The 2010 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival will take place from February 20th to March 7th, 2010 (the seventh through to the twentieth day of the first lunar month). Under sponsorship from the Kaohsiung city government, this festival will put the spotlight on Kaohsiung, notably the areas surrounding the Pier of Honor and the Lovers' River. This year, old attractions have been switched for new ones, with some integrating the special characteristics of Kaohsiung culture and others incorporating international art. This luminous idea will help turn the festival into an international cultural event, aside from adding an incentive to Kaohsiung tourism itself.

According to the Tourism Bureau, the subject for this year's lantern designs will be the Year of the Tiger. The colorful illuminated displays are accompanied by daily fireworks and water dance shows at the Pier of Honor. The harbor area of Kaohsiung will also be drawing crowds for some outstanding stage shows, offered by both local and foreign performers. The banks of Lovers' River will have areas designated for competitions and various exhibitions, lantern-making, local and international street artists, and other arts and crafts. Among the newly planned activities are guessing Yuanxiao lantern riddles and a display of foreign-made lanterns. All these combined will be lending a unique international touch to this traditional Chinese festival.

The festival even has an area set out for gourmet food, as well as booths with Kaohsiung specialties and gifts, all vying with each other in their attempts to satisfy visitors' taste buds while shopping. The 2010 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival will give visitors the feeling of an iconic Chinese New Year but with a colorful mix of cultures and artful expressions. The Kaohsiung city government welcomes everyone to take part in the 2010 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival, a unique opportunity to experience the feeling of Chinese New Year in the harbor city of Kaohsiung.