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While Taiwan may not be the typical winter wonderland, the activities during the winter season never fail to captivate global travelers.
Embarking on a Winter Adventure in Taiwan: Top 10 Experiences
The winter season in Taiwan spans from December through February, with January being the coldest month. True winter sets in after December 25th each year.
Before Christmas, the weather in Taiwan is delightful, offering sunny days for travelers. However, post-Christmas, Taiwan turns chilly, daylight hours shorten, and the average temperature begins to drop.
In Taipei, winter temperatures range from a high of approximately 16°C to a low of around 14°C. Yet, chilly winds, overcast skies, and occasional drizzles may persist for several days. Conversely, Southern Taiwan enjoys more favorable conditions. Winter in Kaohsiung boasts ideal weather with an average temperature of 22-24°C.
Discover the Top 10 Enchanting Winter Activities in Taiwan
Experience the Christmas Extravaganza: Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Taiwan, visitors can encounter beautifully decorated Christmas trees and festive songs in most shopping centers.
For the ultimate Christmas experience, take a train to Banqiao. Annually, a Christmas event named Christmasland is held in the square between Banqiao Station and the new Taipei City Hall square. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Christmas decorations create a stunning scene. With colorful light shows, sparkling light tunnels, live performances, and a Christmas market, this is considered one of the most exciting places to celebrate the winter season in Taiwan. Christmasland this year extends until January 2, 2023.
Marvel at the New Year's Fireworks: If you're in Taipei for this occasion, head to Taipei 101, where one of the world's most extravagant fireworks displays takes place. About 16,000 fireworks are launched from the tower in over 6 minutes on New Year's Eve. Visitors can also go to Elephant Mountain for a spectacular panoramic view of the city.
Participate in the Lantern Festival: The Lantern Festival is one of the most iconic events to attend in winter in Taiwan. Each year, a different city in Taiwan is selected to host the festival.
In 2023, Taipei will be the host city for the Taiwan Lantern Festival with various exhibitions around the city. The central exhibition area is at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and display areas are set up in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Xinyi, and the commercial district of East District. The festival is scheduled to take place from February 5th to February 19th, 2023, featuring around 300 lanterns.
Night Market Adventure: During winter, strolling around the night markets and indulging in piping hot street food is a captivating activity for tourists. Alongside the most famous night markets in Taiwan, numerous smaller ones spring up across the country during the Lunar New Year festival.
Snowy Marvels at Hehuanshan: Snow is a rare sight in Taiwan. To witness snow, one must venture to one of the most renowned mountain peaks, Hehuanshan, located in the central region of Taiwan.
Situated at an altitude of 3,416 meters, Hehuanshan borders Hualien and Nantou counties. The journey to the mountain's summit passes through the Wuling Pass, the highest road in Taiwan at an elevation of 3,275 meters. Apart from Hehuanshan, Taiwan also offers other places to witness falling snow, such as the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan, snow-capped mountains in Taichung, and Yushan (Taiwan's highest peak) in the south.
Strawberry Picking in Miaoli: Located in the central region of Taiwan, bordering Hsinchu and Taichung, Miaoli County is famous for attractions like the Longteng Broken Bridge, Miaoli Hakka Round House, and Shei-Pa National Park.
One of the most enticing attractions is the vast strawberry farms, where visitors can handpick strawberries. As the strawberry season coincides with winter in Taiwan, this is a delightful activity to experience.
Scuba Diving in Xiaoliuqiu: Xiaoliuqiu is one of Taiwan's most beautiful coral reef islands, located a short ferry ride from Kaohsiung. A major highlight of Xiaoliuqiu is the opportunity to swim alongside green sea turtles.
Winter in Xiaoliuqiu is the optimal time for experiencing scuba diving with dry weather and minimal rainfall. Explore geological caves, snorkel, paddleboard, and kayak.
Visit the Purple Butterfly Valley in Miaolin: Every year, the purple crow butterflies migrate to Southern Taiwan, settling in during the winter months. The best place to observe them up close is at the Miaolin National Scenic Area, also known as Purple Butterfly Valley.
Taiwan's purple crow butterflies are one of only two winter migratory butterfly species globally, the other being the monarch butterfly in Mexico. Visitors can join guided tours when visiting the park. Guides will take you to all the prime spots to witness dozens of butterfly species. The best time to visit Purple Butterfly Valley is from November to March.
Indulge in Hot Springs: Taiwan is home to some of the world's most concentrated hot springs. Nearly every district in Taiwan has hot springs, with the highest concentration in the north, near the central mountain range. Visitors can go to hot spring areas like Beitou, Wulai, Jiuzhize, Ruisui, and more.
Enjoy Taiwanese Hot Pot: One of the must-do activities to beat the winter chill is savoring the famous Taiwanese hot pot. If you love spicy food, don't miss out on the Mala hot pot in Taipei.
According to Monster
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourDecember 14, 2022
