TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival will return to Taoyuan from Feb.12 to 23, marking its return to the city after nine years.
Themed “Light Connect All,” the festival will showcase two main zones: the Main Lantern Exhibition Area at A18 Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station and the Lights Playground at A19 Taoyuan Sports Park Station, according to Taiwan Lantern Festival.
This year’s highlight includes an 18-meter-tall futuristic lantern, “Paradise,” and a special collaboration with the popular Pokemon franchise. At Chintan Park, a 12-meter-tall Snorlax lantern and a 6-meter-tall Pikachu lantern will be on display.
The Lights Playground’s “City Spotlight” zone will feature a 9-meter-tall centerpiece titled “Home,” representing Taiwan’s diverse cultural heritage. The installation has elements from Hakka, Indigenous, new immigrant, Hoklo, and military dependents’ village cultures, symbolizing the unity of people from different backgrounds and embodying Taiwan as a shared home for all.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival began in Taipei in 1990 during the Lantern Festival and has since rotated across cities, officially adopting its current name in 2003. This year, the event creatively incorporates Taoyuan’s unique pond landscapes into the light displays.
The Paradise lantern, designed by artist Akibo Lee (李明道), features a modern abstract infinity symbol combined with spheres and geometric shapes, inspired by theme parks. Drawing from roller coasters and water slides, the lantern aims to give visitors a taste of an amusement park without the rides.
The festival will also include motion-capture technology, integrating the movements of four professional baseball cheerleaders into the main lantern display. The "Radiant Ball of Light" installation will be featured at the Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, utilizing light and shadow techniques to pay tribute to Taiwan's WBSC Premier12 championship finals win.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival light display at the A19 Taoyuan Sports Park Station will begin trial operations on Friday. For more information, visit the event's official website.
