(A 25-second real shot video is attached at the end of the article, so you can feel the beauty of the sky lantern.)
After participating in the 2011 Chiang Mai International Sky Lantern Festival in Thailand, I have always wanted to sprint to Taiwan’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. Let’s compare the differences between the two. This time I participated in the third stage, which was held in Shifen Square. At the large-scale sky lantern festival, when the first wave of 200 sky lanterns floated across the sky, everyone on the scene shouted "Wow~" and felt shocked!
The official website provides very detailed traffic information. Let me share my own experience for reference. First, take the MRT and get off at the Muzha Line Zoo Station. After exiting the station, there are obvious signs on the side of the road indicating where to take the shuttle bus. The second time to cooperate with the important role of the shuttle bus is the capital passenger transport. The service staff on site will assist the tourists and are very kind.There are two types of queuing: "sit" and "stop". If you don't bring children, you can actually choose a stand to queue. There are almost no people. After getting on the bus, you will head to Pingxi Shifen Square. The journey takes about 40 minutes. (If you are bringing children, it is better to choose the "sit" seat, because there will be a short mountain trail!)
This year’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is based on the theme of "Happy New Taipei, Taiwan is so praised, dreams 1, and hopes are unlimited". During the Chinese New Year, 4 sky lanterns are held to pray for blessings: 1/26 (fourth day), 1 /28 (the sixth day of the sixth day), 2/4 and 2/6 (Lantern Festival) Thousands of lanterns, and the main feature of this third Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is "casting a large sky lantern up to 20 feet", plus 1,600 sky lanterns were provided for the public to register and cast, a total of 8 waves were cast, and President Ma and the mayor of Shuangbei were invited to inscribe on the spot to pray for blessings, and to light the sky lanterns into the sky with the public to convey their wishes for happiness.
At present, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has been held for 14 years. At that time, President Ma arrived at the scene and gave a speech. He also mentioned that he was voted by Discovery as the second largest festival in the world. I was waiting for the event to start and found that there were many foreigners in the crowd. Friends, some friends gather to experience this activity, some are the whole family, and many are the other half are Taiwanese, and then follow the other half to open their eyes. When they hear them talking to each other, they all say that they have seen so many sky lanterns on the spot. …"Amazing!" (this word is probably the day I have heard the most times^^). They all said they were very happy to be able to come to the scene in person. Everyone wrote on the sky lanterns blessings for family and friends health, work, and love. You must leave A trip to feel the grand move.
Reminder: Friends who take the shuttle bus, remember to recharge your leisure card and exchange change to avoid rushing. ^^
After arriving in Pingxi, you can walk along the railway first.
The on-site staff are rehearsing.
※ Photography Note
In addition, when I arrived at Shifen Square, about one o’clock in the afternoon, the good location for shooting sky lanterns on the scene was already full of tripods. Some TV reporters interviewed these long-awaited photographers. How early did they come to the scene? The average hearing time was " 8 o'clock in the morning"!These eldest brothers are already late. If you want a great angle of photography, such as overhead shooting, close-up shooting and sky lanterns, some photographers drive to the scene at 5 or 6 in the morning. They are very desperate!The photographic equipment needed to shoot sky lanterns, be careful:
1. Tripod: There will be stage lights at the scene, but all the sky lanterns will be turned off when the sky lanterns are being used. Therefore, the tripod is needed to assist in low light sources. (When the late friends are in the second and third rows, the height of the tripod is preferably 200 cm)
2. Flash: The first wave of sky lanterns is about 18:30, and the interval between each wave is about 20 minutes. The flash can be used to make up for the lack of light on the spot.
3. Shutter release: If you want to shoot the line trajectory on the sky lanterns, you need a long exposure, you can bring the shutter release! (I didn't buy a shutter release cable, so I replaced it with the Selfie countdown function)
4. Ladder: When you arrive in the daytime, you need to sit on a ladder to keep your strength, and when you take photos at night, you also need a ladder/stool to stand up to shoot the sky lantern. This is a necessity.
5. Rain gear: It rains 200 days a year in Pingxi, and it will experience a situation like 2/4. The greater Taipei area is sunny, but when you come to Pingxi, it will be drizzle. It is best to bring raincoats and umbrellas to protect you from the rain.
6. Group: The sky lanterns are cast in total of 8 waves. A group of photography hobby friends can choose high and low positions to shoot, and they can be interchanged at that time, showing a different atmosphere of the sky lanterns.
7. Video recording: The first time I filmed was not ideal. Later, I simply used my mobile phone to record video. It was also a different feeling.
Finally, it is recommended that you can leave the venue a little earlier to avoid the crowds, and walk to the shuttle bus quickly!I went after the sixth wave of sky lanterns. I waited for 1 hour and 30 minutes just in line. The queue was very crowded. Please also pay attention to your belongings. There will be traffic control at night, and the shuttle bus will also be available. The tourists have been carried down the mountain one after another. These hard-working staff members said that they would finish the day before finishing the activities, so when we leave, don't forget to thank these staff members too! ^0^
These are the perfect locations for photography to arrive at 5 or 6 in the morning.
When the weather is rainy and sunny, remember to bring rain gear.
※ Theme activities
| Date | Activity name | Location | Activities |
|
2/6 Lantern Festival 18:30 - 20:20
|
Thousand Lights Witness Very colorful
|
Shifen Square | Thousands of lights celebrate the Lantern Festival large-scale blessing party The Lantern Festival symbolizes the coming of spring and prays for a year of happiness. After the Lantern Festival is the Western Valentine's Day.Meet in Pingxi together, Make a wish to love each other and promise each other, thousands of people will witness the most beautiful love at the same time The moment. |
There were Ah Fu-Deng Furu, Replay Orchestra, Jiang Meiqi relay singing, and the first wave of 1000
The sky lanterns are cast, and the other 400 sky lanterns are cast in 2 waves. (Open at 12 noon
Field registration, until full)
※ Traffic Information
◎ Traffic control matters-February 2th, New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival vehicle control (including locomotive control)
1. 管制時段：10:00-16:00憑證進入，16:00-24:00禁止進入
2. Vehicle control points: Shuangxikou of Line 106 and Line 106 B, Shuangxikou Line 106 B Shuangxikou Shidingbao Tunnel, Zhuangjing Bridge, Shifen Scenic Area Entrance and Exit, Pingshuang Tunnel Entrance (Entrance of Shuangxi Mana Villa), Rui Traffic control at the intersection of Ping Road and Dingping Road (Ruifang Industrial Zone) (a shuttle bus is provided in conjunction with the traffic control, which can be used more.)
◎ Go on your own
1. National Highway No. 106 towards Yilan → Shiding Interchange → XNUMX County Highway → Jingtong → Pingxi → Shifen
2. Zhongshan Expressway → Badu Interchange → Ruiba Highway and Taierding Provincial Highway → Ruifang Industrial Zone → 106 County Highway → Shifen → Pingxi → Jingtong
3. Taipei → Muzha Zoo → Shenkeng → 106 County Highway → Jingtong → Pingxi → Shifen
4. Xizhi→Xiping Highway→North 31 County Road→Pingxi (towards Shifen to the east, to Jingtong to the west)
5. Northeast corner → Gongliao District Fulong → Shuangxi District → North 38 County Road → Shifen → towards Xipingxi → Jingtong
◎ Take the shuttle bus
Cost: When going up the mountain, get on the bus at Muzha for 50 yuan, get on at Shiding District and Ruifang District for 30 yuan, and get on at Pingxi District for 10 yuan; down the mountain: free
The activity begins!
This time there are 200 student volunteers!
The second wave cast-the legendary 20-foot sky lantern: Taiwan is so awesome.
President Ma and the mayor of Shuangbei made an inscription.
Every participant at the scene recorded the beauty of sky lanterns.
The third wave cast-Dream 1 main light.
(This one was taken later with iPhone4s altogether^^b)
