Taiwan’s Largest Cherry Blossom Festival, the Jiuzi Cherry Blossom Festival, Begins

By MOOK Travel & Lifestyle Network Editorial Team
 
As the season of blooming cherry blossoms approaches, Taiwan’s largest cherry blossom event in 2016, the “Jiuzi Cherry Blossom Festival,” officially kicks off from January 30 to March 5 (Updated: The event has been extended to March 6). Throughout the area, weeping cherries are the first to bloom in the European Garden starting in late January. In February, around 5,000 “Jiuzi Hundredfold Cherry Trees” will take over the blooming spectacle. To enrich the cherry blossom viewing experience, the festival also features tea ceremonies, poetry exhibitions, musical performances, as well as Japanese kimono and rickshaw experiences, allowing visitors to Jiuzi Cultural Village to immerse themselves in the most breathtaking spring scenery.

The Jiuzi Cherry Blossom Festival was first held in 2001 as the “Sun Moon Lake Jiuzi Cherry Blossom Festival.” Now in its 15th edition, the festival is renowned for its large concentration of cherry blossom trees, which never fail to amaze both domestic and international visitors. It has successfully established its reputation and even helped popularize cherry blossom planting in Taiwan. Although cherry blossoms can now be found in many places, the Jiuzi Cherry Blossom Festival remains widely recognized as Taiwan’s longest-running, most culturally rich, and largest-scale cherry blossom event. In 2013, the festival earned recognition from the Japan Flower Association as an “Excellent Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot,” becoming the only overseas location certified by Japan as a “Cherry Blossom Viewing Destination.”

This year’s Jiuzi Cherry Blossom Festival begins on January 30. In addition to daytime cherry blossom viewing, night cherry blossom events will take place in the cherry blossom groves, cherry blossom lake, and cherry blossom avenues from January 30 to February 29, illuminated with festive lighting. Additionally, there will be a series of Japanese dance, music, and light show performances—making this a must-visit spring event.