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    A big earthquake measuring 6.4 on Richter scale occurred in Meinong District on February 6 at 3:57am in Kaohsiung City. A few collapsed buildings and casualties were reported in Tainan. The grand opening event “2016 Nantou Lantern Festival in Ji-Ji” which was supposed to be held in front of the Wuchang Temple at 19:00 was changed and rearranged as a new evening prayer meeting to light up the peace lantern at the epicenter in southern Taiwan. County Mayor Ming-Chen Lin led the general public to pray and make peace, and declared a donation of 1 month’s income in the hope that everyone can actively donate money to help and work things out for the disaster relief efforts.

    The county government designated 3 vehicles and 8 rescue team members, life detectors, rescue equipment and other resources to support the rescue and relief work in Tainan city. County Mayor Lin said the losses caused by the natural disaster in the southern earthquake zone was severe. People were very depressed. Hopefully, everyone can pray for the victims through the lantern festival event. During the 921 earthquake, Nantou had undergone severe losses in that disaster. People from all walks of life chose to give a helping hand at that moment and the local residents in Nantou were deeply touched by such loving kindness.

    The Nantou Lantern Festival was held and located at the center of Ji-Ji Township. Its 12 lantern zone was extended to Ji-Ji Old Street from Wuchang Temple. It is 1.8 kilometers in length. Its main lantern known as the “Lucky Monkey” was made of a monkey figure and the local specialties of Nantou. The monkey hangs on the typical main lantern pike in Nantou. There were beautiful flowers and fruits on top of it, which represents the joy and flexibility of theYear of the Monkey as well as bountiful resources in Nantou.

    12 Theme Lantern Zones mobilized the manpower of the entire county and displayed the multiple cultures, industries and creativity of Nantou with one piece called “Lucky Money Greeting” made by the entire faculties and students, another piece called “Happy Farm” that reveals community creativity and the other piece called “Glamorous Avenue” full of nostalgic customs and a piece called “Golden Tree of Blessing” that exceeds 10 meters in height. The nationally well-known green tunnel was covered with plenty of lantern decorations with a 5.1-kilometer-long display. The tunnel was transformed and turned into a shiny glamorous golden tunnel.

    The Nantou Lantern Festival collaborated with the Taiwan Railways for the very first time to build a glowing flower lantern express at night with 4 Express trains with different themes known as “the Beauty of Tribal Village,” “Bountiful Resources,” “the Most Beautiful Landscape” and “Pure Arts.” These express trains will show up in the 3 largest tourist lines. The trains were colorful trains full of designs and childlike style during daytime and they would turn into shiny glamorous flower lantern trains at night in the dark. Each painted train will convey or express the most charming tourism glamor.