TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival kicked off on Sunday and will run for two weeks, with the main lantern displays centered along Zhonghua Road in western Taipei.
To celebrate the Year of the Snake, this year’s festival adopts the theme “Lucky Snake Will Come,” with special lantern areas set up at Beimen, Ximen, and Zhongshan Hall. Additionally, 17 participating temples will feature decorative lanterns, per a press release.
Lanterns will be lit daily from 5 to 10 p.m., with a light, music, and laser performance occurring every half hour at the main theme lantern from 6 to 10 p.m. The festival concludes on Feb. 16.
As in previous years, organizers will distribute a free handheld lantern to children, continuing the tradition of celebrating the festival spirit. This year’s limited-edition design features a snake motif, emphasizing sustainability and reusability.
Organizers believe the Year of the Snake symbolizes hope, joy, and prosperity. According to a city press release, “The body of the snake embodies wisdom and vitality, shuttling between cities and bringing infinite energy.”
The snake also represents “landing on your feet,” making it an auspicious symbol of hope and luck for 2025. In addition to public performances and special activities, the city has arranged lantern corridors for visitors to enjoy the displays conveniently.
The first lantern viewing route begins at the Nishi Honganji Remains (西本願寺) on Zhonghua Road. Visitors can stroll through the "Good Luck Corridor," receive a limited-edition prayer card, write their wishes for the future, and hang them in the "Prayer Lantern Forest."
Next, visitors will encounter the "White Snake Turn", a carefully designed paper sculpture perfect for selfies. Special lighting and imagery from the ancient tale "The Legend of White Snake" add a mystical touch. At the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Chengdu Road, contemporary graffiti art blends with traditional lucky bag themes.
Heading north from Ximen MRT Station Exit 6, visitors will see "Tree Waiting for Harvest," a light installation by TERU, the lead singer of Japanese rock band GLAY. Inspired by his hometown, the work symbolizes finding hope in difficult times. The route ends at Zhongshan Hall, home to the festival’s main theme lantern, designed to usher in future blessings.
The second lantern viewing route starts at Beimen MRT Station, where the Lantern Competition Area (opening Feb. 5) showcases 60 innovative designs by lantern artists from across Taiwan. Nearby, the "Friendly Cities Light District" features lighting installations from 16 countries, allowing visitors to experience global cultures without leaving Taipei.
At the Fuxing Elementary School overpass, artists collaborated with students to create hundreds of hand-decorated lanterns. Meanwhile, sound artist Lim Giong (林強) has created an immersive soundscape inside an installation shaped like a Yangmingshan calla lily, enhanced with dazzling lighting effects.
The Taipei Tourism Bureau reminds the public that special traffic control measures will be in place from Feb. 2-16 on streets surrounding the festival. No parking spaces are available at the event site, and visitors are encouraged to use public transportation.
For more event details, visit the official 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival website.
