The 2022 Taipei Lantern Festival was aglow at its opening Friday, with a number of lantern installations on display highlighting Taiwan’s international friendships.
Among the many lantern installations at the festival, held in the city’s Shilin District this year, 14 were themed around the friendships between Taiwan and foreign cities and countries.
One of the most eye-catching lanterns was that from the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which portrayed the Museum of Nevis History and the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of the U.S.’ founding fathers, with Nevis Peak in the background.
The lantern also featured two young people playing the steelpan, a tuned percussion instrument made from the bottom of an oil drum that was originally developed in Trinidad.
St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador Jasmine Elise Huggins said that she hoped those who came to see the lantern would learn more about her country and its culture through brochures handed out at the site.
Visitors will be invited to follow the social media accounts of the Embassy of St. Kitts and Nevis to learn more about the country, Huggins said.
“And of course, the most important thing to know is we are a friendly country of Taiwan and to educate people more about that fact, to know that we are friends with Taiwan and we have been friends with Taiwan for the past 38 years since we became an independent country,” Huggins told CNA.
Another lantern that attracted many visitors was the Singapore lantern, named “A #SingapoReimagine adventure with Merli the Merlion.”
The lantern featured iconic landmarks in the city-state, including the Supertree Grove, Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, and Marina Bay Sands.
Gavin Yang, the representative for the Singapore Tourism Board in Taiwan, said it was the first time Singapore had participated in the festival, adding that the lantern had been designed with the aim of allowing Taiwanese to journey with Merli the Merlion as they reimagine Singapore’s diverse culture and unique places of interest.
“The idea is to attract more Taiwanese to travel to Singapore,” Yang said.
Another country participating for the first time in the festival is Saint Lucia, which displayed a lantern titled “Together We Are Stronger” to promote mutual cultural understanding and friendship with Taiwan.
The lantern was designed by Saint Lucian Kissia Peter and features outlines of the islands of Taiwan and Saint Lucia, as well as traditional cultural elements from both countries.
Shema Edward, a 19-year-old Saint Lucian university undergraduate student who came to Taiwan in November 2021, said being able to see the lantern in Taiwan made her feel closer to home.
“I feel happy that we are united as one, especially when we are like 16,000 miles apart. It feels like home when there is a piece of home here that we can relate to because being in a new environment knowing you have that piece of artwork, it really brings joy to your heart,” Edward said.
The 10-day 2022 Taipei Lantern Festival will be held Feb. 11-20 in the areas surrounding three MRT stations in the district, including Jiantan station which serves Shilin Night Market, and showcase over 50 lanterns and lantern artworks, according to a statement issued by the city’s Department of Information and Tourism.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel