TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chiayi County Government announced Monday at a press conference that the county will collaborate with Japan’s Nintendo “Super Mario” for the Taiwan Lantern Festival next year.

According to Chiayi County Government, the Taiwan Lantern Festival will take place on March 3 next year in Chiayi County. It said the event will bring in Nintendo’s “Super Mario” to set up a special lantern area that allows visitors to take photos.

The county said this tie-up marks a push to step onto the global tourism stage and draw more families to Chiayi. It also noted that travel firms such as JTB, Lion Travel, and Cola Tour will roll out package trips that make it easier for people from home and abroad to join the festival.

The county’s tourism bureau said five themed routes will guide visitors through nature spots, food stops, and family sites across the county. The bureau noted that people can try to get limited Mario lanterns through draws, stamp tours, hotel stays, or group trips, though spots are capped.

Officials said the event will also set up a Chiayi Pavilion to promote local farm goods and gift brands. They said the county hopes the festival will help lift its tourism sector and show off Chiayi’s mix of scenery, culture, and food.

The Taiwan Lantern Festival, launched in 1990 and now held nationwide, is organized by Taiwan’s Tourism Administration and local governments. It takes place in a different city or county each year, and this year’s edition was held in Taoyuan.