Station (Taoyuan Sports Park Station), featuring over 300 lantern artworks in a dazzling visual spectacle. The Main Lantern Exhibition Hall featured six major lantern areas, including “Island Beacons” that showcased the seasonal beauty of Taiwan’s offshore islands and “Global Lantern Festival”, where the Light Wish Tree symbolised global connections and conveys blessings of peace. The festival also presented

Swinhoe’s Pheasant lantern, a nod to the popular endemic species in Taiwan.

A metaphorical display of ‘removing evil and disease’.

Lantern with the Chinese character Fu , which means blessing. Trends”, integrating AI, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, showcasing Taiwan’s seamless blend of culture and innovation. The event underscored sustainable development, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while promoting Taiwan’s collaboration with international partners. Infinite paradise and walking snake lanterns The main lantern “Infinite Paradise”, designed by artist Akibo Lee, was inspired by amusement park roller coasters and water slides, incorporating modern infinity symbols, spheres and geometric shapes to create a futuristic paradise. Enhanced by AI, the mesmerising light show featured a musical composition by Chang Ching-Shan, performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, delivering a stunning audio-visual experience. This year’s mini lanterns, themed after the Year of the Snake, were designed as interactive toy snakes with a flexible, movable structure. They can be assembled into different shapes or numbers (0-9) and illuminated via an external Type-C power source, reducing battery waste in line with the festival’s sustainability ethos. Beyond the festival’s mesmerising exhibits, the Taiwan Tourism Administration and the Taoyuan City Government encourage visitors to explore nearby attractions and indulge in authentic local cuisine. Through international engagement “Creating Technology

Embodying Taiwan’s nickname ‘Kingdom of Butterflies’, the flower fairy lantern adds a whimsical touch to the festival.

Elements of mochi-making inspired this lantern set, which pays homage to the traditions of the Atayal people.

at the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the country continues to showcase its technological innovation and cultural richness, inviting domestic and international travellers to experience its charm. Ideal destination for Muslim travellers According to the 2024 Global Muslim Travel Index, Taiwan ranked third among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destinations, just behind Singapore and the UK. Taipei also won the Most Promising Muslim-friendly Travel City Award. Taipei City now offers over 60 Muslim-friendly accommodations and dining spots, as well as more

than 30 attractions and public places equipped with prayer rooms or ablution facilities. “The Taiwan Lantern Festival is not only a spectacular visual and cultural celebration, but also an enriching journey of discovery and inspiration. “We warmly welcome Muslim travellers, as Taiwan is dedicated to becoming a truly Muslim-friendly destination, offering comprehensive facilities and thoughtful services. Whether for religious needs or cultural experiences, we strive to provide a seamless and enjoyable visit,” said Kuala Lumpur Taiwan Tourism Administration Office director Abe Chou.

A plane lantern to symbolise Taiwan’s growing tourism industry.