Ping Xi, a village about 30km from Taipei, is historically known for sky lantern-flying rituals in Taiwan.
In this village, that can be traced back to the 16th century, sky lanterns were used to deliver messages during war or when it was invaded or attacked.
Traditional lanterns were originally used by soldiers and officers to protect candles and oil lamps from blowing out in the wind. In the last 30 to 40 years, they have been widely appreciated as a form of art.
Today, during Ping Xi's 20th annual Sky Lantern Festival, a new generation of 25-year-olds is experimenting flying their lanterns, made entirely of paper, that are also environmentally friendly.
They used paper instead of iron wires and bamboo laths so that the material burns out completely before it hits the earth again in order to avoid causing a fire.
Hours later, thousands of flying lanterns are released into the sky by the visitors - a mix of locals and foreigners.
At this year's Taiwan Lantern Festival, there is a wide variety of lanterns on display.
Traditional ones shaped as balls or buckets have now been converted into diverse postures of animals, figures, vehicles and nature scenery.
Huge art installations have also attracted people of all ages.
Candles and oil lamps, the lighting tools in the old days, have also been replaced by light bulbs, mercury-free batteries, neon lights, LED lights, laser shows and projection mappings.
This year's event also brings a combination of sound shows with lanterns.
With the uses of virtual reality, visible light communication system, personal learning technology, digital control, optimal lighting system for plant growth, natural and artificial light sensors, visitors travel between traditional and modern lanterns, enjoying interactive and immersive experiences.
'The closer I get to finishing a huge sky lantern, the more fearful I get of it being be destroyed by mistakes.' Experienced lantern-maker Min Shu Hu makes one of the two 15-feet-tall sky lanterns in his studio for this year's festival. He said it was best to make huge lanterns deep in the night. He secretly learned how to make lanterns himself in his early childhood. He now takes charge of the annual Sky Lantern Festival’s main lanterns.
Guo He Lin was born in 1949 and spent his entire life in Ping Xi. 'A person should keep his faith.' He insists on making traditional flat-roofed sky lanterns. His wife makes palm-sized cloth sky lantern ornaments. Their children do not share the same sentiment and choose to instead work in the financial industry which offers more attractive benefits. The couple feels fulfilled for having consoled devastating earthquake victims by rituals of flying their lanterns, and donated their incomes to organisations that care for people in vegetative states. YUNJIE LIAO/AL JAZEERA
After about 18 months of trials and studies, a group of creative lantern enthusiasts going by the name 'Bank of Culture' prepare to conduct an experiment, flying their sky lanterns made entirely of paper and ignited by peanut oil. These sky lanterns are said to be more ecofriendly and less prone to causing fires when falling down in the mountains, balancing the importance of protecting the earth with keeping the tradition alive. A single paper lantern bottom, which replaced a traditional one made of iron wires and bamboo laths, is made of pieces from eight meal boxes. YUNJIE LIAO/AL JAZEERA
After reading a story about sky lanterns, eight-year-old Uni You asked her parents to visit Ping Xi. It is also the first day of her new school semester. She dresses up and travels with her parents from Yilan to Shi Fen by train. Her parents help her choose a small hand lantern to walk with. They chose the LED lantern with 'Shi Fen' printed on it. YUNJIE LIAO/AL JAZEERA
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