Locals and foreign visitors gathered to celebrate the mid-autumn festival in Pingxi, Taiwan, on Monday, Sept. 24, releasing hundreds of flying lanterns that lit up the night sky.
The mountainous village has a long history of releasing flying lanterns, which were first used as a means of communication between villagers and later were sent as wishes for the coming year.
“I wished for good health for my family members, success in my studies, and that I can become more and more beautiful and earn more money,” said exchange student Gao Zihan.
“I wanted to bring my friends (to the Sky Lantern festival) to experience this moving feeling because it is an important festival in Taiwan, a festival of culture and an important event to wish for good fortune for all people,” said local resident Wang Renhung.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the sky lantern festival.
