Spring Festival: Flying lanterns attract tourists in Taiwan

World
Europe

02:01

Bustling Taipei, capital of the island of Taiwan, even more bustling during the Spring Festival holiday. On this street, just days before the eve of the Lunar New Year, locals are rushing to buy traditional snacks, red envelopes, and spring couplets.

In rural Pingxi in neighboring New Taipei City, preparations are also underway, minus the chaos. But Wang Chawjing, a member of a local tourism organization, isn't just busy sprucing up his own home. That's because the Chinese Lantern Festival, which takes place at the end of the Spring Festival, is fast approaching. And in Taiwan, Pingxi is the only place where lanterns can be flown.

WANG CHAW JING PINGXI TOURISM BOARD "Chinese people traditionally make wishes during the New Year. That's why so many people come to our lantern festival. They can send up their wishes. It's the best time to do it."

BARNABY LO PINGXI, TAIWAN "The tradition here is to write your wishes on your lantern. So I wrote world peace, good marriage, and on the flipside, I wrote good health. Alright, ready?"

But flying lanterns in Pingxi isn't just a Chinese New Year's fare. In fact, villagers have turned the tradition into somewhat of a tourist attraction. Foreign and locals tourists alike come here every single day.

JENELYN LUCENO FILIPINO TOURIST "I thought it was a special experience. I felt like releasing the lantern was like praying to God."

Indeed, while traditions were made to be kept and practiced, who's to say new traditions can't be borne out of old ones? Taiwan's Pingxi village has certainly made flying lanterns and making wishes a daily occasion.