In a village in Taiwan, the night sky is transformed into a glowing canvas of wishes, as thousands of lanterns rise into the air, each carrying a personal message or hope.

It stands as one of Taiwan's most stunning and memorable sights, a visual spectacle that draws both locals and visitors alike.

Every year, travelers from all over the world flock to Pingxi village to take part in the Lantern Festival, where they inscribe their wishes on colorful paper lanterns and send them soaring into the night sky, hoping for blessings from their ancestors.

'It's a tradition you must experience at least once in your life,' says Wang Chaw-Jing, a local guide familiar with the area's rich cultural history.

Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, the Chinese strategist Zhuge Liang, also known as Kongming, invented lanterns as a means of sending military signals. Their shape, reminiscent of his hat, led to them being named 'Kongming lanterns.'

The tradition of releasing sky lanterns became more common in the mid-1800s, a time when towns were frequently raided by bandits.

'Originally, these lanterns were used as signals to reassure families that their loved ones were safe. Today, they carry the hopes and dreams of people as they float into the night sky,' says Ally Su from the New Taipei City Government Tourism Planning Division.

'Over time, the Pingxi Lantern Festival has earned its reputation as the brightest, most joyful, and heartwarming event in Taiwan.'

And it’s a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Pingxi is the only place in Taiwan where sky lanterns are permitted, as its surrounding mountains and waterways help ensure they don’t drift too far.

Releasing Lanterns of Hope

The Pingxi Lantern Festival is held on the final day of the Lunar New Year. In 2019, that will be February 19. The festival has a history of over a century, and since 1999, the New Taipei City Government has taken on the responsibility of hosting it.

However, you can release lanterns at any time of the year, not just during the festival.

The streets of Pingxi are lined with lantern shops, each offering a variety of choices. The experience of picking a lantern and writing down your wishes with a traditional Chinese calligraphy pen is a joyous one. This writer, for example, chose to write down her well wishes for her upcoming wedding.

The lanterns come in a variety of colors, each with its own symbolic meaning—from wishes for wealth, fame, and fortune to those for marital happiness. Some lanterns are even shaped like animals, including cats, monkeys, and pandas.

'Releasing a lantern is not just about letting it fly—there is a ritual behind it, and it carries significance,' explains Wang.

For safety, a shop employee is responsible for lighting the lanterns. Additionally, to ensure more controlled flights, Wang explains that they now use soybean oil instead of kerosene, making the lanterns 'more stable and less likely to soar too high.'

The lanterns are also restricted to a maximum circumference of 60 centimeters. Any larger size would require a special permit, says Wang, who is also a former chairman of the Pingxi Commercial Association and the owner of Ming Tong, a local coffee shop and tourism spot.

To keep the mountainside free of lantern debris, Pingxi has implemented a recycling program. Residents can trade in their used lanterns at local shops for useful items like toilet paper and detergent. Wang also arranges hikes for locals to collect lanterns that land in the higher parts of the mountain.

This digital lantern is made up of 200,000 individual LED lights, creating a dazzling effect.

A tranquil creek flows peacefully through the area.

But Pingxi offers more than just wishes that soar into the sky.

Located about an hour from Taipei, Pingxi—meaning 'peaceful creek' in Mandarin—lives up to its name. Once a coal mining town, this remote village exudes a tranquil atmosphere, taking you back to a slower, simpler time.

The close-knit community in Pingxi often gathers for spontaneous potlucks, cooking and sharing meals together. Some residents, like Wang, spent many years working in Taipei before returning to their peaceful roots in the village.

This includes Martin Yen, whose family founded the Taiyang Company, which played a pivotal role in building the Pingxi Line railway in 1919 to transport coal. Pingxi, originally a farming village, underwent a major transformation in 1907 when coal was discovered, ushering in the 'Black Gold Age.' At its height, the village mined over 400,000 tons of coal annually.

'I returned home to recharge, to breathe the fresh air, and to heal,' says Yen, 54, who had worked in China's computer industry before returning to Pingxi to turn his family’s old house into a charming tea shop.

One of the longest lines in town forms for Railway Sausage, where 63-year-old You Su Zheng has been grilling up to 1,000 handmade sausages each day for the past three decades. The sausages, packed with parsley, garlic, cucumbers, and more garlic, are a local favorite.

Perfect for Instagram shots.

The stone bridge in the heart of town is a favorite spot for tourists, especially after its appearance in the 2011 Taiwanese teen movie 'You Are the Apple of My Eye,' where two young lovers release a lantern, hoping for a future together.

Just outside of Pingxi, visitors can discover two more Instagram-worthy locations.

A short 10-minute drive from Pingxi takes you to Shifen, home of the 'Little Niagara of Taiwan.' While smaller than the famous Niagara Falls, this 40-meter-wide, 20-meter-tall waterfall offers visitors the chance to get up close and experience its beauty.

For those looking for a light adventure, a short hike up Hsiaozi Mountain offers a peaceful experience that only takes a couple of hours.

To take a piece of Pingxi home, many local shops offer small sky lanterns adorned with blessings to commemorate your visit.

How to get there: Pingxi is a 45-minute drive from Taipei. Alternatively, take the Pingxi Line from Ruifang Station in Taipei to reach the village by train.