2026 Yilan International Children's Play and Art Festival

The Dongshan River is like a gentle “umbilical cord” running through the Lanyang Plain. Flowing from its forested mountain source toward the plains, it nourishes the land while connecting the lives and collective memories of the people of Yilan.

The light-art environment, “Into the Living Forest,” is inspired by the concept of the “Lost Heart of the Forest.” The Dongshan River is envisioned as a vast living organism, tracing the primal energy of its water back to the “Heart of the Forest” in Dabai Mountain and extending downstream along the river. Through the interplay of light, space, and nature, the design reawakens the dormant vitality of the land. Light is no longer merely decorative; it becomes a flowing lifeline that guides visitors through a journey of renewal—from germination and exploration to full bloom.

After three decades of growth and evolution, the festival enters its 31st year in 2026 with a new chapter. Beginning with the forest as its imaginative point of departure, the park is transformed into a vibrant living environment filled with exploration and play. The watercourse of the Dongshan River serves as the spatial axis, integrating five modes of experience—water, land, air, exhibition, and performance. Light, sound, installations, and interactive elements connect five themed zones, making the entire park feel like a forest that is continuously growing.

Visitors are no longer passive spectators of light. Instead, they become “Forest Envoys,” following a flowing current of light through a sequence of calling, trials, resonance, and celebration on an immersive journey of discovery. Dynamic water-ripple projections, programmed lighting, illuminated art installations, and interactive games merge the natural landscape with playful experiences, transforming the familiar park into a surprising nocturnal forest. In its 31st year, the spirit cultivated over the festival’s first 30 years grows anew—shifting from “seeing” to “entering,” and from a light exhibition into a forest adventure that visitors can experience firsthand.