The 2020 Penghu Bay International Light Festival incorporates the oceanic image of Penghu and specially creates more than 20 exquisitely designed light exhibitions with the “Island Paradise” theme. To initiate the Festival, Director Hsu invited the audience for the debut of the oceanic light-sculpting show “Cuckoo Ship! Set Sail!” in front of Zhongzheng Hall. After 3 minutes of a spectacular light-sculpting spectacle, visitors enter an exhibition area “Artistic Lighting Display," where a retro punk styled sailboat lighting display “Gaillardia Island Magical Adventure” sails off amid brisk melodies. A fantastically unique space is created utilizing interactive technology. In addition, there is also a “Bay Party” – a crab-styled DJ table that displays sound and light effects via pedal stepping; “Turtle Comes, Luck Comes," which exhibits a sea turtle worshipping lighting that illuminates altering glistening lights while integrating elements of Penghu’s traditional “Turtle Granting Contest”; and a “Worry-Free Garden” that is woven with large-scale crochet, where visitors are allowed to enter the piece and “swim” alongside lightings of various marine species – these are all some of the exciting features at this year’s Penghu Bay International Light Festival.

The highlight of the light testing was the Mermaid Light & Water Show situated in this year’s “Themed Light Display” area. The 8-meter high “Song of the Island” centerpiece lighting is accompanied by the grand water dance music of “Flourish Ocean," creating powerful collaboration that hopes to bring the audience unprecedented awe-spiring experience. In addition, “Harvest Sail” within the “Themed Light Display” area symbolizes Penghu’s fishing industry and abundant harvest; visitors can also wander amidst “Harvest Sail” and play with its interactive motion-sensing exhibits. Colorful and splendid “Island Paradise” of the 2020 Penghu Bay International Light Festival will once again make Penghu tourism a hit this fall. 

Caring for the Elderlies. Lighting up Jinlongtou.
Penghu National Scenic Area Administration specially invited elderlies from the Penghu Senior Citizens’ Home, Ministry of Health and Welfare, who were accompanied by Director Chuang Hua-chou, to come and appreciate the land and sea light show as well as the grand interactive lighting in the “Artistic Lighting Display” empowered by modern technology. The elderlies all happily enjoyed the world under the sea with great excitement. Director Chuang Hua-chou extended his thanks to Penghu National Scenic Area Administration’s invitation and arrangement, which had allowed the elderlies to take in the ambience of a light festival and given them an amazing and unforgettable night.

Grand Opening of Land and Sea Mermaid Light & Water Dance Show
Per records of ancient documents, Penghu had once been mermaids’ residence. Based on this beautifully romantic story, an 8-meter tall mermaid lighting “Song of the Island” has been created this year. With lighting designer Master Peng Li-chen providing on-site designing interpretations, the first-ever Light & Water Dance Show was initiated. Mermaid’s elegant posture extends over Penghu’s Twin Hearts Stone Weir, which coordinates with the sounds and lights of the “Flourish Ocean” water dance, displaying exquisite and magnificent scenes that the visitors will find awe-spiring.

Technology of Interactive Sounds and Lights. Marine Life Showcased at Penghu Island Paradise.
This year’s event has a theme centering around “Island Paradise," which integrates artistic works with elements of marine life. Employing modern technology, vibrant light exhibitions have been created. Amid the “Themed Light Display," the landscape installation art – “Harvest Sail” combines artwork and Penghu’s fishing industry culture, bringing forth a spirit that symbolizes the interdependence of Penghu and surrounding ocean. Visitors can even enjoy touch-sensing interactive exhibits here to experience the changing lights.

Splendid Light-Sculpting Show in front of Zhongzheng Hall Inherits Memories of Early-Day Armed Forces Entertainment 
In continuation of Penghu residents’ early-day memories of watching films for armed forces entertainment at Zhongzheng Hall, the light-sculpting show for this year’s Light Festival has been arranged to be on display on the exterior wall of Penghu Zhongzheng Hall. “Cuckoo Ship! Set Sail!” makes use of luminous visual and audio effects and follows last year’s “Whale Arch” theme, where the humpback whale is leading Captain Cuckoo on an oceanic adventure. It is an exciting story of them meeting all kinds of marine friends on their way to Penghu’s “Island Paradise.” Visitors can watch the breathtaking oceanic light-sculpting show at the Jinlongtou harborside and feel like they too are onboard Cuckoo Ship with the Captain as they explore the sea!

Debut Embarking of Retro Punk Steam Sailboat. Experience Fantastical Interactive Technology!
Retro punk styled large-scale steam sailboat – “Gaillardia Island Magical Adventure," located within the “Artistic Lighting Display” area, was open for the media for a sneak peek. Led by Director Hsu Tsung-min of Penghu National Scenic Area Administration, the journalists experienced how the use of multimedia technology would bring passengers onboard the ship to different spaces in time. Along with surrounding upbeat music, an extraordinarily blissful ambience was created. 

Exquisite Professional Craftsmanship Interweaves a Strikingly Luminous World Under the Sea.
A “Worry-Free Garden” within the exhibition area was created by large-scale crochet artist Master Yang Hai-chien. Utilizing a rainbow of colors and innovative 3D interweaving technique, the artist brought to life coral reefs, starfish, sea anemones, and other organisms, and a vibrant “garden” under the sea was born. Accompanied by shoals of fish swarming in between, the overall artwork allows visitors to dive into the sea and swim alongside the fish, throwing all their worries aside. All in all, the display also vows to raise people’s awareness of nature conservation.

Inheriting Penghu’s Century-old Religious Belief. Large-scale Sea Turtle Stands Tall at Island Paradise. 
Standing tall in the exhibition areas is a large-scale sea turtle lighting “Turtle Comes, Luck Comes," whose design is based on the “Turtle Granting Contest” that is unique to Penghu’s local culture. Culture exclusively found in Penghu was translated via light art, and an inheritance of pure love and religious belief between generations was represented. The artist has created this tangible art piece of worship; while touching the crystal ball, vibrant lights illuminate from the art work. The colorful hues accentuate the diversity of oceanic resources while at the same time wishing for the sustainability and co-prosperity of this island and the sea. 

Besides inviting various artists to participate, the 2020 Penghu Bay International Light Festival also encompasses Penghu’s local folk culture and modern multimedia interactive technology. While innovative operational models have created more lively and diverse artistic lighting exhibits as well as educational large-scale lighting feasts, celebrities and stars will also light up the stage, bringing endless spectacular performances. We hope that visitors at this year’s Light Festival, which takes place September 12th – November 14th, will all enjoy blissful and memorable moments brought by the “Island Paradise”!