Visiting Taiwan in Winter
In Taiwan, winter typically lasts from December to March. The winter months of January and February are the most intense. Taiwan"s climate is predominantly subtropical, with pockets of tropical climate in the south, due to its placement on the Tropic of Cancer.
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Taiwan"s winter weather varies as it is an Island and its strategic geographic placement. The warmer it becomes the further south you travel, and vice versa. The average temperature in Taipei and other northern Taiwanese cities is roughly 15°C, but it drops significantly during cold spells, which usually occur in January. Winter temperatures in southern places such as those surrounding Kenting National Park, on the other hand, rarely drop below 20°C. The average temperature ranges between 15°C and 20°C, which is a refreshing break from the 30°C+ temperatures experienced during other times of the year. Every year, thousands of tourists go to Taiwan to experience the winter weather.
Taiwan"s winters are often colder than most visitors anticipate. Fog, gloomy skies, and chilly temperatures are common in Taiwan"s winter weather, especially in the north. Taiwanese winters aren"t as snowy as they are in other parts of the world.
Events and Popular Places to Explore
Taiwan has a variety of celebrations and holidays in the winter. It"s a festival and event-packed season. Besides the popular festivals and events like the Taiwan Lantern Festival, which takes place on the night of the first full moon of the lunar year. The "Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival" is the second biggest New Year"s Eve celebration in the world. For many Taiwanese, the sight of sky lanterns ascending slowly into the sky is a wonderful memory and the start of happiness and dreams. Each year, the Lantern Festival takes place in a new city and lasts around a week.
After 20 years, the Taiwan Lantern Festival has returned to Kaohsiung. For the first time, the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung in 2022 will be held in two locations: River Bay and Weiwuying, and it"s an event you shouldn"t miss. You"ll see the most cutting-edge land, sea, and air curation, as well as the most cutting-edge display technologies.12 million people are expected to attend the Taiwan Lantern Festival in 2022.
Another event is the Christmasland in New Taipei City, Taiwan"s largest winter celebration and not to forget the Beauty Butterfly Festival, held from November until March. During the Maolin Biennial Butterfly Beauty Festival, you can enjoy a variety of fascinating activities like the Dona Harvest Festival, Maolin Lukai Butterfly Green Market, and the Purple Butterfly Biking Tour.
The recommended places for you to explore in winter and plan a trip to Taiwan are Yanmingshan National Park, Jiufen, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and Yehliu Geopark, which are all popular tourist destinations in Taiwan during the winter break.
Sun Moon Lake can be frigid in the winter, but it is equally stunning when the sky is clear. You can witness one of Taiwan"s most breathtaking views and take a ride on Taiwan"s largest body of water, get a glimpse of tiny Lalu Island suspended in the middle, and enjoy the abundance of hiking and bike trails.
In Taichung and Kaohsiung, you can witness stunning, world famous firework displays and performances. In the winter, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom as early as late January, and the peak blooming season is in February.
Taiwan is one of the top 15 hot spring destinations in the world, with a wide range of springs to choose from. What better way to spend your winter than visiting a variety of hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs?
Taiwan can boast of having one of the largest concentrations and widest ranges of hot springs in the world, many of which are located in stunning natural settings. There are over a hundred hot springs to select from. Beitou Hot Springs, Ruisui Hot Springs, Hualien Hongye Hot Springs, and Wulai Hot Springs are all worth seeing. These hot springs are not only safe and drinkable, but they are also frequently used in spas and resorts, which are beneficial to our overall health.
You can choose from spending time enjoying the festivals, events or simply indulging in activities like skiing or hiking or a day at the hotspring or spa. The options are plenty to select for you to enjoy in Taiwan.
Winter Delicacies to Keep You Warm
Food, according to Taiwanese culture, can be used to heal the body. Doctors even recommend certain fruits and vegetables in the recipes. As a result, every cuisine served in Taiwan is not only delicious, but also nutritious and wholesome.
You"ll be spoilt for options when it comes to the best winter foods. Frequently, this means fatty, soupy, and flavourful foods to savour. During the winter, steaming Taiwanese soups and stews are provided everywhere to keep people warm. Chicken soup with sesame oil is one of the most popular. It"s cooked with a lot of sesame oil, ginger slices, and chicken.
In Taiwan, ginger duck soup is so popular that restaurants that serve it have become chains. You must taste the "Numbing and Spicy" Hotpot; this addicting, hot meal is by far Taiwan"s most popular winter dish. Many families in Taiwan enjoy Sweet Sticky-Rice-Ball Soup. The sticky, sweet sesame or peanut paste-filled glutinous rice balls represent family love and unity.
Besides the soups, you can enjoy your winter evenings in Taiwan by sipping on a hot cup of Taiwanese tea like the Alishan Oolong Tea or the world famous bubble tea, the insanely popular Taiwanese drink that"s taken the world by storm in recent years.
The best part about Taiwanese winters is that there are so many things to do that you are spoiled for choice.
Taiwan, noted for its efficient handling of the COVID virus, has been praised for its efforts in piquing the interest of travellers in learning more about the place to visit after the borders are opened as people adjust to their new regular way of life. Taiwan has proven to be the frontrunners in managing this virus, as the issue is still under control and all regulations are being followed. Hopefully Taiwan will soon welcome tourists to this beautiful North-East Asian country.
Before planning any international travel, please review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.