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【Friday Fun in Taiwan】Pandas, Cherry Blossoms & Hot Travel Tips for the 228 Holiday

Published: 2026-09-24 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-24 — The long-awaited 228 holiday has finally arrived！ During this three-day break, in addition to the exhibition of 1,600 paper pandas at Taipei’s Civic Square, the peak bloom season at Yangmingshan and the best time to admire the cherry blossoms at Aowanda Wushe are also not-to-be-missed seasonal highlights...

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

The long-awaited 228 holiday has finally arrived！ During this three-day break, in addition to the exhibition of 1,600 paper pandas at Taipei’s Civic Square, the peak bloom season at Yangmingshan and the best time to admire the cherry blossoms at Aowanda Wushe are also seasonal events you shouldn’t miss. In addition, the Alishan Forest Railway has added extra trains for the 228 holiday, and the new yacht route at Kaohsiung’s Hongmaogang Cultural Park set sail today (the 28th). As for the first-ever 2013 FORMOSA Sculpture Biennale, it will draw to a close in just two days. Netizens who haven’t decided how to spend the holiday, hurry up and plan your itinerary！

Plan a series of exciting activities for the 228 holiday！ (Photo by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin)

“1600 Pandas World Tour—Taipei” Debuts

The large-scale outdoor installation exhibition “1600 Pandas World Tour—Taipei,” jointly organized by the Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau and Left Brain Creative Marketing, will open in Taipei on February 28. The exhibition will be divided into two phases: the first phase will be held at Civic Square, where the Taipei City Government has also planned the “Bears Are Worth Seeing” project. Not only will there be cute paper panda sculptures, but the exhibition area will also be decorated with a variety of flowers and green panda sculptures, complemented by lighting in the evening to create a beautiful light show. The second phase will be held at the National Theater and Concert Hall Plaza, where 200 specially made paper sculptures of the Formosan black bear for the Taipei event will make their first appearance.

Dates: First phase from February 28 to March 9, second phase from March 14 to March 30 Locations: Civic Square, National Theater and Concert Hall Plaza

This is a composite illustration. The highly anticipated paper panda exhibition will open today (the 28th) at Civic Square. (Image provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Yangmingshan Flower Season in Full Bloom

From now until March 9, the 2014 Yangmingshan Flower Season features a myriad of blooming flowers throughout various themed spots in Yangmingshan Park, including the Flower Clock, fountains, cherry blossom areas, the visitor center, and the statue of Wang Yangming. Two major highlights that always draw crowds each year are the “Yoshino Cherry Explosion” in front of the visitor center and the “White Narcissus Field” near the pond at Hushan Green Space, where over 8,000 narcissus flowers bloom simultaneously, filling the air with a rich fragrance. Currently, the blooms are about 50–60% open, and they are expected to reach their peak from now until February 28.

Dates: Flower Season activities from now until March 9

Locations: Themed spots throughout Yangmingshan Park

Yangmingshan Flower Season highlights—Yoshino cherries and narcissus in full bloom. (Image source / from the Yangmingshan Flower Season Facebook page)

Aowanda Wushe Cherries Enter Peak Blooming Season

The cherry blossom season at Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area, managed by the Nantou Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau, has reached its final climax. The office reports that the Somei Yoshino cherries are nearing the end of their bloom, leaving behind a carpet of fallen pink petals, while Taiwan’s smallest and rarest native white cherry species—the Wushe cherry—is currently in full bloom. It is estimated that the best time to view the Wushe cherries will last until early March.

Dates: Best viewing period from now until early March

Location: Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area

Wushe cherries at Aowanda are currently in full bloom. (Image source / from the official website of Nantou Forest District Office)

Alishan Forest Railway Adds Extra Trains

To accommodate the increased passenger flow during the 228 consecutive holidays, the Alishan Forest Railway has scheduled additional passenger trains on specific dates. On February 28, one additional round-trip Alishan train will operate, departing Chiayi Station at 9:30 AM and arriving at Fenchihu Station at 11:50 AM, then departing Fenchihu Station at 1:30 PM and arriving back at Chiayi Station at 3:50 PM. On March 1 and 2, for two consecutive days, one additional non-reserved round-trip Zhongxing air-conditioned express train will run daily, departing Chiayi Station at 8:30 AM and arriving at Fenchihu Station at 10:50 AM, then departing Fenchihu Station at 1:30 PM and arriving back at Chiayi Station at 3:50 PM.

Dates: February 28, and March 1 and 2

In response to the 228 holiday, the Alishan Forest Railway will add extra passenger trains. (Image provided by JERRY YANG)

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