Hundreds of lanterns lit up the night sky in Taiwan at the weekend as people gathered to write their prayers on paper lanterns and deliver their wishes to the heavens.
With the annual Lantern Festival happening soon after Valentine's Day this year, many wrote down wishes to find their true love.
More than 2,000 lanterns were released on Saturday night at Pingxi, near Taipei, the biggest lantern release this year.
"I wish that by releasing the sky lanterns, my wishes can be granted," said 30-year-old Wang Wan-wen, an engineer.
"I wish to find my Mr. Right, and be promoted and get a salary increase at work."
Others, such as 25-year-old civil servant Lin Chia-jou, came just for a good time with friends.
"It's fun for everyone to join, and it's beautiful when they're all released at the same time," she said.
"I wish for dreams come true, and good health for everyone in the family."
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou wished for peace and stability in the country, and blessings to all the people, on a giant sky lantern.
The lanterns, also called "Kongming Lanterns," are believed to be the creation of Zhuge Kongming, a military mastermind in the Three Kingdoms (220-280 AD), as a communication tool for the army.
In Pingxi, the lantern tradition got started centuries ago. When bandits appeared in the mountains, the locals would hide in their houses but release lanterns to signify safety after the bandits had gone away.
The wide-topped hot air balloons are made of cotton paper and bamboo. The bamboo ring at the bottom holds 12 sheets of paper money at the centre as a wick.
Once the paper money is lit, the lantern is held on the ground for a minute and then released up to the sky.
"Sky lanterns make us feel a sense of happiness," said 30-year-old Cherry Yeh.
"I wish everybody could be surrounded by joy."
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