Want to see the cherry blossoms at Tamsui Tianyuan Temple? Now’s the time to go—strolling through a pink wonderland is pure romance.

Text & photos byDouglas Fang

Due to my place of residence, I often find it hard to witness the full bloom of cherry blossoms in northern Taiwan during spring. I usually have to rely on Facebook groups or news reports to check the blossom conditions. Even when traveling to the north, I can only gauge the flower status this way.

After all, I can’t just make a special trip up north solely for cherry blossoms—though I’d love to, budget and transportation constraints mean I always hope the blossoms will be as stunning and lush as the photos online when I arrive.

This northern Taiwan trip included two cherry blossom spots: Pingjing Street Lane 42 and Tamsui Tianyuan Temple. Unlike the lackluster blooms at Pingjing Street Lane 42 the day before, the tri-color cherry blossoms on the back hill of Tianyuan Temple were simply breathtakingly beautiful. (Read more:【Travelogue │ Taipei Shilin】Pingjing Street Lane 42 / Secret Cherry Blossom Spot ~ (Updated as of Feb. 6, 2017))

During the holiday period, about 50% of the tri-color cherry blossoms on the back hill of Tianyuan Temple had already bloomed. Based on that, I figured the timing of my visit would be just right—at their peak. Currently, the blooming cherry blossoms here are the tri-color ones, whose petals display three distinct hues: pale pink, pink, and dark red. As the name suggests, other varieties like Yoshino cherry blossoms won’t bloom until mid-to-late March. By then, Tianyuan Temple will have traffic controls during the cherry blossom season—meaning it’ll be packed with people.

After getting off the bus and walking toward Tianyuan Temple, there’s a layout map of the temple grounds. The currently blooming tri-color cherry blossoms are located in the small area behind the main altar, while the rest of the cherry trees haven’t bloomed yet and are still in bud. Judging by the scale on the map, if all the cherry blossoms around the altar were in full bloom, the scene would undoubtedly be an explosion of pink!!!

During the cherry blossom season, Tianyuan Temple offers shuttle buses, and there are also regular buses available on weekdays. Take the MRT to Tamsui Station, then walk to the bus stop opposite the station and take the Tamsui Bus lines 875, 876, 877, or 866—all of which go to Tianyuan Temple.

When visiting Tianyuan Temple to admire the cherry blossoms and take photos, be sure to capture shots of the blossoms with the main altar in the background—the back hill’s cherry grove is perfect for this. The best time for photos is in the morning, when the light is frontal. By afternoon, the backlighting makes the photos less appealing. In the sunlight, the cherry blossoms’ colors are most vibrant, complemented by the greenery of the back hill and the clear blue skies of good weather.

The back hill area isn’t small, and there are quite a lot of cherry trees. Beyond the blossoms, it’s also a great place for a stroll.

Tianyuan Temple
Address: No. 36, Section 3, Beixin Road, Shuili Village, Tamsui District, New Taipei City

Douglas Fang — Explore the world with me: food discoveries, scenic explorations, and visual storytelling.