(Minghui.org) The Lantern Festival traditionally falls on the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration. The annual Lantern Show in Taiwan was held in Taichung this year on February 28, 2015. Falun Gong practitioners contributed a six-story tall boat decorated with a variety of lanterns, which drew a lot of attention.
Falun Gong practitioners' eye-catching lantern-decorated boat
The boat measures 75 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 54 feet high. Many people waited in long lines to board the boat before the lanterns were lit, and took photos with practitioners dressed as fairy ladies.
Mr. Kuo and his family were amazed by the boat. “I have never seen a lantern, which one can get on,” he said, “I got on the boat. It is not only beautiful, but also sturdy. On the top of the boat, I can see all the other lanterns at the show.”
Lin Chialung, the mayor of Taichung City, invited Chang Jinghua, the chair of the Falun Dafa Association, to light the lanterns, along with several city council members. The mayor highly praised the Falun Gong boat for its creativeness and magnificence. He shared a photo of the boat on his Facebook account, and received many “likes.”
City council member Tseng Chaorong said that he expects citizens would enjoy the boat, and learn more about Falun Gong's teachings—Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
Mayor Lin Chialung (second from left), Falun Gong practitioner Chang Jinhua (third from left), and city council member Tseng Chaorong (first from left) lit the lights.
Mr. Weng Hsianliang, chair of the Chinese Lantern Art Association in Taiwan, was also amazed by the Falun Gong boat. “Ordinary people would not try to make such a large-scale display. Only talented people who are willing to selflessly contribute to the community, are able to complete such a task.”
Mr. Weng suggested that practitioners should participate in a large flower show in Taipei later this year.
Tens of thousands of tourists came to the celebration. Besides the boat, they also enjoyed 18 other large-scale lanterns made by Falun Gong practitioners, including a carriage lantern and fairy lady lantern.
Carriage lantern
Fairy lady lantern
Royal palace lantern
Mr. Hu said he liked Falun Gong's lantern carriage. Speaking of Falun Gong, Mr. Hu said he believes that the persecution in China is wrong. “People should have freedom of belief. Suppressing compassion will promote evilness,” he said.
According to the organizer, more than 2000 tourists boarded the practitioners' boat on the first day of the show. The boat and other lanterns will be displayed until the last of the show, March 15.
