2007 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival / 2007高雄燈會
◎By Jian Jhang ◎Photos by Chung-hui Pao
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival features fantastic lantern displays and fireworks. Since 2002, the City of Kaohsiung has traditionally held this annual festival on the banks of the Love River. The festival begins during the Chinese New Year vacation. Every year this splendid festival attracts thousands of tourists that come from around Taiwan and all over the world.
This year will be Kaohsiung's 7th year to organize this magnificent lantern festival. It will be held for 9 days, during March 3rd-11th. The 2007 lantern festival will feature the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. This year's theme lantern is entitled, "The Majesty Makadau", which highlights some of Taiwan's aboriginal motifs and also exhibits a 2009 World Games theme. Each night of the festival, a dancing water show can be viewed on the banks of the Lover River, between the Wufu and Jhongjheng Bridges. Shows are presented every half hour between 6:30pm and 10:30pm. A firework show with special effects will be presented every night at 7, 8 and 9pm. The city government will also present some other exciting activities at the Glory Harbor Ferry Pier.
The lantern festival is the best time of year to visit the Love River. The Lantern Veranda is located on the Hedong Road. On Hesi Road creative lanterns crafted by local students are also on display. Visitors will love the colorful displays and the specially designed themes.
In honor of the year of Pig, Kaohsiung City Government has designed these lanterns in order that people may share in this year's good fortune. The little golden piggy on these lanterns will be featuring the colorful World Games logo. The piggy will also possess a set of wings which symbolizes the city's determination to move forward.
◎文／張筧 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
在台灣傳統年味濃厚的高雄市，自從2000年起，以愛河為遊賞路線的高雄燈會，每年於元宵節前後舉辦，活動期間沿岸燈飾光彩奪目、美不勝收，是中、外遊客年節到高雄不可錯過的重頭戲。活動期間沿岸燈飾光彩奪目、美不勝收，是中、外遊客年節到高雄不可錯過的重頭戲。 2007年高雄燈會邁入第七個年頭，從3月3日到３月11日長達九天的活動，以彰顯本土特色的平埔族「馬卡道頭目」為主燈，搭配12生肖副燈，傳達「2009世運在高雄」的主題，並規劃於五福橋至中正橋間的愛河水域，可欣賞主燈及水火共舞展演，每日18:30至22:30，每半小時展演一次；美日的19:00、20:00及21:00可欣賞煙火展演，以充滿動感的聲光呈現在遊客面前，而今年的活動特色，除了愛河燈區主燈的演出，市府更串連了愛河與海岸，把活動延續到光榮碼頭，讓遊客在賞燈的同時享受夜遊高雄港灣的樂趣。
從３月３日起，愛河中正橋和高雄橋之間，將綴滿美麗的燈飾，除了河東路精美燈光設計構成的燈廊之外，河西路的花燈競賽區展示不同學校製出的創意花燈，多元的主題和巧思，常讓遊客忍不住猛按快門，留下美麗的光影。
渾圓厚實、逗趣可愛、充滿光明與希望的黃金山豬是2007年高雄燈會小提燈的主角，黃金山豬身著活潑鮮艷的世運標誌，鼓動世運龍舟勇往直前，以及一對昂揚起飛的翅膀，祝福大家在新的一年，步步高昇、心想事成，也象徵高雄世運「豬(諸)事如意」、一切順利。
Catch the free buses to the lantern festival
There will be five free bus routes available during the lantern festival.
◎Bus route 1: Kaohsiung Train Station (bus runs from 17:00 to 22:00)- Kaohsiung Museum of History-Yencheng Parking Lot (bus runs from 18:00 to 23:00)
★Shuttle bus runs approximately every 10 minutes.
◎Bus route 2: Taiwan High Speed Rail Zuoying Station (bus runs from 16:40 to 22:00)-Kaohsiung Museum of History- Yencheng Parking Lot (bus runs from 18:00 to 23:00)
★Shuttle bus runs approximately every 30 minutes.
◎Bus route 3: Siaogang Station (bus runs from 17:00 to 22:00) - Kaohsiung International Air Port- Glory Harbor Ferry Pier (bus runs from 18:00 to 23:00)
★Shuttle bus runs approximately every 20 minutes.
◎Bus route 4: Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (bus runs from 17:00 to 22:00) - Kaohsiung Museum of History (bus runs from 18:00 to 23:00)
★Shuttle bus runs approximately every 20 minutes.
◎Bus route 5: National Museum of Science and Technology (bus runs from 17:00 to 22:00) - Glory Harbor Ferry Pier (bus runs from 18:00 to 23:00)
★Shuttle bus runs approximately every 20 minutes.
五條燈會免費接駁專車路線：
在燈會期間，高雄市政府為讓市民能夠充份利用大眾交通運輸工具，交通局規劃
◎燈會專車1線(約每10分鐘一班)：高雄火車站(發車時間從17:00至22:00)─歷史博物館─鹽埕立體停車場(發車時間從18:00至23:00)
◎燈會專車2線(約每30分鐘一班)：高鐵左營站(發車時間從16:40至22:00)─歷史博物館─鹽埕立體停車場(發車時間從18:00至23:00)
◎燈會專車3線(約每20分鐘一班)：小港站(發車時間從17:00至22:00)─小港機場─光榮碼頭(發車時間從18:00至23:00)
◎燈會專車4線(約每20分鐘一班)：美術館(發車時間從17:00至22:00)─歷史博物館(發車時間從18:00至23:00)
◎燈會專車5線(約每20分鐘一班)：科工館(發車時間從17:00至22:00)─光榮碼頭(發車時間從18:00至23:00)