In the past 55 years, the annual Lantern Festival was first held in Kaohsiung. This extravaganza of light, sound and color was closed with visitors' praises and gasp in admiration. The 12-day activity, lasting from Feb. 3rd to Feb. 14th made Kaohisung internationally visible.
About 5 million visitors were attracted to Kaoshiung by this activity. It's no wonder that Mayor Hsieh proclaimed that Kaohsiung did a good job in hosting the festival and with this success, Kaohsiung is proved to be capable of holding national activities.
Majestic "Leaping Carp into Soaring Dragon"
The 2001 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival bore the motif of "change and progress", with an emphasis that Kaohsiung is an ocean capital. Accordingly, the festival features two major areas: Love River and Kaohsiung Harbor. Love River was adorned with the main lantern and four auxiliary lanterns, along with thousands of radiant small lanterns of all sizes and colors. On the other hand, in Kaohsiung Harbor, "Star of the Ocean" was located at Wharf 17 to 20, looking like a giant aircraft carrier and showing the spirit of the maritime capital.
Local People Gear Up for the Festival
Apart from the centerpiece lanterns by Love River and Kaohsiung Harbor, there was a float parade sponsored by 43 units, in combination with singing and dancing performance. Other related expositions were also held at Jen-ai Park, the Kaohsiung Museum of History and the National Science and Technology Museum. Among these features, the most attractive was that the visitors could take the TRA's Harbor-side Line (Dou-dou Train) or vessels to enjoy the sight of lanterns from the sea. More than 45,000 visitors had taken advantage of these two services.
Mayor Hsieh said that even though Kaohsiung might not be responsible for hosting the next Lantern Festival, with the experiences gained this year, however, the city government is confident that they can hold the same-level activity next year and after. Everyone can always come to Kaohsiung and enjoy festive atmosphere .
五十五年來第一次南下舉辦的「2001元宵燈會」在民眾連連讚嘆聲中炫爛閉幕。從二月三日「海洋燈區」開燈起，至十四日「愛河燈區」主燈「鰲躍龍翔」於深夜11時最後一次安可展演，為高雄燈會劃下完美句點，這項2001年初最耀眼的元宵節活動，為高雄市在新世紀初寫下亮麗的一頁。
高雄燈會12天共吸引五百萬人次參觀，謝市長大聲的宣布：高雄人在此次燈會中沒有漏氣，高雄市已向全國證明是能承辦國家級大型活動的一流城市。
鰲躍龍翔 氣勢磅薄
今年高雄燈會以「蛻變與躍昇」為主題，強調「海洋首都」，結合高雄港及愛河，主燈「鰲躍龍翔」及龍、鳳、麟、鰲四座副燈，與一萬三千多個小花燈相互輝映，在愛河呈現「十里燈河」的意象，讓全國民眾認識到愛河的美；另一個概念主燈「海洋之星」，從高雄港十七號碼頭延伸至廿號碼頭，有如雄踞港口的「航空母艦」，充分展現海洋首都的氣勢。
高雄燈會 全員參與
除了愛河及高雄港的主燈，燈會重頭戲──燈車遊行嘉年華，有43部來自各地挑空心思製作的燈車，結合歌舞演出，是一場充滿五光十色燈光幻影的嘉年華會；在仁愛公園有高美館籌畫的「光之藝術展」，用８件以光為元素的裝置作品亮相；科工館的「冷光燈會」，結合科技與環保，賦予燈會時代意義；其它如愛河西岸的「國際燈區」、「創意燈區」、「歡樂燈區」等，而搭乘渡輪從海上看燈會以及嘟嘟火車更是今年高雄燈會最特殊的賣點，超過四萬五千人從海上和火車上見證高雄市夜魅力。
謝市長說，即使往後國家燈會不一定在高雄舉辦，但高雄市有信心，辦理與今年同樣水準的燈會，大家可以年年相約在高雄。
鰲躍龍翔 蛻變與躍昇
2001高雄燈會主燈「鰲躍龍翔」真是出盡了鋒頭，不少民眾參觀燈會就為了一睹她的丰采，眼看她每30分鐘旋轉一次，色彩與光的融合幻化，將鰲躍龍翔的意象呈現得淋漓盡致。
設計者楊奉琛先生表示，不同於以往以12生肖為設計主題，這次的「鰲躍龍翔」設計重點在於不銹鋼材質的線條，在夜間呈現出燈籠的效果；結合愛河河岸的祈福燈廊、燈車以及對岸的燈河，整個愛河燈區，呈現光與火、水與影的效果。「鰲躍龍翔」內部有4到 5萬盞燈泡，由電腦配電，基座可以 360度旋轉，每秒主燈都有變化，共有280到350個迴路變化。
主燈「鰲躍龍翔」在活動結束後仍會長伴愛河，市府已著手研商，將讓「到愛河看主燈」成為日後到高雄來必遊一景。
嘟嘟火車遊燈會
2001高雄燈會結合有百年歷史的高雄臨港鐵道，推出「嘟嘟火車遊燈會」，最古老的CK101古董火車頭在高雄與民眾逗鬧熱。
「嘟嘟火車」一推出即受到民眾熱烈歡迎，燈會期間共計開出66班次列車，載運近４萬人次。經過刻意妝扮的嘟嘟小火車，夜間像是一條火龍穿梭在高雄市區內，是燈會裡最耀眼的一頁。
高雄市區的臨港線鐵道在前年的「火車遊港」活動中首度揭開神秘面紗，今年再度為高雄燈會而開放。這條路線，市府希望未來能結合捷運紅橘線，推動輕軌捷運，經由這次搭火車遊燈會的活動，讓市民更熟悉未來高雄捷運全線通車的遠景。
情人節之夜曲終燈熄
當璀璨炫爛的2001高雄燈會遇上多情浪漫的情人節夜晚，在耀眼的雷射燈光、璀璨的煙火光芒與讚嘆聲中，高雄燈會正式美麗落幕。
市長謝長廷夫婦先抵海洋之星主持「萬人大標舞」開舞儀式，萬人共舞的熱情演出即熱烈登場。之後再趕赴「鰲躍龍翔」主燈，與市民朋友共同聆賞情歌樂曲，再次觀賞主燈的壓軸展演，守住燈會最後美麗的一刻，在掌聲與驚嘆聲中，2001高雄燈會與大家說再見。