The Hualien International Hot Air Balloon Festival Kicks Off for Summer Solstice — Official Launch Begins June 22

Tourism Center / Reported from Taipei

The “2013 Hualien Soaring Season International Hot Air Balloon Festival” is back and soaring high again. Starting tomorrow (June 22) through September 1, this 72-day hot air balloon event will be held at the Dafongdafu Plain Forest Park in Hualien. The opening ceremony tomorrow afternoon is expected to feature light aircraft aerobatic performances, paragliding displays, and hot air balloon flights. On-site registration will be available for the public to experience a free hot air balloon ride and enjoy the thrilling sensation of soaring above the valley plains.


▲ Dafongdafu Plain Forest Park is located in the heart of the valley plains and is an ideal location for hot air balloon activities. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

Dafongdafu Plain Forest Park, situated in the prime area of the valley plains, boasts vast open land, convenient transportation, and stable airflow, making it highly suitable for hot air balloon activities. It can also enrich the recreational offerings in the Huatung Valley region and establish Hualien as a “sky tourism destination” for ultralight flight experiences, positioning the Hualien Soaring Season as a new landmark for promoting travel in Hualien and the Huatung Valley.

This year’s 2013 Hualien Soaring Season International Hot Air Balloon event, organized by the Hualien County Government, will take place at the Dafongdafu Plain Forest Recreation Area, where over ten hot air balloons will be available for visitors to ride. The key to a successful launch lies in the weather — wind speed must not exceed 10 meters per hour, flights are not allowed in winds above force four or during rain, and temperatures should not surpass 28 degrees Celsius. As such, timing is crucial, and organizers must seize the golden window for lift-off.


▲ The 2013 Hualien Soaring Season International Hot Air Balloon event will feature over ten hot air balloons available for public rides. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)