Kaohsiung Lantern Festival - In the Year of the Rooster / 高雄燈會迎雞年
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival - In the Year of the Rooster
Text by Wang Yu-fong Photos by Pao Jung-hui & Kao Chia-tse
Every year around the Lantern Festival (on the 15th day of the first lunar month), people in Kaohsiung look forward to the dazzling spectacles along the Love River. The main lantern for this year "Where Fire and Water Mix", along with Kaohsiung's stunning river and ocean scenery, has already been in the limelight. The International Horticulture Fair in the Flower Park (on Cueiheng S. Rd. and Jinfu Rd.) and the Ice-Lantern Exhibition in the Pier 2 District further enrich and expand the Lantern Festival, generating a festive atmosphere in Kaohsiung.
The themes of the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival this year are "World Games 2009" and "Healthy City 2005". The main lantern, 16.8 meters in height and 15 meters in width, is comprised of 2009 small lanterns and shaped as a Chinese character "Kao". This revolving lantern will be on display on the Love River every night on a fixed schedule from February 22nd to March 6th. "2009", "World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung", "Kaohsiung Taiwan", and "Healthy City" are shown respectively on different sides of the main lantern. The most expected fireworks and the show "Where Fire and Water Mix" will shed lights on the Ai River on the hour between 6:30 to 10:30 every night.
In addition to the eye-catching theme lantern, celebrations along the Love River, in the Ocean Star, on the Do-do Trains and Lantern Cruises are organized on a yearly basis. People can also visit the International Flag & Drum Festivals, watch Lantern Parades, or take free lanterns in familiar venues. The Kaohsiung City Government places high emphasis on novelty this year. It conducts the International Ice-lantern Exhibition and the International Horticulture Fair in the Pier 2 District and the Flower Park. Thus, the festivity can be spread from the Love River to every corner of Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung residents can experience a below-zero temperature in the Ice-lantern Exhibition. The organizers devote particular care to designing more than 10 theme ice-lanterns to amaze the masses. The international Horticulture Fair, held in an eight-hectare park, integrates art, recreation, education, and fairy tales into its exhibits. People will be immersed in the appreciation of flowers and plants in 12 display areas.
Kaohsiung Lantern Festival is magnificent, splendid, and healthy. It enables the public to welcome the Year of the Rooster with joy.
高雄燈會迎雞年 文／王御風 攝影／鮑忠暉、高嘉澤 每到元宵佳節，高雄市民都會翹首盼望，想要看看今年愛河畔的元宵燈會，究竟會有什麼樣的驚喜。今年的燈會，除了在愛河邊有已成為招牌的「水火共舞」主燈秀，以及河海陪襯的美麗燈會外；在花卉園區(翠亨南路跟金福路的交叉口)有國際花卉展、駁二藝術特區有冰燈展，讓燈會內容更豐富、範圍也更擴大，全市洋溢著過節的歡樂氣氛。 高雄燈會今年的主燈，將結合高雄市2005年「健康城市」的主軸，並配合2009世運在高雄的目標，以2009盞「高」字型小燈組成一座高16.8公尺、寬15公尺的「高」字型主題燈。這座主題燈在燈會活動期間（2月22日至3月6日）每晚定時在愛河上旋轉展演，四面分別顯示「2009」、「世運在高雄」、「台灣高雄」、「健康城市」。而最讓人期待的煙火、水火共舞主燈秀，則是於活動期間每晚6時半至10時半(每整點展演一次)，在愛河河面上表演，吸引大批市民及觀光客的目光。 除了備受注目的主燈外，每年都固定展演的愛河、海洋之星燈區、嘟嘟火車、燈會遊輪，以及國際旗鼓節、燈車遊行、小提燈發放，都如常，在大家熟悉的場地演出。今年，市府更求新、求變，特別在駁二特區與花卉園區辦理「高雄國際冰燈藝術展」及「高雄燈會國際花卉展」，讓燈會的歡樂氣氛，從愛河開始蔓延到全市其他角落。 在國際冰燈藝術展中，市民可嘗試在零下低溫中歡度春節元宵的氣氛，主辦單位更精心設計了十多個特色主題冰燈，讓市民有驚豔的感覺。國際花卉展更在廣達八公頃的花展園區，運用藝術、遊戲、教育、童話等新奇有趣元素，建構出十二個特色展區，絕對能讓市民沉浸在花綠之美的幸福時光中。 雞年的高雄燈會，可說是充滿了驚奇、華麗與健康氣息，讓所有的民眾，從歡樂聲中開啟，迎接充滿希望新的一年。 |