Flowers kick off a healing vacation: cherry blossom showers and tulip seas—3 must-visit floral spots this spring

▲Spring is near, with floral seas in full bloom across Taiwan. (Photo/Taipei City Government Public Works Bureau Water Resources Engineering Office)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

After chasing autumn foliage and admiring snow, the warm and blooming days of spring are finally here. In this season of vibrant blooms, it’s the perfect time to take a holiday getaway. The romantic shower of cherry blossoms and the charming seas of tulips can truly heal the soul. Below, Ettoday Travel Cloud recommends three must-visit floral spots across northern, central, and southern Taiwan in spring—let the fragrance of flowers launch your romantic vacation.

Taipei | Riverside Floral Sea

Besides the Yangmingshan Flower Festival, there are also many beautiful floral seas at Taipei’s riverside parks. If you’d rather not crowd Yangmingshan, cycling and flower viewing along the riverside is a delightful alternative. The cosmos flowers at Zhongzheng Riverside will bloom from the 228 Holiday through mid-March. Banqiao Ting also offers a cosmos flower sea to admire, while the floral seas at Daonan and Rainbow Riverside are nearing their end.

▲Cosmos flower sea at Banqiao Ting Memorial Park. (Photo/Taipei City Government Public Works Bureau Water Resources Engineering Office)

Zhongzheng Riverside Floral Sea: Near Zhongzheng Bridge

Transportation Info:
1. Bus: Take bus routes 5, 214, 227, 241, 242, 243, 248, 249, 250, 262, etc., and get off at “Ziqiang Market.” Walk to Zhongzheng Bridge to enter Zhongzheng Riverside Park.

Taichung | Tulip Floral Sea

▲The tulip season at Zhongshe Sightseeing Flower Market runs through the end of March. (Photo/Screenshot from theZhongshe Sightseeing Flower Marketofficial fan page)

The annual tulip season at Zhongshe Sightseeing Flower Market in Houli, Taichung’s rear area, is now in full, splendid bloom. With 200,000 tulips imported from Europe spanning up to 40 varieties, it feels like stepping into a European-style garden. This year, the rare black tulip “Queen of the Night” has been specially introduced—you can enjoy a romantic floral seascape without flying all the way to the Netherlands. In addition, the garden also features noble lilies, Dutch irises, and European daffodils, plus a six-hectare colorful flower field that is absolutely worth a visit.

▲This year’s special rare black tulip—Queen of the Night. (Photo/Screenshot from the Zhongshe Sightseeing Flower Market official fan page)

Zhongshe Sightseeing Flower Market
Address: No. 333, Section 5, Sanyou Road, Houli District, Taichung City
Opening Hours: 8:00–18:00
Tulip Season Dates: December 28, 2016 – End of March 2017

Alishan Cherry Blossom Season

▲Gather your friends and head up the mountain to admire cherry blossoms. Alishan’s floral season has romantically arrived. (Photo/Taken from theStrolling Through the Clouds at Alishanofficial fan page)

Alishan’s cherry blossom season attracts large numbers of travelers to the mountains each year to admire the blossoms. When in full bloom, the mountain is covered with stunning pink cherry blossoms. Within the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, Yoshino cherry trees are the most numerous, with over 1,900 trees, followed by Taiwan mountain cherries, and there are also thousands of yaezakura. It’s a top destination for cherry blossom enthusiasts. This year’s Alishan Flower Season will grandly open from March 10 to April 10.

▲Traffic control will be implemented during Alishan’s cherry blossom season in March. (Photo/Taken from the Strolling Through the Clouds at Alishan official fan page)

Control Period: On weekends during the flower season (March 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26—total of 6 days). For the Chiayi end, small vehicles are restricted from 6:00–11:00 AM, and large buses from 6:00 AM–12:00 PM. For the Nantou end, restrictions apply from 7:00–11:00 AM.
Restricted Section: From km 65.5 at Hudi on Provincial Highway 18 (Chiayi end) to the Tatachia section on Provincial Highway 21 (Nantou end). Except for those with relevant documentation or special circumstances (such as weddings, funerals, or celebrations), small vehicles are prohibited.