"2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Yunlin" Draws Over 13.6 Million Visitors in a Brilliant Closing

The 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival came to a spectacular close on the evening of the 19th, witnessed by Yunlin County Magistrate Lee Chin-yung, Tourism Bureau Director-General Chou Yung-hui of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hua-kuan, and others, along with the admiration of the entire audience, as the final main lantern show ended in splendor. Everyone agreed to meet again at the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County next year!

Regarding the widely praised 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival being unable to extend to the 228 consecutive holiday period in response to public demand, Magistrate Lee Chin-yung first expressed his apologies and gratitude to all the people who supported the festival. He thanked everyone for their strong support of the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival, which achieved 13.6 million visitors and over 10 billion yuan in economic benefits, with overall visitor satisfaction reaching as high as 90 percent.

Magistrate Lee Chin-yung said the 2017 Taiwan Lantern Festival set 6 milestones. First, the largest area: the total lantern area of 50 hectares was the largest in history. Second, the most volunteers: over 10,000 volunteers participated, the most ever. Third, the first-ever New Immigrant Lantern Area, demonstrating Yunlin's respect for multiculturalism. Fourth, the most local character: the festival combined traditional art pavilions and puppet shows, creating a lantern festival style with the strongest Yunlin flavor. Fifth, the first-ever environmental theater, closely tied to the festival's theme of being friendly to the earth and showcasing the Yunlin people's closeness to the land. Sixth, the most thorough environmental efforts: whether garbage recycling or sorting, visiting tourists praised it as the cleanest Taiwan Lantern Festival.

At the end of the closing ceremony, Magistrate Lee Chin-yung and Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hua-kuan, host of next year's event, agreed to meet everyone in Chiayi County next year to enjoy the lanterns together.