The China Post
Date: February 10, 2017
By: The China Post news staff
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Tens of thousands of people will flood into Pingxi in New Taipei on
Tens of thousands of people will flood into Pingxi in New Taipei on Saturday to set off sky lanterns into the night sky, as they do every February.
Saturday to set off sky lanterns into the night sky, as they do every February.
This year, however, could mark the beginning of the end for the activity in its current form, as concerns mount over the environmental cost of the Lunar New Year tradition.
Launching sky lanterns is a centuries-old practice said to have been originated by military strategist Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮) in the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-265).
Originally used to transmit military information, the sky lanterns became a Chinese folk tradition, with people writing wishes for the coming year on them before releasing the lanterns up to heaven. [FULL STORY]
