On the sting of the tropics, east of China and southwest of Japan, the small island of Taiwan drips with promise – and a good bit of traveler sweat.
Within the capital metropolis of Taipei, the 4 seasons blur into two, and the calendar shifts to lunar logic. It is humid and scorching a lot of the yr, with temperatures and crowds peaking from July to August.
However whether or not you are visiting in the course of the warmest months of the yr, or in the course of the barely cooler months, there’s nonetheless lots to do – from festivals and mountain climbing to seashores and biking.
For festivals and water-based actions, go to throughout excessive season (July-August)
July to August is excessive season, however with summer time temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F), you gained’t wish to spend lengthy wandering the streets of Taipei. As an alternative, head to the closest physique of water for browsing, snorkeling and diving experiences. By late afternoon, the warmth eases off and the events begin.
Go to throughout off-season for an out of doors journey (November-March)
Off-season offers a cooler setting for outside adventures corresponding to mountain climbing, biking and scorching springs searching, if scorching and humid is not your bag. Winter in Taipei can get a bit chilly, (between 13-18°C, 55-64°F) however journey vacationers will be grateful for this cooler air when out mountain climbing the Pingxi Crags or biking by Pinglin.
Bask within the cherry blossoms and delicate temperatures throughout shoulder season (March-April and October-November)
Blink and also you’ll miss them, however there are actually 4 seasons on show in Taiwan. The short-lived spring (March and April) is when the forested mountains backing Taipei bloom in pinks and whites, whereas in fall (October-November), the forests flip a rusty crimson. With such pure magnificence on show and extra snug temperatures (19-22°C or 66-72°F in April), the shoulder seasons are excellent for getting exterior.
Rejoice Chinese language New 12 months in January
Chinese language Lunar New 12 months is Taiwan’s greatest public vacation and runs for one week in late January. In fact, Taipei turns into a little bit of a ghost city throughout this time, when eating places and outlets shut and metropolis dwellers head south for household gatherings.
Strive arriving within the days prior, hitting the thronging markets of Dihua Avenue and Nanmen, and contemplate staying on the Grand Hyatt in anticipation of the annual dragon dance on New 12 months’s Day.
Key occasions: Taipei Lunar New 12 months Pageant, Taipei Lantern Pageant, strawberry season
Launch lanterns in February
Come mid-February, you’ll have a number of lantern festivals to select from throughout Taiwan, however Pingxi Sky Lantern Pageant is the most important and closest to Taipei, the place lanterns are launched alongside the charming outdated railway that runs by Pingxi Previous City.
Key occasions: Pingxi Sky Lantern Pageant, Lohas Cherry Blossom Pageant
March is greatest for blooms and biking
Winter is lengthy gone, however summer time is just not but close to, making March the most effective time to go to Taipei for outside adventuring. Avid bikers have a tendency to start out round-the-island excursions, whereas surfers take to the east coast.
March can also be the most effective time to see the cherry blossoms, though you may proceed to get pleasure from them into April at greater elevations, making for some colourful mountain climbing alternatives on Yangmingshan.
Key occasions: Zhuzihu Calla Lily & Hydrangea Pageant, Tour de Taiwan
Get artsy in April
A collection of nice artwork and design occasions kick off in spring, with a number of cultural parks competing for picnicking locals and artwork lovers alike. Of those, Huashan 1914 Inventive Park, Taipei Expo Park and Songshan Cultural and Inventive Park all host a mishmash of impartial design boutiques, artwork galleries and impartial movie showcases, with weekend markets held exterior.
Key occasions: Baosheng Cultural Pageant (Bao’An Temple), Urban Nomad Film Fest, Treasure Hill Gentle Pageant, Inventive Expo Taiwan
Hit the seaside in Could
Because the climate heats up, the sensible will head straight to the coast. Each Baishawan Seaside north of Tamsui and Fulong Seaside to the east lie lower than an hour from Taipei by bus, with Longdong on the rocky northeast coast greatest for cliff leaping and snorkeling in fish-filled waters.
Yilan’s Wai’ao Seaside is taken into account the most effective surf spot close to Taipei. Right here, you’ll discover a energetic stretch of black sand backed by Drifters Pizza Pub, open for après-surf, dwell music and stone-fired pizza.
Key occasions: Taipei Conventional Market Pageant, Ki Kou Pageant, Xia-Hai Metropolis God Cultural Pageant, watermelon season (April-August)
Race dragon boats in June
A standard Chinese language competition with a number of contested origin tales, the Dragon Boat Pageant continues the customized of aggressive dragon boat racing adopted by rice dumpling-making over the three-day weekend.
Marking the beginning of the Monsoon season (June-September), June’s forecast can look nightmarish, however dodging the rain is feasible. Be careful for darkening skies, pack a sturdy umbrella and purpose to complete your outside actions by early afternoon.
Key occasions: Taipei Film Festival, Worldwide Dragon Boat Championships & Pageant, mango season (Could-September)
Rejoice romance in July
Taipei celebrates its day of romance on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Head to Daocheng Wharf (Dadaocheng) between Dihua St and the Tamsui River for fireworks shows atop transport containers that double as bars and meals stalls.
Key occasions: Taipei Water Pageant, Taipei Arts Pageant, Chinese language Valentine’s Day
Don’t whistle after darkish in August
Marking the opening of the gates to the underworld, Ghost Month is Taiwan’s spookiest Taoist custom. Through the month, individuals are supposed to chorus from inauspicious actions corresponding to whistling after darkish, and Tao believers maintain rituals and put together sacrificial objects (contemporary fruit and snacks normally, however very sometimes complete pigs) in entrance of their native temples to advertise luck. One of many extra thrilling occasions is the Grappling with the Ghosts pole-climbing competitors held in Yilan on the final day of the month.
Key occasions: Taipei Music Tutorial Pageant, Taipei Worldwide Advantageous Wine Expo, Toucheng Ghost Grappling Competitors
September is good for a barbecue
A 2000-year-old custom marking the harvest competition and brightest full moon of the yr, the Mid-Autumn Pageant is well known casually in fashionable Taiwan with households sparking up their barbeques on the roadside whereas kids run round with pomelo skins atop their heads.
Key occasions: Mid-Autumn Pageant, pomelo season
Take to the streets for October’s Homosexual Pleasure parade
The primary Asian vacation spot to legalize homosexual marriage, Taiwan hosts the area’s largest LGBTIQ+ celebration. Taipei’s annual LGBT Pleasure parade sees some 100,000 advocates and activists take to the streets round Metropolis Corridor, culminating in Halloween-Pleasure mashup festivities throughout the town, together with Yuanshan’s Maji Sq. and Ximen’s Pink Home.
Key occasions: Taiwan LGBT Pride, Fulong Worldwide Sand Sculpture Pageant
Profit from the delicate but sunny month of November
November gives lots to do for individuals who benefit from the outdoor, each in and out of doors of the town. Select any of the most effective day journeys from Taipei, or, get in your bike to discover the Taipei Riverside Bikeway. Alternatively, go mountain climbing on Yangmingshan, ending with a bootleg nighttime dip in Bayan Scorching Spring.
Key occasions: Taipei Jazz Pageant
Watch Taipei 101 fireworks in December
Shut on the heels of Christmas, when younger Taiwanese get collectively for German markets and gift-giving, New 12 months’s Eve is one other worldwide vacation that Taipei residents can’t assist however embrace.
Benefit from the Taipei 101 fireworks extravaganza by getting cozy with crowds round Solar Yat-sen Memorial Corridor and Xinyi purchasing district, or, higher but, acquire a vantage level atop Elephant Mountain, arriving early for the most effective views.
Key occasions: Taipei New 12 months’s Eve Countdown Get together
