The 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival will officially kick off in Taoyuan on February 12. To boost promotion for the event, Director General Yung-hui Chou of the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced today (20th) a collaboration between the Tourism Administration, the Taoyuan City Government, and the Taoyuan Metro Corporation. The partnership features a specially designed Taoyuan Metro train themed around Lala Mountain's famous peaches, incorporating elements of the well-known Taoyuan fruit. The train, named the "Happy Peach," showcases playful peach-inspired designs. The unveiling event included Minister of Transportation Shih-kai Chen, Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang, Deputy Mayor Chun-pin Su, and the Rakuten Girls, the cheerleading team of the Rakuten Monkeys, who contributed various peach-themed facial expressions to the train’s artwork. Director General Yung-hui Chou of the Tourism Administration stated that this year's Taiwan Lantern Festival is strategically located near the Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan’s main gateway. This proximity is expected to attract many transit passengers, who can make the most of their layovers to visit the festival. The Taoyuan Metro will serve as a vital mode of transportation for these visitors, offering seamless access to the event. The collaboration between the Taiwan Lantern Festival and Taoyuan Metro is expected to be a significant draw for international travelers choosing Taiwan as a transit destination. Taoyuan Deputy Mayor Chun-pin Su likened the Taiwan Lantern Festival to a “Disneyland without roller coasters” and described the Taoyuan Metro as the ultimate theme park train.
Deputy Mayor Chun-pin Su shared that on March 10 last year (2024), under the witness of Director General Yung-hui Chou, he received the symbolic lantern representing the Taiwan Lantern Festival from Tainan Mayor Wei-che Huang, marking the beginning of Taoyuan’s responsibility to host the event. Over the course of the year, the Tourism Administration convened multiple inter-agency meetings. At the same time, the Taoyuan City Government worked diligently to ensure the festival would showcase Taoyuan’s unique charm to visitors from Taiwan and around the world. This year, for the first time, advanced AI technology has been integrated into the festival experience. The "Happy Peach" themed train is interconnected with the festival grounds, specifically with the "Tower of Time and Space light installation located to the left of the main lantern. From the moment passengers board the train, they are immersed in the Taiwan Lantern Festival experience. Simply by riding the Taoyuan Metro "Happy Peach" themed train, passengers can use their smartphones to scan the QR codes inside the train compartments. With the help of AI technology, they can generate images of themselves visiting various scenic spots. Upon arriving at the festival grounds, these images can be projected onto the 5-meter-tall screen of the "Tower of Time and Space " light installation, creating the experience of “encountering themselves in another parallel universe.”
Director General of the Tourism Administration, Yung-hui Chou, announced today (20th) that the 2018 Taiwan Year of Marine Tourism marked a successful collaboration between the Tourism Administration and the Taoyuan City Government. In 2025, the Tourism Administration has once again partnered with Taoyuan Metro to unveil the "Happy Peach" themed train. For residents of northern Taiwan, the Taoyuan Metro offers the most convenient way to visit the Taiwan Lantern Festival this year, as the event will be held near the A18 and A19 stations. Along the Taoyuan Metro route, visitors can also enjoy attractions such as the Xpark, Taoyuan Sake Brewery, Chintan Park, Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, and Hengshan Calligraphy Art Center. This makes for an ideal one-day Taoyuan trip that includes the festival.
Yung-hui Chou emphasized that, as part of efforts to highlight the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the Tourism Administration has introduced the Taoyuan Metro themed train to encourage people nationwide to visit Taoyuan and enjoy the festival. It also aims to showcase Taiwan's rich and diverse attractions to international travelers. Whether transiting through Taiwan or visiting specifically, make sure to stop by Taoyuan and immerse yourself in this captivating light and shadow feast, featuring playful interactive experiences and a vibrant atmosphere.
Yung-hui Chou revealed that the Taoyuan Metro themed train features peach expressions designed with contributions from Minister of Transportation and Communications Shih-kai Chen, Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang, and Deputy Mayor Chun-pin Su. Adding to the charm, the Rakuten Girls—the cheerleading squad of the Rakuten Monkeys—lent their creativity by painting playful and adorable peach designs. Passengers are encouraged to take a closer look while riding and see if these expressions capture the lively spirit of the Rakuten Girls.
The Tourism Administration also introduced the five-meter-tall “Tower of Time and Space: Where Sports Meet Virtual Reality, an interactive art installation designed to captivate visitors. Its sleek, upward-reaching structure symbolizes breakthroughs and limitless possibilities. By integrating advanced AI technology and immersive visuals, it creates a futuristic theme park-like atmosphere, inviting everyone to join in the excitement and enjoy the lanterns.
Po-yin Chou, Commissioner of the Taoyuan City Department of Tourism, shared: This year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival features dual exhibition zones conveniently located near THSR Taoyuan Station and Taoyuan Metro A18 and A19 stations, making it easily accessible by public transportation. Visitors can simply walk to the festival grounds after exiting the stations. We encourage everyone across the country to use public transit to visit the Lantern Festival. You can also take advantage of the TPASS monthly commuter pass, making the journey highly convenient and environmentally friendly. Combined with the innovative AI designs mentioned earlier, it promises to be a fun, low-carbon experience. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to ride the Taoyuan Metro or Taiwan Railways for a truly unique lantern festival adventure!
For more details, please visit:
2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival Official Website:
https://2025taiwanlanternfestival.org/
