Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom: 2017 Taiwan Cherry Blossom Season Guide

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

As spring quietly arrives with flowers blooming everywhere, the cherry blossom season is also in full swing. Viewing cherry blossoms has always been one of Taiwan’s most beloved activities. Especially during this time of year, it’s also the peak travel season in Japan, with many tourists flocking there to admire the beauty of the cherry blossoms. Below is a guide to Taiwan’s cherry blossom season, allowing visitors to enjoy the gorgeous blossoms without having to travel to Japan.

● 2017 Wuling Farm Cherry Blossom Season
Location: Wuling Farm (No. 3-1, Wuling Road, Pingdeng Village, Heping District, Taichung City)
Dates: February 11 to February 28
During the cherry blossom season, Wuling Farm implements a daily visitor limit of 6,000 people, including 1,800 staying guests and 4,200 day-trippers. The day-trippers are further divided into 1,000 group ticket holders and 3,200 individual travelers using public transport. Staying guests must present a vehicle pass issued by Wuling Farm to enter. Group visitors book through Yilan County Government’s reservation platform and exchange for passes according to their registered time slots. Individual travelers using public transport can purchase tickets through ticketing channels provided by Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport and Fengyuan Bus to enter.

● 2017 New Taipei City Cherry Blossom Season
Locations: 29 districts in New Taipei City, including Wulai, Xindian, Shiding, Pinglin, Tamsui, and Xizhi
Dates: January 25 – End of March
Cherry blossoms can be found across all 29 districts of New Taipei City, but are most densely concentrated in Sanchi, Wulai, and Sanxia. There are also plenty in more remote areas such as Tamsui, Xizhi, Pinglin, Shiding, Ruifang, and Shuangxi. Urban areas including Sanchong’s Zhenxin Road, several parks in Xinzhuang, Zhonghe’s HONGLUDI, Banqiao’s Xinzhuang Special Zone, and Xindian’s Sunshine Sports Park also showcase “cherry red” blooms.

● 2017 Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (Nine Tribes) Cherry Blossom Festival
Location: Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (No. 45, Jintian Lane, Dalin Village, Yuchi Township, Nantou County)
Dates: February 2 to February 28
The Nine Tribes cherry blossom season kicks off on February 2. Now in its 17th year, over 5,000 cherry trees burst into bloom, painting the park’s hillsides pink. Strolling through the floral shower of cherry blossoms feels like stepping into the scene of a romantic movie. Visitors can also ride a traditional Japanese rickshaw from Asakusa, dress up in yukata, and enjoy the scenic views as if traveling back in time to Japan’s Edo period. The highlight of the Nine Tribes cherry blossom festival is the nighttime cherry blossom display — Taiwan’s premier night cherry viewing spot, dazzling and unforgettable.

● 2017 Alishan Cherry Blossom Season
Location: Alishan National Scenic Area (No. 59, Zhongzheng Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County)
Dates: Mid-March to mid-April
Every early spring, the mountains of Alishan are covered in spectacular seas of cherry blossoms, making the Alishan cherry blossom season an unmissable annual flower-viewing event that attracts countless visitors. The main varieties include mountain cherry, Yoshino cherry, and double-petal yaezakura. Strolling under the cherry trees and taking photos is a truly romantic experience. Within the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, Yoshino cherries are the most abundant, with over 1,900 trees. Taiwan mountain cherries rank second with about 1,780 trees, while double-petal yaezakura also number over 1,000. For cherry blossom viewing in Taiwan, Alishan is the top choice.