Let the sky lantern be a real blessing! The second generation of environmental protection sky lanterns raise funds to establish Pingxi deep tourism system.

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People are on one side, around the four corners of the sky lantern, watching the gold paper burn and burn, and the flame sends prayers on all sides to the sky. The old master is the guardian of the sky lantern, escorting every sincere hope to burn into the sky, and at the same time watching each generation come and go in Pingxi, new wishes replace the old wishes, continue to float into the sky.

"as a matter of fact, in the earliest days, sky lanterns were not the only ones in Pingxi area. according to literature records, there was a custom of putting sky lanterns in all parts of Taiwan, with the meaning of missing the dead and praying for peace." Shao Ping-ting, founder of the Culture Bank, points out that later, because of topography and safety factors, sky lanterns were banned in other places, and only Pingxi could display sky lanterns. Later, Taiwan's special Sky Lantern Festival was developed.

However, with the passage of time, the cultural significance of sky lanterns has gradually been forgotten, while awareness of environmental protection has risen, and the pollution caused by sky lanterns has caused controversy, including fire hazards, carbon dioxide emissions, waste, and so on. "when the Lantern Festival approaches every year, there will be pros and cons. Some people think that sky lanterns are not environmentally friendly and harmful to the environment, and should be banned; others think that this is a traditional custom and should be well preserved." Cultural Bank team in the face of differences between the two sides, to find a solution ─ environmental protection sky lantern, hoping to strike a balance between environmental protection and traditional values.

Shao Pingting, founder of Cultural Bank (Photography / Liu Yixin)

Enhance the value of environmental protection sky lanterns, combined with local culture and deep tourism

However, the price of a sky lantern, which includes planting trees, insurance, and environmental protection, is naturally higher than that of traditional sky lanterns, and it is estimated that a sky lantern costs NT $300 to NT $400. Shao Ping-ting points out that the price of a sky lantern is now NT $150 to NT $200. this is the result of a price reduction competition, because sky lanterns are sold all over the street, and everyone has cut to the lowest price, and everyone has no money to earn, so they stop at this price. However, such a price does not include social and environmental costs. "this is an unreasonable situation at all. When you put a sky lantern, you have no concern for subsequent recycling, and you use people's tax money to deal with it."

"now, in a disguised way of cutting prices and reducing the quality of tourism, businesses cannot make money, so naturally they can only reduce the number of services they provide, becoming a vicious circle." Shao Pingting's team hopes to enhance the value of sky lanterns through the follow-up mechanism of environmentally friendly sky lanterns. And tie Pingxi local culture and deep tourism into it.

"it only refers to the product of environmental protection sky lanterns, which allows the culture to continue, so that sky lanterns can continue to be put on. However, through the whole system of environmental protection sky lights, it can enable sellers to make more money and be willing to provide more in-depth tours or cultural itineraries. This is the greatest impact on Pingxi." Shao Pingting points out that no one knows that ten minutes away from the very old street, there is a coal mine museum that retains the coal mining site in Pingxi in the past, with pits, mining equipment, copper mining rooms, and small trains on the track. this is Pingxi's most precious treasure.

Therefore, Shao Pingting's team hopes to develop a model like the Thai Water Lantern Festival, through the package itinerary to experience traditional snacks, the process of releasing sky lanterns to experience the cultural context, and various in-depth tours. "what attracts everyone is the sky lantern, but what you can experience is much more than the sky lantern." The environmental protection sky lantern is just the beginning, through the ripples of the sky lantern, let more people think about what can be changed in the future.

(environmental protection sky lantern mass fund-raising plan)

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