A drone show forming Taiwan and six vaccine donor nations’ national flags illuminates the night sky at the 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival running through Feb. 28 in the southern city of Kaohsiung. (Courtesy of KCG)
 

The 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival is underway at two spectacular sites in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Weiwuying Metropolitan Park and Love River Bay, both of which are deeply connected to the evolution of the urban landscape while retaining their links to the recent and historic past.

Running until Feb. 28, the annual festival co-organized by Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Kaohsiung City Government takes place on the two sites covering 100 hectares with over 180 lanterns and 200 events and performances. These include circus, dance, drama and music performances as well as art exhibitions.

The old port area, now a romantic waterway, Love River Bay, was backdrop to a stunning aerial show launched on Feb. 9, which features 1,500 drones flying in formation against the night sky. The KCG said that this show of gratitude to those countries who helped Taiwan in the pandemic will take place on Feb 11,12, 18 and 19. The drones perform a light show featuring images including the national flags of six vaccine donor countries, the Czech Republic, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and the U.S.

Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai said the arrival of vaccines had brought comfort and warmth to Taiwan, adding that as a member of the international community, Taiwan also stands ready to help.

First staged in 1990 to celebrate the country’s folk custom of observing the first full moon of the lunar calendar, the annual event has been held at a different location around Taiwan since 2001 to promote balanced regional development. Next year the event will be held in Taipei City. (YCH-E)