Taiwan Lantern Festival Draws Massive Crowds, Traffic Congestion
嘉義 – The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival is drawing large crowds to Chiayi County, with significant traffic reported as the event nears its conclusion. Officials are urging visitors to consider postponing their trips until after the festival ends.
The festival, which officially opened on March 3, features the main lantern display, “The World of Alishan,” and has already welcomed over one million attendees. President Lai Ching-teh, Chiayi County Magistrate Ong Chap-liang, Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai, Minister of the Interior Liu Shih-fang, and Director-General of the Tourism Bureau Chen Yu-hsiu were among the dignitaries who participated in the opening ceremony, planting symbolic trees and illuminating the main lantern.
Ong Chap-liang expressed gratitude for the favorable weather and welcomed visitors, stating, “The people of Chiayi are hosting this event with the heart of a village welcoming guests, and we sincerely welcome tourists from all over the country and the world.” He emphasized that the festival is not merely a celebration but likewise a showcase of Chiayi’s transformation, highlighting its evolution from an agricultural county to a hub for drone manufacturing and research, as well as a major high-end chip packaging base.
The festival’s theme, “Light Leap Taiwan, Illuminate Chiayi,” symbolizes Taiwan’s presence on the world stage and its bright future. The event was the result of a year-long preparation by a dedicated team. Ong Chap-liang acknowledged the resilience of the community following last year’s Typhoon Danna, noting that “new buds are gradually sprouting on the trees, symbolizing the tenacity of life,” mirroring the spirit of the people of Chiayi.
President Lai Ching-teh highlighted Chiayi County’s progress, stating that it “has transformed from an agricultural county to an agro-industrial county, and further to an agro-industrial technology county.” He noted that the nation’s most important drone base and advanced packaging testing base are both located in Chiayi, signaling promising development. He also praised the festival’s innovations, including the participation of foreign teams and the recreation of the “Tech World” pavilion from the Osaka Expo.
The festival features 12 key attractions, and organizers have incorporated local cultural elements into 13 lantern installations created in collaboration with residents. A performance of the classic Taiwanese opera “Flower Lanterns Six Hundred Years” by the Ming Hwa Yuan Theater Group has also been a highlight of the event, according to the Central News Agency.
The “Aomori Sleeping Demons” lantern, a popular attraction, will be relocated to the Peitian Temple. The Youth Daily News reported that the festival is expected to draw large crowds through the weekend.
The festival’s success underscores the growing appeal of cultural tourism in Taiwan and its potential to drive economic development in local communities.
