Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Lights Up the City with Heroic Spirit

　This year's Kaohsiung Wonderland（高雄冬日遊樂園）takes place from February 7 to March 1 at the Kaohsiung harbor. Departing from the cute style of previous years, the festival is welcoming a heavyweight star: Legendary Japanese hero character Ultraman（超人力霸王）, who's now celebrating his 60th anniversary, is bringing passionate and heroic energy to the port city.

　The original Ultraman and Ultraman Tiga（迪卡）appear for the first time as massive inflatable installations on the water, standing in front of the Wave Towers at the Kaohsiung Music Center（高雄流行音樂中心）and at the Coral Zone Harbor Viewpoint（珊瑚礁群好望角）, respectively. By day, they cut heroic figures. At night, light shows illuminate the scene, the dazzling combination of light and shadow turning these sites into popular photo spots. Many visitors, young and old, join the festivities carrying “Original Ultraman” lanterns specially created for the festival.

　Mayor Chen Chi-mai（陳其邁）noted that the functioning of a city relies on the hard work of countless people, including healthcare workers, firefighters, sanitation staff, and even the “shovel heroes” who help clean up after disasters. Inspired by Ultraman's spirit of protecting the Earth, the festival pays tribute to these “unsung heroes” who quietly dedicate themselves to the city.

　The family amusement park is located at Piers 16 to 18 of Kaohsiung Port, featuring amusement rides, character meet-and-greets, stage performances, markets, and pop-up stores. The lively atmosphere has attracted large numbers of visitors.

　In addition, the theme has been extended to three modes of transportation, transforming the light rail, buses, and ferries into mobile exhibition spaces. Visitors can travel through the city following the “light,” and together with the heroes, help safeguard hope in Kaohsiung.

超人集結愛河灣  高雄燈會點燃英雄之光
文/蘇宇翎
圖片提供/高雄市政府觀光局
今年高雄冬日遊樂園於2月7日至3月1日在高雄港灣舉行。有別以往可愛風格，由重量級主角──邁入60週年的日本傳奇英雄角色「超人力霸王（Ultraman）」降臨高雄港灣，為港都注入熱血節慶能量。

初代超人力霸王與迪卡首度以巨型水上氣膜姿態現身，分別矗立於高雄流行音樂中心音浪塔前及珊瑚礁群的好望角。白晝展現英雄風采，夜晚則有燈光展演，光影交織，成為打卡焦點。許多大小朋友提著專為燈節設計的「初代超人力霸王」提燈共襄盛舉。

市長陳其邁表示，城市的運作仰賴無數人的汗水支撐，包括醫護、消防、清潔人員與災後清淤的鏟子超人，透過超人力霸王守護地球的精神，藉此向城市中默默付出的「無名超人」致敬。

親子樂園則於高雄港16至18號碼頭，集結遊具、見面會、舞臺活動、市集與快閃店等，吸引許多遊客到訪，現場氣氛熱鬧。

此外，亦打造輕軌、公車與輪船三大主題運具，將活動化身能移動的展演場域，讓民眾能跟著「光」穿梭城市，在高雄與英雄之光一同守護希望。