Following the great sensation caused by “Mickey and Minnie” last year, the local Baseball Calf will strike a homerun in the year of Ox in at the “Central Taiwan Lantern Festival” this year. The Taichung City Government exerted its creativity again this year, making the Q-version mascot of local Sinon Bulls' Professional Baseball Team designed to be the main lantern “Ling Ling” who loves to play baseball, with the innovative dynamic strikes. The cCute “Ling Ling” has a vigorous expression, just like a baseball star, and it is expected to again be the nationwide focus nationwide again.

According to Taichung City Mayor, Jason Hu, the economy is in a depressioned, and he does not feel like to seeing everyone dose nothing but staying at home to yearning for money. In the first round in early spring, the city government will cheer this the entire year of the Ox by through the colorful Lantern Festival. City Mayor Hu also pointed out that, among the 12 animals of Chinese Zodiac, the Ox is symbolic of diligence and dependability among the 12 animals of Chinese Zodiac. Upon entering the year of the Ox, we should advance on every step steadily, so that we will turn reverse the bad luck in the year of the Ox by through hardworking and diligence.

City Mayor Hu also said that the main lanterns in from previous years were able to swing to the right, left, up and down only, which was is obsolete now. This year, we have new ideas: the Fulfillment Amphitheatre will be viewed as an intercontinental baseball court, and the main lantern, “Ling Ling”, will strike here; when the fire ball flies across over the audiences’ heads, it is believed that the amazing exclamation of “WOW” expressed by everyone will be no less than that upon seeing Chien-Ming Wang has pitchinged a “Sinker”,��" the acclaim of “Bravo” will definitely be exclaimed definitely as well.

City Mayor Hu also said that the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival this year will be held at Wen Hsin Forest Park for 14 days in a row, since from Feb.2nd to Feb. 15the. Everyone is welcomed to cheer at the Lantern Festival. The main lantern, “Ling Ling”, of approximately 20m in height, will be erected on the scene vividly. When the sparkling fireball is pitched along with the music, “Ling Ling” will strike with its best vigorously; then, the most dazzling and gorgeous main lantern show in 2009 will appear in Taichung. City Mayor Hu also stressed that our hearts will still beremain warm forever, no matter how depressed bad the economy is.

The activities will take place at 7:00-10:00pm every night on the weekdays, and 7:00-11:00pm in on the weekends during the Lantern Festival. The main Laser lantern show will play every half hour. After the lighting-up at 7:00pm on Feb. 3rd, there will be more performances every night in Fulfillment Amphitheatre, such as exotic dances, orchestra and rock band shows; besidesin addition, Li Sheng Jie “the Prince of Love Song”, Liang Wen Yin of “One Million Star 2”, Minsyong and the Band of “Cape. No.7” will be also invited to perform warmly.

For the tourists from other places, the Taichung City Government also provides the free shuttle bus services warmly. The shuttle bus runs every hour both from Taichung Station and Fulfillment Amphitheatre every night, from 2:00pm to 10:00 pm, on February 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th. The tourists from other counties and cities are welcomed to take advantage of the shuttle bus well.