Where to go for New Year’s Eve? Eight national scenic areas bid farewell to the sunset and welcome the dawn.

Written/Compiled and reported by the editorial team of MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network

This New Year’s Day features a four-day long holiday, with destinations across Taiwan competing to offer New Year’s Eve and dawn-welcoming events. How do you choose the best spot to bid farewell to the last sunset and greet the arrival of the new year? The Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has specially compiled information on sunset send-offs, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and dawn-welcoming activities held in eight scenic and beautiful national scenic areas, along with recommendations for nearby side trips, local delicacies, and souvenirs. It hopes the public will take advantage of the first long holiday of 2015 to plan their travel itineraries, bid farewell to the sunset, welcome the dawn, say goodbye to 2014, and make new year’s wishes.

According to data released by the Central Weather Bureau, the first sunrise on the main island appears at Sanxiantai in Taitung and Longpan Park in Hengchun, with sunrise at 6:35 AM. The Eastern Coast National Scenic Area Administration, Tourism Bureau, has specially arranged a performance by a local music and dance troupe combined with LED light effects at Sanxiantai to kick off the event, and has planned mystery activities to interact with visitors. Kenting National Park Administration also has a series of dawn-welcoming activities at Longpan Park in Kenting, led by the Jiutian Folk Arts Group to welcome the first sunrise together with the public.

Besides welcoming the first sunrise of Taiwan at Sanxiantai and Kenting, the public can also choose to take the Taiwan Railways’ Lucky Dawn Train to Fulong Beach in Northeast Coast to attend the Dawn Music Concert. During the long holiday, Longdong Four Seasons Bay is offering a 30% discount on hot springs and 50% off accommodation. Alternatively, you can head to Golden Dragon Mountain in Sun Moon Lake to welcome the dawn and attend the opening ceremony of the Chiang Kai-shek Guesthouse. Go to Alishan to join the “Sunrise Impression Concert,” listening to melodious music while admiring the beauty of the sun rising from the sea of clouds. You may also choose to wait for the “lowest altitude” sunrise and sea of clouds in Erliao, Zhen’an. At the century-old lighthouse in Juguang Township, Matsu, the public can participate in a dawn-welcoming flag-raising fun run event.

● Sunset Send-Offs 4. Limited edition Christmas Hope Cards available for the public to collect from now until December 31.

● New Year’s Eve 4. Dawn Likes Get Gifts (limited quantity)