Pink cherry blossoms in full bloom！ 2016 Taiwan Cherry Blossom Season Guide

Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported

The closer spring gets, the stronger the urge to go cherry blossom viewing becomes！ Taiwanese people love cherry blossoms, especially since spring is the peak travel season to Japan every year, with many flocking there to admire the cherry blossoms. But if you can’t make it to Japan, don’t worry—there are also plenty of breathtaking cherry blossom spots in Taiwan. Take advantage of your weekend and go enjoy the beautiful blossoms together！

●2016New Taipei City Cherry Blossom Season

Location: 29 districts in New Taipei City including Wulai, Xindian, Shiding, Pinglin, Tamsui, and Xizhi

Dates: January 31 – mid-March

All 29 districts of New Taipei City have cherry blossoms, but the densest concentrations are in Sanzhi, Wulai, and Sanxia. More remote areas such as Tamsui, Xizhi, Pinglin, Shiding, Ruifang, and Shuangxi also have plenty. Urban areas including Sanchong’s Xinzhong Road, several parks in Xinzhuang, Zhonghe’s Honglutian, Banqiao’s Xinzhuang Special Zone, and Xindian’s Sunshine Sports Park all showcase “just-bloomed” cherry reds.

●2016Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Cherry Blossom Festival

Location: Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Dates: January 30 to March 5

In late January, the weeping cherries of the European Garden will be the first to bloom. In February, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village sees 5,000 “Formosan Hundredfold Cherries” bloom in succession. These double-petal pale pink cherry blossoms, created by grafting Taiwan mountain cherries (beni-shidare-zakura) onto yaezakura, gained fame and became a highlight of the festival. They were named “Formosan Hundredfold Cherries” by the village’s founder, Chang Jung-yi. A few Yoshino cherry trees of the Bunun tribe have also been particularly stunning in recent years. By late February, when most other blossoms have faded, the Fuji cherries along the Cherry Blossom Avenue begin to bloom. These pale pink blooms flower about half a month later, so the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Cherry Blossom Festival still offers cherry blossoms to enjoy in March.