This colorful, charming holiday marks the official end of the Chinese New Year holiday season. According to legend, celestial spirits could be seen by the light of the first moon, so torches were lit to improve visibility. This in turn led to lantern making.

These days, Lantern Festival is marked by lantern displays and contests. This includes an annual Taichung City Lantern Festival celebration and display, usually held in the Taichung Park. Other similar displays are also often found at other locations, like the Taichung Folklore Park or the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art. In local parks and other areas around the city, lantern-carrying children are also a common sight, out for evening strolls with their parents.