Buying snow Hualien

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Buying snow Hualien

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you. Like any season, winter in Taiwan comes with some ups and downs. In the tropical south, however, it can still be warm enough to go to the beach and swim in the sea. Taiwan in winter also comes with a smorgasbord of holidays and festivals. It may surprise you to learn that, according to tourist arrival numbers , December is actually the most popular month of the year to visit Taiwan. After that, January is the second slowest month of the year, while February and March see tourist arrivals picking up again. Some people smartly avoid visiting during Lunar New Year in Taiwan , while Taiwanese abroad flock to the country at this time to visit their families. Taiwan Essentials Join my Taiwan Travel Planning group on Facebook to ask any questions, and see my detailed Taiwan traveling guide and guide to daily life in Taiwan. Find out whether you need a Taipei Fun Pass in my detailed review. Winter generally lasts from December to March in Taiwan. January and February are the peak of winter in Taiwan. Sometime in late January to late February is also when Taiwanese people have a week off work and students usually weeks off school for the Lunar New Year holiday; see my detailed guide to visiting Taiwan during Lunar New Year for all the information about what will be open and closed, and the best days to travel, during that time. Winter usually persists into March, and by the end of the month, spring gradually arrives. The south of Taiwan, which lies below the Tropic of Cancer, is more tropical, meaning there is less of a winter season. During winter, the temperatures in the far south are often degrees warmer than in the north. On the other hand, if you come from a very cold city in Canada, like my family does, you may still wear shorts and a T-shirt for most of winter in Taipei, as my father does when he visits. Taipei and other parts of Northern Taiwan have the chilliest and wettest weather in Taiwan in winter. The entire season is characterized by gray skies, occasional drizzling rain, and damp, cool weather that chills you to the bone. For example, I dress the same for 10 degrees in Taipei as I would in my dry hometown for zero degrees. January and February are the months when you will really feel this in Taipei, but this winter weather often carries on well into March. By the end of March, it usually starts warming up to more comfortable temperatures. Not sure if winter in Taipei is for you? See my detailed guide for the best month to visit Taipei. Read my guide to where to stay in Taipei or search for the best hotels in Taipei on Booking or Agoda. However, head further south and all of that will change. Cities and counties on the central west coast, including Hsinchu , Miaoli , Taichung , Changhua , and Yunlin are significantly drier than Taipei in winter, and a few degrees warmer. You can expect the temperature to be about 5 degrees warmer than in Taipei most of the time, with almost no rain. The resorts in Kenting are pleasantly crowd-free in winter. Meanwhile, the surfing never stops at Dulan in Taitung, although waves tend to be rougher in winter. You will, however, want to avoid the offshore islands like Green Island, Penghu , and especially Orchid Island in winter, when the weather can become cool and very windy, and many services close for the season. One exception is if you want to go to Penghu specifically for windsurfing. It is still possible to visit high mountain resorts such as Cingjing Farm meters and Alishan meters in winter, but it will be even colder. Snow is quite rare but not unheard in these places. Sun Moon Lake sits at meters, so you can expect it to be a few degrees cooler than in nearby Taichung. Yes, it does snow in Taiwan! It is extremely rare to see snow in any major cities or lowland areas in Taiwan, and many Taiwanese have never touched or even seen snow in their lives. There were even traffic jams of locals driving up to see it. My family and I witnessed people driving down from the mountains with little snowmen built on the front of hood of their cars, and cute videos appeared on social media showing kids and adults playing in snow at the side of the road for the first time in their lives. The same thing actually happened again in early February However, these are freak occurrences, and certainly not the norm in Taiwan. Even at Alishan National Scenic Area meters , seeing snow in winter is very rare. I went there once at the peak of winter, and I only saw some frost on the Alishan Forest Railway tiles in the early morning. It was still very cold though! You are probably going to have to travel to a remote area, either by private car or on a bus that only runs once or a few times per day. You may have to contend with crowds of locals trying to get there too. And you also need to be lucky, because some spots only sometimes have snow. If you are truly determined to see snow in Taiwan, then there are certain mountains that offer the best opportunities. The top spot is Hehuanshan elevation meters , which is practically synonymous with snow in Taiwan. In fact, Hehuan Mountain even had a ski lift years several ago, used by the elite during the Martial Law period. But Hehuanshan is NOT easy to get to. When the road IS open, it can be hard to find a driver willing to make this difficult drive. Most people reach Hehuanshan from the Taichung side west coast by driving up winding Highway 14A to Wuling Pass meters , the highest navigable pass in Taiwan. Hehuanshan is a short drive after the Wuling Pass. Upon reaching Hehuanshan Service Station, there are lookout points and a few hiking trails on Hehuanshan some of which require a permit. This is where snow can often be seen in winter. The highway, which is quite winding and difficult to drive during normal weather, can become a slippery mess with snow on it. Cars in Taiwan do NOT have winter tires on them, so they are not equipped to handle driving on snow. There are no hotels at Hehuanshan. The rooms are very hard to book — see my guide to booking a room at Songsyue Lodge. Many visitors stay in Cingjing Farm and make a side trip to Hehuanshan from there. Learn more about how to get to Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan. Without your own vehicle, you can try this Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan tour from Taichung minimum 2 people required. Hiking to the first two peaks requires two full days of hiking, and permits need to be arranged well in advance. Please contact me for my recommendations on the best local guides for these hikes. But the answer is no — the snow is high up on the mountain, and requires several hours of hiking and a permit to see it. But when I hiked Snow Mountain in February, there was loads of it! Still, it was one of my most incredible experiences in Taiwan. For Taipingshan, you can take a bus from Yilan to get there only one per day in each direction. If it snows at Taipingshan, then it is usually in the news in Taiwan including English news sites , and there is usually a huge rush of people going up to see it. Even though the ski resort at Hehuanshan has closed, did you know that it is possible to go skiing in Taiwan? See more information about it in my guide to the best Taiwanese theme parks. For a fun winter idea, try taking a cooking course in Taiwan! There are many great ones to choose from. Locals can be seen wearing full-on winter jackets, scarfs, and other winter gear at this time, but if you are more used to cold weather than they are, a thin jacket or normal hoodie will likely suffice. Therefore, a pair of comfy PJs or warm indoor clothing can be useful as well. Bring a single light jacket or sweater just in case. When traveling along the east coast or anywhere near the sea in Taiwan, however, it can be quite windy. One of the most obvious and best things to do in the winter in Taipei is to head to Beitou Hot Spring. Whether you want to have a romantic date with a private hot tub, blend with locals at the public springs, dine on hot spring ramen, or just stand mesmerized before the steaming Hell Valley, Beitou is the place to be in winter in Taipei. Here are all my recommendations for the best things to do in Beitou Thermal Valley , including the best hot spring spas for every budget. Besides Beitou, the only hot spring in Taipei City, you can also visit other hot springs within a short distance of the city, including Wulai , Jinshan, and Jiaoxi in Yilan County. Another favorite way for Taipei people to stay warm in winter is by spending a couple hours enjoying hot pot with friends. See my list of the best street foods in Taiwan to decide what to eat! Yet another idea is to visit one of several museums and art galleries in Taipei. Find more info and ideas in my guide to the best things to do in Taipei. Christmas is not a traditional holiday in Taiwan, nor is it a day off from school or work unless it falls on a weekend. But shops, malls, and even the government take Christmas decorations pretty seriously in recent years. Santa is usually at the Regent from early December until December See announcements about these Christmas events on their news page. But for the ultimate Christmas in Taiwan experience, you absolutely must pay a visit to Christmasland in Banqiao district of New Taipei City. Try for a weeknight to avoid the worst of the crowds, and avoid the first few days it is open, and the days closest to actual Christmas Day. The lights attract a sea of people! The even usually runs from around mid-November to January 1. Google search the official site for the event map and more details. The dates are from December 3- You can expect Christmas lights for the duration of the event, plus some special performances and other activities especially on weekends. In Kaohsiung, expect even more cool lights and art installations than usual at Pier 2 Art Center. Literally hundreds of thousands of people crowds into the streets of Xinyi District to watch. The north also in the past had the best view of the LED lights show on Taipei , but in , it should be the same from every direction. Getting to and away from Taipei on that night can be challenging. The MRT runs for all night that night, but it is jam packed, with a long wait to get into the station, let along onto a train. If you plan to find a taxi anywhere near Taipei in the couple hours after the fireworks, forget about it. The best idea is to walk for 20 minutes away from , then try. Besides the area immediately around Taipei , other extremely popular and crowded vantage points for watching the fireworks include Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Elephant Mountain photographers are known to claim spots a whole day in advance , other lookout points on the Four Beasts Mountains, Maokong Gondola area, and Fuzhoushan Park. Learn more about these hikes in Taipei here. You can also see this Mandarin language article covering various fireworks viewing spots and what their view looks like. There is a custom in Taiwan of gathering to watch the first sunrise of the year on the east coast of the country. The event includes a concert on the beach. Further south on the east coast, people also gather at Qixingtan beach in Hualien and Sanxiantai in Taitung. In Taichung, there will be a huge fireworks display at Lihpao Discovery Land , site of the tallest Ferris wheel in Taiwan. As always, there will be a major fireworks display at E-Da theme park. There will be two different stages, one on the Zhonghua Rd side of the mall, and one on the Chenggong side of the road. During the Lunar New Year holiday, many things close in Taipei. See my detailed guide to traveling to Taiwan during Lunar New Year to find out how best to plan your trip. The mass releases usually take place on several days around the actual festival date, often the two Saturdays closest to the holiday. Find out how to get there in my Pingxi Railway Line guide. Besides the mass lantern releases in Pingxi, every city in Taiwan hosts their own smaller Lantern Festival, which usually involves a collection of cool lanterns see below image placed in a park of famous area of the city. On top of that, there is also the national Lantern Festival Event, which takes place in a different city of Taiwan every year. This event usually has a stage with talks and concerts, more cool lanterns to see, and one ginormous lantern in the shape of the zodiac animal of that year. In , for the first time in 23 years , the national event was hosted by Taipei City, with tons of displays all overt the city! This means it was also a big one, with major display areas in Anping and near the Tainan HSR station. See more information in my guide to visiting Taipei in March. Therefore, I would still suggest following my detailed Taiwan itinerary for 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks for traveling around Taiwan, or my Taiwan itinerary with kids for those traveling with little ones. Taroko Gorge is just as magnificent even when skies are gray in fact, low hanging clouds can make it even more stunning , and to beat the cold, head to this secret hot spring. Sun Moon Lake can be fairly chilly in winter, but when the sky is clear which is more likely in that part of Taiwan in winter , it is every bit as beautiful. Make sure to check out the Sun Moon Lake Pass deals before you go. Meanwhile, visiting Alishan in frosty winter can be quite the experience, just make sure to dress in full winter gear. Winter is also strawberry season in Taiwan, and one very popular thing to do among locals is to head to Dahu, a small township in Miaoli, that is famous for its strawberry U-pick farms. You can read about our experience strawberry picking in Dahu here. Many migratory birds, including the black-faced spoonbill, can be seen in those two popular attractions in winter. Winter is also a fine time for exploring the culinary and artistic attractions of Taichung , including famous Rainbow Village but not this year — Rainbow Village is closed in , and not expected to reopen until early See here for more information on traveling around Taiwan during Chinese New Year , and my 50 favorite things to do in Taiwan at any time of year. While December is the most popular month to visit Taiwan by tourist numbers, once the chilly, gray weather kicks in, most tourists seem to be scared away in January and February. This is probably worsened by the fact that most of Taipei shuts down and it can be hard to travel around the island during Chinese New Year. Still, winter has a lot going for it, whether you want to avoid crowds, bask in hot springs, see cherry blossoms, enjoy one of the many winter festivals, or even seek out snow in Taiwan. Moreover, much of the island actually remains warm in winter, so this may be ideal for anyone who wants to avoid the intense heat of spring and summer. If you decide winter is the best time to visit Taiwan, then embrace your decision, plan it well, and you will surely have a wonderful trip! Hi Nick, Love this blog. I got most of what I am looking for. Just wanted to ask, is the snow mountain accessible by car up to some place we could see some snow? Nobody in my family hikes, and I also have a 5 year-old who wants to experience snow. We are from a tropical country where the idea of snow is same as magic. Hi there, and thanks for your question! The best and perhaps only place to see snow by car in Taiwan is at Hehuanshan, also described in this article. You have to be a little lucky. Best of luck, and I hope you can make it! Thanks so much, your articles are most helpful and inspiring me to visit Taiwan! Just want to drop a message to thank you! This is a very informative blog! Keep blogging, I will be be back to for more. Happy Christmas to you and family! Taiwan Taiwan Obsessed new site! Related Posts. View this post on Instagram. Hope to get some answers from you soon! Have a great day! Katie Reply. Hi Nick, Just want to drop a message to thank you!

How to Visit Hehuanshan for Epic Sunrises, Hiking, and Snow

Buying snow Hualien

Hehuan area has been officially announced for To ensure smooth traffic flow and the safety of visitors during the snow season, Taroko National Park Headquarters and the Hualien and Nantou County governments will jointly implement the 'Mt. Hehuan area in accordance with the actual situation. The measures will be implemented on December 30, and cease on February 29, the enclosed period representing the dates of the snow season--and include the section of Provincial Highway 14A 14Jia between Dayuling and Cuifeng via Xiaofengkou, Mt. In addition, the enforcement of this policy will affect snow tourism during the Lunar New Year February 8 to February 14, as well as traffic during weekends. Specifically, the policy includes the following provisions: During the snow season, traffic control will be implemented when it snows or if there is significant snow accumulation. Traffic control will not be implemented in the absence of snow or snow accumulation. Hehuan Visitor Center, Wuling, Kunyang, and Yuanfeng , and traffic flow will depend on parking availability at each of the above landmarks, as well as the overall amount of traffic along the affected area of road. During the snow season, the road will be closed for snow ploughing in cases of heavy snow accumulation or ice present on the affection section of road. In these cases, only snowploughs and official vehicles are allowed within the section of traffic control, and the road is completely closed; all other vehicles including all types of heavy-duty vehicles are forbidden to enter this section of road. After the road has been cleared of snow and ice, vehicles fitted with snow chains will be provisionally allowed to enter subject to the current traffic controls. These factors include i the amount of snow currently accumulated; ii the current road situation; and iii whether the vehicle has 4-wheel drive capability. During periods of heavy snow accumulation or ice present on the affection section of road, vehicles holding 20 or more persons, as well as trucks weighing over 3. If snow is not accumulating on the road, traffic will be flexibly regulated according to the current conditions. If heavy snow accumulation or ice present on the affection section of road occur between pm to am the following day, the control measures will be subject to current conditions. Control measures may include the entire closure of the affected section of road. The traffic control measures for this period of time will be announced after pm on the affected day. The Wuling to Mt. Hehuan Visitor Center section of Provincial Highway 14A 14Jia in particular has sharp turns, and ice may easily form on the road. Do not park on the cliff side of the road to maintain smooth and safe traffic flow. Taroko National Park Mt. Hehuan Service Station reminds visitors that, whether coming to the Mt. Hehuan area specifically for snow tourism or simply passing through areas where snow has accumulated, to be warmly dressed. All vehicles must be appropriately equipped for snow conditions, and drivers should consider whether their vehicle in general is suitable or capable for these snow conditions e. Snow chains are essential for driving in snowy conditions, and they can be bought or hired. Drivers should be versed in attaching and removing snow chains, and should review these procedures prior to their journey. During the snow season, Mt. Hehuan Service Station will extend its interpretation and information services and has prepared a leaflet for visitors that contains safety information regarding cold weather when going to see the snow. Removing rubbish from the mountains is particularly difficult during the snow season. The Taroko National Park Headquarters calls on visitors to be responsible for their own rubbish and dispose of it properly when leaving the mountains to help keep Mt. Hehuan clean and beautiful. Skip to main content. Advanced Search. Facebook Plurk Twitter line Email. About the Park. Natural Resources. Tourism Information. Announcements and Regulations. Online Applications. Font Size. Home News News. Web page function. Related pictures. Return Top. Subject: Announcement for online application services during the Chinese New Year Free shuttle bus! No flags, brochures, or bottled water. Last Updated.

Buying snow Hualien