In photos: Taiwan's Lantern Festival comes to Tainan

TAINAN, Taiwan — The chilly, crisp night air did not stop throngs of people trooping to the ICC Tainan grounds on the night of February 24 as they headed toward a sea of lights that beckoned them to its fold. 

As they walked in an orderly manner toward the festival ground, it dawns on the spectator, especially foreign tourists, why families with parents and their children have converged to the former ancient capital of Taiwan on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. 

The Taiwan Lantern Festival comes to Tainan 16 years after its last hosting of the highly anticipated Lunar New Year activity in 2008. 

Dr. Chou Yung-hui, Director General of Taiwan Adminstration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and Lin Kuo-hua, Director General of Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau, told the international media covering the festival that this year's Lantern Festival features over 300 lanterns designed and produced in Taiwan and other countries such as Japan and Indonesia. 

Over 300 artworks, including life-size installations and lights shows, are strategically located in festival grounds. There are also over 170 performances in the 16-day festival, running from February 24 to March 10. 

The festival has two major exhition areas, the "High-Speed Rail Lantern Area" and the "Anping Lantern Area," showcasing over 300 lantern art pieces. 

The "High- Speed Rail Lantern Area" is composed of seven large exhibition zones around the high-speed rail station, displaying various-themed lantern areas in addition to the main lantern "Dragon Comes to Taiwan." 

Undoubtedly the star of the opening of the festival, the main lantern called "Dragon Comes to Taiwan" drew awe with its height of 18 meters, and a total height of 22 meters including the base. It was positioned with its mouth facing the moon. 

Every year, the main lantern gives an ode to the Chinese Zodiac, with this year touted as the Year of the Wood Dragon. The Chinese believes the dragon gives a sense of happiness. 

Designed and produced by renowned artist Peng Li-chen, the dragon features an overall rotational motion with its left and right forearms incorporating electromechanical control components. As Tainan is known