Dancing dragons, massive mice, and gargantuan lollipops featured at New Taipei Metropolitan Park
Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/08
By: Ching-Tse Cheng, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
New Taipei Lantern Festival runs Feb. 7 through March 1. (CNA photo)
Led by New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), the organizers celebrated the event opening with a 97-second light show. Representatives from the Japanese city of Aomori were present, while the Taiwanese dance groups the Rakuten Girls and the Luxy Boyz electrified the venue with their performances.
Hou told the media that the New Taipei Lantern Festival attracts millions of visitors every year and that high-quality preventive measures will be implemented throughout the 24-day celebration to preclude the spread of the coronavirus. He hopes that the recent viral outbreak will not affect Taiwanese citizens’ desire to visit and that festivalgoers will not hesitate to try out different games and food stands.
Director of New Taipei City Department of Civil Affairs, Ko Ching-chung (柯慶忠), pointed out that popular Taiwanese landmarks, including the Wulai Waterfall, the Pingxi Old Street, the Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, as well as the Hong Lu Di Temple, were integrated into this year's art installations. He also highlighted a path decorated with giant sunflower lanterns and in-class art designs by middle and high school students, reported the Liberty Times.
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