Keelung Ghost Festival 2009

Taiwan’s Keelung Ghost Festival is a cultural event that takes place during the seventh lunar month. The seventh lunar month is known as the "Ghost Month" in Taiwan, during which all unseen souls are released from hell and allowed to return to the living world for a one-month holiday. The city-wide celebration of Keelung Ghost Festival dates back 150 years to a tragic historical episode involving a clash between rival clans.

On the 14th day, a parade is held in downtown Keelung for the releasing of the water lanterns. After midnight on the 15th day, the water lanterns are set adrift into the sea. Every year the downtown parade and the release of the lanterns into the sea attracts tens of thousands of locals and tourists.