2023 Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival

In 2023, the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival was held for the first time at the Lotus Pond in Zuoying. The design team planned the water and land lantern areas according to the distinctive landscape of the Lotus Pond and arranged exciting performances with the theme of "Local Goes International." The event combines religious culture and temple performances to create the most localized lantern festival.

This year's lantern festival coincides with the lunar year of the rabbit, and local Kaohsiung artists were invited to design the two main lanterns on the water and land of the Lotus Pond. The 18-meter-tall "Machiko" serves as an ambassador, raising its hands to welcome the audience on the water of the Lotus Pond. On land, the 4-meter-tall "Machiko" and various different-shaped rabbits accompany everyone in celebrating the Lunar New Year. In the post-pandemic period, the lantern festival not only brings warmth and hope to people but also promotes Taiwan's cultural and creative industries. Additionally, the event also featured a dynamic main lantern, "Light dances on Lotus Pond," which is in line with the religious landscape of the venue. The architectural features of the lakeside temples (Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and Xuantian Shangdi Temple) were highlighted by combining lighting and technology. Moreover, the event also invited performance groups, including Eight Generals, Guan Jian Shou, and Song Jiang Battle, to present the "powerful Kaohsiung spirit" and "strong Taiwanese style" lantern festival to audiences from all over the world.