Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taipei, Taiwan

© Jui-Chi Chan/Alam

Dreams light the sky in Taipei. A dreamy start to the Year of the Pig

We’re in Taipei, Taiwan, for the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, an event that’s lauded by travel writers as a ‘bucket list’ experience. Traditionally, lantern festivals like this one mark the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. The Chinese New Year began on 5 February, ushering in the Year of the Pig, according to the Chinese zodiac. At the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, thousands of participants will write wishes and prayers on to rice paper lanterns before releasing them into the night sky, creating a magical effect.