The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival officially lit up at Chiayi County Government Plaza. Amid a dazzling array of lanterns competing for attention, Hualien Prison’s lantern entry stood out in the highly competitive “Government Agencies and Organizations” category. With its superb craftsmanship and grand visual impact, the piece proudly earned an Excellence Award. 

Since establishing its lantern-making team in 2011, Hualien Prison has upheld a commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship. The award-winning lantern was completed entirely in-house—from the initial sketch design, welding of the wire framework, and electrical wiring, to the meticulous fabric cutting and spray-paint finishing. Under the guidance of staff members, inmates carried out every step of the process themselves. These “self-taught artisans” learned through repeated trials and setbacks, mastering technical skills while gradually rebuilding their life goals amid the sparks of welding and the winding of iron wires. It can truly be described as a remarkable transformation—from “behind bars” to the realm of art. 

Superintendent Huang Jing Mou remarked emotionally, “When the lantern lights up, our hearts light up as well. This brilliant lantern is the result of countless failures and revisions by the participants. For them, it is not merely an artistic creation, but a heartfelt blessing conveyed to society. Every beam of light symbolizes the rebirth of their sense of life’s value.” 

The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival will take place from March 3 to March 15 at the plaza in front of the Chiayi County Government. Members of the public are encouraged to visit during this period to appreciate the display and show their support for the inmates’ transformation.