2015 Cherry Blossom Madness: A Guide to All Major Cherry Blossom Spots in Taiwan

Text / Compiled and Reported by the Editorial Team of MOOK Scenic Travel & Lifestyle Network

As the new year begins, anticipation for spring grows stronger, along with the eagerness to admire cherry blossoms and flowers in bloom. Influenced by Japan, the Taiwanese enthusiasm for cherry blossom viewing is no less fervent than Japan’s. By the time of the Lunar New Year holiday, many popular cherry blossom spots become packed with visitors. Plan ahead and check this year’s blooming schedule at each location to be fully prepared—don’t miss out on this beautiful season at all costs.

●2015Wuling Farm Cherry Blossom Season
Location: Wuling Farm
Dates: February 13–23 / February 27–March 1
Event Highlights:The Wuling Farm Cherry Blossom Festival officially kicks off from February 13 to 23 and again from February 27 to March 1.Daily visitor numbers will be capped at 6,000 to manage congestion. To alleviate the traffic issues experienced in previous years, this season’s Wuling Farm Cherry Blossom Festival includes pre-booked cherry blossom shuttle buses and crowd control measures for both individual and tour bus visitors—hoping to ensure you enjoy the blooms without the frustration of traffic jams.

 

●2015 Travel Along with the Blossoms New Taipei City’s “Nighttime Cherry Blossom Viewing”
Locations: Sanzhi, Pinglin, Wulai
Dates: January – March Event Content: This year, due to climatic influences, the flowering period of mountain cherry blossoms varies from previous years. Many are now starting to bloom beautifully. It is estimated that by the end of January, mountain cherry blossoms at Wulai Warriors’ Plaza and Shiding Erge Trail will be in full bloom. This will be followed by the blossoming of both mountain and some eight-petal cherry (Yaezakura) varieties along Sanzhi Dahulu Road and Linkou Zhulin Mountain Guanyin Temple in February. In March, you can enjoy the beauty of Yoshino cherry blossoms at Tamsui Tianyuan Temple, Sanzhi Sansheng Trail, and the Hope River in Shulin.

 

◎Romantic Night Sakura under Wulai Waterfall

Time: January 23 – 25, January 30 – February 1   

Venue: Wulai Warriors Square (in front of Wulai Waterfall)

All 29 districts in New Taipei City have cherry blossoms, but they are most densely found in Sanzhi, Wulai, and Sanxia; there are also many in more remote areas such as Tamsui, Xizhi, Pinglin, Shiding, Ruifang, and Shuangxi. Urban areas including Sanchong’s Zixin Road, several parks in Xinzhuang, Zhonghe’s Hongludi, Banqiao’s Xinzhuang Special Zone, and Xindian’s Sunshine Sports Park also showcase blooming “cherry red.”The Agriculture Bureau will pilot a night cherry blossom event in Wulai District this year, giving the public a chance to experience the unique beauty of cherry blossoms at night.