Taipei: Taiwan Railway Corp. (TR) announced plans to lift its ban on the release of sky lanterns on railway tracks in New Taipei's Pingxi District for the upcoming two months, beginning this weekend.

According to Focus Taiwan, the release of paper lanterns is a popular tourism activity in Pingxi, with participants inscribing wishes before launching them into the sky. This activity is currently restricted to designated areas under the New Taipei City Sky Lantern Release Management Regulations and is prohibited on railway tracks by law. Despite these regulations, many individuals ignore the rules, releasing lanterns on the train tracks, which run through the district's main streets, throughout the year.

The issue gained attention in August when a Taiwanese YouTuber duo was fined NT$10,000 (US$320) for releasing lanterns on the Shifen railway track. The duo, Tsai Tai-tai and Tsai Sheng-sheng, later apologized, stating they were directed to the tracks by vendors and were not alone in their actions.

In response to these incidents, authorities plan to test-lift the ban during specific hours and restricted areas, initially at Shifen Station and later at Pingxi and Jingtong stations. The suspension of train services for roadbed repairs due to erosion from recent heavy rains will facilitate this temporary measure, extending from this weekend until the end of January 2026.

Pingxi District chief Lee Tien-ming mentioned that the district office has proposed timeframes and designated areas for lantern releases at the specified stations. Concurrently, the city's Tourism and Travel Bureau emphasized that participants must adhere to regulations regarding time, safety, and permitted areas, or face fines of up to NT$3,000 under the Fire Services Act. The bureau plans to disseminate information about these regulations and urge compliance from lantern vendors.