Cold wave brings low temperatures, 50% of plum blossoms bloom in Niumling, Tainan — a great weekend for flower viewing

A cold wave has arrived, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures. Plum blossoms on Niumling in Nansi, Tainan, are now in full bloom, with about 50% of the flowers open. The weekend is expected to be a great time for flower viewing. The Agriculture Bureau and the Management Committee of the Niumling Leisure Agriculture Area held a press conference to invite the public to head up the mountain. (Photo by Chuang Yao-tsung)

Niumling in Nansi, Tainan, is located at a mid-to-high altitude and offers different sceneries throughout the year. Farmers on the mountain grow many plum trees, and in winter, the blossoms cover the hillsides. Sometimes accompanied by cascading clouds, and with the nearby Zengwen Reservoir, the area boasts breathtaking views. "Plum Blossoms Against Snow" is hailed as one of southern Taiwan’s scenic highlights and is an important destination for plum blossom appreciation. With the recent cold wave and sudden temperature drop, nearly 50% of the blossoms have opened, making it a good time to enjoy the flowers before Lunar New Year.

Plum blossoms on Niumling start blooming from the higher-altitude areas above 800 meters and gradually spread downward. Some early blooms appeared as early as December last year. Initially, due to the warm winter, the flowering was not as expected, and those wishing to see the blossoms had to hike up the mountain. During the New Year holiday, the blossoms were still sparse. Unexpectedly, this wave of low temperatures has accelerated the blooming process, bringing both surprise and delight.

Kuo Fu-wen, secretary-general of the Nansi Farmers' Association, said that the arrival of a strong cold front and the drop in temperature are beneficial for blooming. However, intermittent rain in the previous days caused many flowers to fall. As the weather clears up, the plum blossoms continue to bloom. This week is expected to be the best time for the public to go up the mountain to admire the plum blossoms. Kuo expressed hope that the plum blossoms will bloom and bear fruit successfully, bringing a good harvest to farmers.

Hsu Han-ching, director of the Agriculture Bureau, said that since 2000, Nansi Niumling has been designated as a leisure agriculture area, replacing the previously planted bananas. Farmers have turned to planting plum trees, which have been successfully promoted and have become a major feature of the area. In recent years, coffee has also been widely planted, gradually becoming established and emerging as another representative crop after plums, driving the development of leisure agriculture in the surrounding areas.

Huang Kuei-chen, chairperson of the Management Committee of the Niumling Leisure Agriculture Area, said that there are several concentrated areas for plum blossom viewing, including Er层坪 (Er Cengping), Wulong Trail, Zhuzaiji, and Beishizi, covering a total of 150 hectares. There are more than 10 varieties of plum blossoms, such as "Shita," "Taomei," and "Qingshan." Due to the influence of the warm winter, the floral display was sparse at the end of December. With the arrival of this cold wave, flowers have bloomed everywhere, and looking out over the mountains is like seeing a field of pristine white snow — truly beautiful. The public is welcome to come and admire the blossoms.