TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei's Department of Information and Tourism (台北市觀光傳播局) announced on Thursday (Jan. 2) that the 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival (台北燈節) will occur from Feb. 2 to 16, with the main lantern, "Blessing Snake Doudou," (福蛇豆豆) set to illuminate Zhongshan Hall (中山堂) Square.
Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) revealed at the promotional press conference that this year's festival theme, "Snake Brings Good Fortune" (蛇來運轉), integrates modern artistic elements and will be staged at the national monument Zhongshan Hall. Curator Sammy Liu (劉治良) highlighted the central lantern's impressive features, standing over 13 meters tall, with a 360-degree rotation and smoke effects, incorporating local graffiti art from Ximending (西門町).
Director Wang Chiu-dong (王秋冬) of Taipei's Department of Information and Tourism shared that the festival will light up the city's corridor on Jan. 24, advocating for the use of reusable materials for lantern construction to promote sustainability. The festival will feature four major exhibition areas, including Zhongshan Hall, Ximending, Zhonghua Rd. (中華路), and Beimen (北門), attracting numerous local and international artists and musicians, creating custom scores for the lantern displays.
Deputy Mayor Lin expressed hope that the festival will draw more than last year's 5.74 million visitors, boosting surrounding business districts and offering visitors a fresh experience. This year's event promises an innovative fusion of art and culture, setting a new precedent for urban festivals.
