When I attended Taiwan’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival recently, I don’t think I was quite as excited as some of the attendees. And not just because I’d gotten off a 16-hour flight earlier that morning, though that didn’t help.
No, it’s because I had a frame of reference, having previously taken part of a lantern release in Thailand during Yi Peng, which takes place during the larger Loy Krathong festival every November. I knew more or less what to expect. Well, except the chill in the air and the unrelenting rain. But more on all that in a minute.
If you’ve come here to compare the Taiwan vs Thailand lantern festival, you’re in the right place. I’m going to give it to you straight, without any flowery language or false equivalencies.
Why Western Tourists Suddenly Love Sky Lanterns
A few years ago, the decision of whether to attend Pingxi or Yi Peng would’ve only been relevant to English teachers living in Taiwan or Thailand. These festivals were extremely niche-y, especially in Taiwan, whose visitors numbers (at least among Westerners) have really only exploded since the pandemic, and right before it. With specific regard to sky lanterns, I’m not sure if there was one inciting incident.
Rather, I think it’s that images and videos of people releasing lanterns into the air are inspiring and beautiful—they’re practically made for virality. Moreover, I do think that Western creators especially editorialize about both the meaning of the festivals, and the impact that attending one of them might have on you. Finally, Thailand’s lanterns are helped by the fact that many foreigners conflate Yi Peng with Loy Krathong (which take place at the same time, but are not the same festival).
Ways to Compare Pingxi Lantern Festival with Yi Peng (Loy Krathong)
Time of year
Yi Peng (and the larger Loy Krathong festival) takes place every year in November, which corresponds with the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, by contrast, takes place in late winter or early spring, beginning on the first day of Lunar New Year and ending 15 days later.
Ease of attendance
Comparing Pingxi vs Loy Krathong on these grounds is interesting. On one hand, the event in Taiwan is much more “organized,” with a fair and democratic ticket lottery which is first-come, first-served. In Thailand it’s a bit more chaotic (anyone who turns up to the Doi Saket Lake can attend), but the crowds are more unruly and unrelenting.
Other nearby attractions
Obviously, if you attend Yi Peng and Loy Krathong in Thailand, both Chiang Mai and all of northern Thailand are at your fingertips before, during and after the event. In Taiwan, you can spend the day of the festival along Shifen or Pingxi Old Streets, continue to Jiufen or just head back to Taipei.
Crowds
Whether you attend the Taiwan or Thailand lantern festival, crowds will be huge. In Taiwan at least, the frequently rainy weather can actually lessen the hordes you have to encounter while attending, especially in Shifen. In Thailand, however, since November is one of the best months to visit, you should expect absolute mayhem.
Environmental impact
In both Thailand and Taiwan, the laws of gravity apply—what comes up must come down, and thousands of paper lanterns do, in the countryside around both Chiang Mai and Shifen. This has created some resentment along local residents, although in my experience, the bulk of the bitterness actually comes from holier-than-thou English teachers.
Other Awesome Festivals in Asia
While plenty of other places in Asia have adopted the practice of releasing lanterns into the sky, I don’t actually feel like either of them hold a candle to Pingxi or Yi Peng. However, there are still many worthwhile Asian festivals:
- All of the summer matsuri festivals in Japan are worth visiting, though some are much easier or more difficult than others.
- Thailand’s Songkran gets more popular with every year, and while I don’t attend because I dislike being shot with water guns in middle age, many people swear by it.
- Traveling to India during Holi is quite an experience, although I suggest wearing clothes you don’t care about; the colorful powder they throw will and does stain.
- Although not necessarily a “festival” in the sense of others on this list, cherry blossom season in Japan is certainly a cultural rite of passage.
Other FAQ About Lantern Festivals in Taiwan vs Thailand
What is the best lantern festival in Asia?
I personally prefer Thailand’s Yi Peng over Taiwan’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. While both see the release of similar lanterns with a similar spiritual goal, the weather in Thailand tends to be more suitable. Taiwan’s festival, for its part, is more organized, though for me this actually creates more stress and pressure, not less.
Is Yi Peng only in Chiang Mai?
You can release yi peng-style lanterns throughout Thailand, and not just in Chiang Mai. However, the two large-scale Yi Peng events only take place in Chiang Mai, as of the mid-2020s, and I don’t expect this to change anytime soon. As a result, I recommend planning your trip as early as possible.
Which country is the best for lantern festival?
I personally think that Thailand (which has both a “sky lantern” release in the form of Yi Peng, as well as one on the water for Loy Krathong, both of which take place around the same time) is the best for lantern festival. With this being said, if you think you’ll be in Taiwan around Chinese New Year, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival might be worth checking out.
The Bottom Line
I’m happy that you’ve taken time to read my comparison of the Taiwan vs Thailand lantern festival. In my opinion, Thailand’s Yi Peng is a bit more satisfying: The weather is dryer, and attending the festival is less of an ordeal, even if it isn’t as intentional or well-organized as the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan. As cynical as it sounds, Taiwan’s lantern festival is mainly appealing for people who will happen to be in the country anyway. Now, with all this being said, I’m happy I’ve seen both of these festivals with my own eyes—and not just because that makes me able to provide expert insight via my Taiwan and Thailand itinerary planning services, though that helps!
