2018 Not Boring！Watch the Sunset, Ring in the New Year, and Welcome the First Light—The Ultimate Lazy Guide to National Scenic Areas Across Taiwan

▲First light welcome events are being held across Taiwan. According to data from the Central Weather Bureau’s Astronomical Observatory, the earliest sunrise in 2018 will occur at Sanxiantai in Taitung and Longkeng in Kenting. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Bureau)

Reported by Lai Wen-hsuan / Taipei

As 2017 winds down and 2018 approaches, various regions across Taiwan are rolling out sunset-watching, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and first light welcome events. The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has specially compiled information on themed activities within the national scenic areas, as well as recommended nearby attractions, local cuisine, and souvenir options. The bureau hopes the public will make the most of the first long holiday of 2018 by planning a trip and setting new year’s resolutions.

Those wishing to catch the last sunset of 2017 can head to the Beimen Salt Fields in Tainan to watch the sun dip below the horizon amid large colorful salt landscapes, or visit the Fishermen's Island Lighthouse in Siyu Township, Penghu, where they can bid farewell to the final sunset of the year while enjoying a grassland concert.

▲From the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center in New Taipei, you can see the 2018 Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks in the distance. (Photo / File photo / Taken by reporter Lee Yu-kang)

For those looking to join in New Year’s Eve celebrations, those in the north can head to the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center in New Taipei to enjoy music while watching the Taipei 101 fireworks. In central Taiwan, visitors can choose to go to Lishan, the highest-altitude destination in Taiwan, for year-end festivities. In addition to watching indigenous dance performances, they can also soak in hot springs in Guguan to welcome the new year. Meanwhile, those in southern Taiwan can attend the Donggang New Year’s Eve party in Pingtung, enjoying Donggang cuisine while watching fireworks reflected on the beautiful waters of Dapeng Bay.

First light welcome events are also being held in six national scenic areas. According to the Central Weather Bureau’s Astronomical Observatory, the first light of the new year on the main island will appear at Longkeng in Pingtung and Sanxiantai in Taitung. Among these, the beach at Sanxiantai is the most popular spot for eastern Taiwan residents to welcome the first light. Join the曙光 Ocean Music Concert to greet the first ray of happiness on the main island.

▲%Add? Hard 018 First Light, the Tourism Bureau’s scenic areas are hosting related events. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Bureau)

Residents in northern Taiwan can head to Fulong Beach in the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area to attend a first light music concert, while also exploring nearby attractions such as the Old Caoling Circular Bike Ride and the Sandiao Cape Lighthouse Hiking Trail. Those in central Taiwan can visit Golden Dragon Mountain in Sun Moon Lake, hiking through sea-of-cloud-covered mountains and waiting for the first light of 2018 to emerge amid morning melodies to welcome the new year.

Those in southern Taiwan can go to Alishan to attend the “Sunrise Impression Concert,” featuring performances by the National Taiwan Youth Symphony Orchestra, soprano Hsu Ching-chun, and tenor Nan Hsien-tien. Together, they will perform classic songs and folk tunes that tell the stories of Taiwan and the Tsou people, delivering a high-altitude, high-quality, high-standard “triple-high” concert.

▲Tainan’s Erliau is the lowest-altitude spot for welcoming the first light in Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Bureau)

For those who don’t want to trek long distances, Tainan’s Erliau—the lowest-altitude first light spot in Taiwan—offers a great alternative. Standing on the excellent vantage point of the Sunrise Viewing Platform, you can take in the poetic, ever-changing sea of clouds and greet the first light of 2018.

There are also related activities in the outlying islands. Visitors can head to the Beigan War and Peace Memorial Park in Matsu to enjoy exciting musical performances with enthusiastic soldiers and welcome the new year’s sunrise. They can then participate in a flag-raising ceremony and an energetic fun run to embrace 2018 with health and smiles.

*Details on related activities, transportation information, and weather updates can be found on the Taiwan Tourism Information Network (http://taiwan.net.tw), the Central Weather Bureau, or the websites of the relevant national scenic area administration offices.