"Thousands of glowing lanterns filled the night sky over New Taipei City on Friday as the 2026 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival illuminated the mountain town during Lunar New Year celebrations. Footage shows participants preparing lanterns, writing prayers and wishes on them, and releasing them into the night sky as flames flicker inside the paper structures and crowds film the spectacle. Many attendees wrote messages reflecting concerns about regional security. "I hope Taiwan will stay safe, my family will stay safe, and that my company will thrive," said James Lu. "Taiwan has been troubled by interference from external forces, which makes us uneasy. So we came here to pray for peace and safety," he added, referencing broader geopolitical tensions. Another spectator shared, "I wrote a prayer for everybody: for world peace and love for every single person." Three oversized 'Fortune Horse' lanterns, symbolising success, good fortune and prosperity, were launched alongside hundreds of handheld lanterns carrying written wishes. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is widely regarded as one of Taiwan's most iconic cultural events, drawing domestic and international visitors each year to send handwritten wishes aloft in a ritual symbolising hope for health, peace and prosperity."