The Shifen Sky Lantern Square is across the Visitor Center.  A total of 2000 lanterns were released in the sky, 200 sky lanterns in 10 batches with the interval of 20 minutes.  The schedule was to start at 6PM and end at 9PM.

I got there mid-afternoon and there were already a lot of people in the area.  Most of them have already set up their tripods outside the "perimeter fence".  The enclosed area is numbered so that participants would be in their respective boxes.

Around 12NN, the registration for participants started.  One group could register for one sky lantern.  It is on a first-come, first-serve basis and anybody could register.  I didn't bother to be there early as I believe it would be worth if I am with a group.  The groups were allowed in the enclosed area at a specified time, depending on the batch of the sky lantern they released.  There is an assigned usher/usherette (ones with the purple cap) for each participant to guide them on the timings.

Shifen Area Map

Stage used for the event

Enclosed (numbered) area and the tripods (with its owners) positioned outside it

Ushers being briefed

Almost ready for the first batch of release

I have planned to stay only for the first batch of release.  I wanted to leave early as I felt it would be difficult to get back to the city, whether by train or by bus, if I stayed up to the end.  However, I was so amazed after the first release that I stayed for 2 more (I'll just let the pictures speak for itself).  That's my limit and I have to drag myself out of the area after that.

The program included some performances and words from some officials that made the event a success.  It was during this time that the next batch of the participants position themselves and prepare for the releasing of sky lanterns.  For each release, there was one big lantern that goes with it.  The first and third ones have big white lanterns while the second had a big green snake lantern.

That's it! I've reached my limit and so I left.  There was a long queue going out of the area and the line was slow moving.  A lot of people are already on the way home by this time and are walking a bit slow because of the huge crowd.  I went past most of them.  But then, I came to a stopping point.  I saw the long line to the buses.  It wasn't actually a line but people crowding the street to go to the buses.  It took me two hours before I was able to board the bus.  Whew!  In a way, I was able to see all the 10 releases while in the line.  The colorful, dancing lights of the Jingan Suspension Bridge and some fireworks also kept the people entertained.

Line to the buses

Fireworks and colorful/dancing lights of Jingan Suspension Bridge

When I got back to Taipei Zoo Station, I ate dinner at McDonalds and took the MRT back to the hotel.  I got there before 12MN.  It was tiring but it was a wonderful experience.

For more information on the event, please go to this link.

Shifen at a Glance

Back in Shifen, I'm surprised that the train station is not that crowded.  Or, maybe it is, when the train makes a stop at this station.  Afterwards, you can't see a lot of people at the station.

Shifen Station

When you go to the other side where there are food stalls and other shops and when you look at the tracks just past the station, that's where you'll see a lot of people.  The people here does not mind even if there are warnings to not walk on the tracks.  The trains come on a schedule and they would just get off the tracks when they can here the train.

The people are setting off sky lanterns all throughout the day.  There are some lanterns which also have fireworks.  Sky Lantern prices vary depending on how many colors the sky lantern have.

If you decide to set off a sky lantern on a regular day, you might just see the one that you set off.  During the festival, you would see a lot of it in the sky.

Shifen Station

Going to the main road, I passed through Jingan Suspension Bridge.  There's actually a way from the station to the road leading to the Sky Lantern Square but I just decided to go the long way which is passing through the suspension bridge and coming back via another bridge.

Jingan Suspension Bridge view from Shifen station

Jingan Suspension Bridge

Jingan Suspension Bridge

Jingan Suspension Bridge

Top: Shows the width of the main road; Bottom: A lot of policemen are deployed to ensure security at the festival

I just followed the road back to the other side of the river to continue walking to Shifen Sky Lantern Square.  Here, I saw some windows in the shape of the lantern, even artworks pertain to the lanterns.

The way to Shifen Sky Lantern Square

The way to Shifen Sky Lantern Square

After some minutes, I got to the square but just went past it a bit to see what's there to see.  There's the Shifen Visitor Center, and after that another suspension bridge which would lead to the trail to Shifen Waterfalls.  I was already tired at this time and don't know how long it would take to the waterfall so I just stayed at the Visitor Center/Sky Lantern Square area to be able to secure a good place for the nights activity.

The way to the waterfalls

Shifen Visitor Center

Transportation to Shifen

I have purposely scheduled this trip to coincide with Taiwan's Sky Lantern Festival.  Having learned my lesson from the last time I went here (Feb of 2010), I've planned to get to Shifen early and just to explore some sights at Pingxi District.

I believe every year, they have 3 schedules for the sky lantern festival.  These would be between Chinese New Year and the last day which is the 15th day of the lunar year.  This year the schedules are: Feb 14 (Jingtong Elementary School), Feb 17 (Pingxi Junior High School) and Feb 24 (Shifen Sky Lantern Square).  

On the said dates, the government has commissioned buses to ply the route Taipei Zoo - Pingxi District - Taipei Zoo non-stop.  Going to the festival area, there's a NTD50 fare, coming back is free.  More information on transportation options can be found here.

Bus line in front of Taipei Zoo

There's even flashlights as giveaway

It's only 10:30AM and a lot of people are already going to the festival area.  Just imagine how long this line would be in the afternoon.

Line to the buses

The buses are numbered and I think there are more than a hundred buses (I saw some buses with numbers at 100+) so that there will be buses non-stop at the stations.

Bus to Shifen

Free drinks at the bus line

The direct bus ride took almost an hour to get to Shifen, passing by the towns of Jingtong and Pingxi.

On regular days, one could either take the bus or train to get to Pingxi District.

By MRT/bus:
- MRT to Muzha
- Cross the street from the station and ride Bus 795 to Pingxi
- Pingxi branch line train to go to the towns in Pingxi District

Bus route (http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/5163.gif)

By train:
- Train (TRA) to Ruifang station
- Transfer to Pingxi branch line on the same platform in Ruifang

If my memory serves me right, the all-day train pass on the Pingxi line costs NTD55.