Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival kicks off in Tainan

Tainan, Feb. 11 (CNA) The annual two-day Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, a tradition with over 100 years of history, began Tuesday in Tainan's Yanshui District, featuring more than 2 million "beehive firecrackers."

The festival, traditionally held on the 14th and 15th days of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar to celebrate the Lantern Festival, started at Yanshui Wu Temple, the main organizer.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) lit the first string of firecrackers to mark the start of the event before boarding a parade float to tour Yanshui's main streets, throwing candy to bystanders as a blessing for the public.

According to the temple, the festival's procession will be divided into five routes covering different areas of Yanshui, with approximately 200 firecracker sets awaiting participants along the way.

The highlight of the event will take place on Wednesday evening at Tainan Municipal Yanshuei Junior High School, where around 2 million firecrackers will be simultaneously launched from three large LED-lit firecracker towers.

As the temple palanquin passes by spectators may be struck by the firecrackers which are believed to "end ill fortune, resolve difficulties and bring good luck for the coming year," according to the Tourism and Travel Bureau of the southern Taiwan city.

Those intending to attend the festival should wear protective and nonflammable clothing that completely covers the body and face to avoid potential injuries caused by fireworks, the city government said.