The 2018 New Year Lantern Festival at Shennong Street, co-organized by the General Education Center of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Tainan City Cultural Association, started hanging lights at the beginning of February. Acting President Deng-Maw Lu, Yong-Chuan Wang—Winner of the Global Chinese Culture and Arts Award, and Chief Executive Tsai-Chi Zheng of Tainan City Cultural Association took down the lanterns together, formally announcing that the Lantern Festival Lantern Festival at Shennong Street in 2018 was successfully concluded. The Shennan Streetlight Show has been suspended for many years. Thanks to the efforts of Chairman Dao-Tsung Cheng of Tainan City Cultural Association’s and Prof. Bai-Fang Shao of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, this year the self-study team from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology teamed up with the local merchants to re-organize the festival, trying to bring back the old traditional atmosphere to the Chinese New Year. The festival attracted more than 10,000 tourists to Shennong Street in an attempt to find back the feeling and atmosphere of Shennong Street and the lively scenes in the past.

【Acting President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology was delivering a speech】

Although the show has been closed this year, the residents of Shennong Street have responded well to the customized lanterns by the student team. Most of them are still reluctant to remove the lanterns. Therefore, the people who missed the exhibition can still enjoy 90% of the lanterns. The initiative for customizing this first lantern has caused resonance among other residents. They enthusiastically discussed with the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology Group and the Cultural Association about participating in the lantern exhibition. Acting President Deng-Maw Lu promised in the ceremony to expand the show next year and to regard the closing day of this year's Lantern Festival as the launch day of the Social Responsibility Practice Project—"Creation and Dissemination of Local Culture—Fucheng vs Yuejin," sponsored by the Ministry of Education. It is expected that original plan to regain the atmosphere of Shennong Old Street can be implemented in the lantern festival next year, bringing more students to help the local residents and creating a lively atmosphere for the New Year celebration at Shennong Street. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology will continue to invigorate local areas and implement its plan to manage the Five River Area in an attempt to create prosperity for the area.

【Acting President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology was removing the Yongchuan Large Sedan Lanterns, by which he officially announced the completion of the 2018 Lantern Festival at Shennong Street】

Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has cooperated with the Cultural Association for many years. Every semester students who have general education courses would work hard to activate the history and culture of the Five-River Area. This year saw for the first time the participation of students in the painting and production of lanterns for the Lantern Festival. They discussed with the residents of Shennong Street about the themes and design concepts before they created a brand tablet in front of each store to increase its brilliance. In addition, Chairman Dao-Tsung Cheng of Tainan City Cultural Association invited students of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology to participate in the Lantern Exhibition of Cheng-Gong Zheng's Family Temple on Zhongyi Road. Among the lanterns, the environmentally friendly dog called Golyfu (the dog that brings us luck) was quite eye-catching. The lantern was produced by the self-study course team—Jia-Zhen Yi, Yi-Chi Wu, Wei-Wei Guo and Bai-Ru Su. They made use of the special plastic bottles collected by the primary school students.

【Honorable guests in the closing ceremony of the Lantern Festival at Shennong Street】

Acting President Deng-Maw Lu further stated that Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has been recognized for its participation in cultural development of Mingsun Green Park and Five-River Area for many years. This year, has seen the beginning of a budding social responsibility plan to develop culture for further dissemination at the local level. It is expected that this cross-disciplinary team of general education, business management, and digital design will continue to deepen its efforts and expand its successful experience in Tainan City. Through collaboration with Nanjung University and Mingdao University, we shall contribute to the renaissance of Yuejin Area.

【The closing ceremony for the New Year Lantern Festival at Shennong Street was very successful: President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (middle in row three) teachers and students, and honorable guests】