【Friday Fun in Taiwan】Little Trip to View Cherry Blossoms in Greater Taipei

Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network

 

This season is when cherry blossoms bloom into smiling faces, as delicate pink petals gently drift down with the breeze—so romantic it leaves you spellbound. This week, before the holiday crowds arrive, plan a little cherry blossom getaway and create some memories of strolling through a blossom-filled forest.

Taipei City

 

Taipei City10Top Cherry Blossom Spots and Bloom Predictions

Location	Cherry Blossom Variety	Bloom Forecast	Transportation Info
Section 42, Pingjing Street	Hanami Cherry	Mid-January to Early February (Reference Dates: 1/20–2/5)	Transportation: Take bus 小19 to Pingdingshi Station or bus 303 to Zaizuiwei Station, then walk.
Taipei Water Treatment Plant (Siyuan Street)	River Camellia Cherry	Late January to Early February (Reference Dates: 1/28–2/10)	Transportation: Take the Xindian Line to Gongguan Station, exit at Exit 4, and walk about five minutes toward the intersection of Siyuan Street and Tingzhou Road.
Flower Research Center	Mountain Cherry	Late January to Early February (Reference Dates: 1/28–2/15)	Transportation: Take buses 260, 303, Red 5, or Royal Bus Jinshan Line to Shanzihou Police Station Stop, then walk about 3 minutes.
Yangmingshan Park Cherry Grove	Mountain Cherry	Early January to Mid-March (Reference Dates: 1/10–3/15)	Transportation info: Shiping Station, Jiantan Station (transfer to bus 260 District to First Parking Lot (Flower Clock) Station or bus 260, Red 5 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk along Section 2, Hushan Road for about 30 minutes), Beitou Station (transfer to bus Xiao 8, Xiao 9 to Yangmingshan Park Service Center Station or bus 230 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk along Section 2, Hushan Road for about 30 minutes)
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall	Mountain cherry blossoms	Early to late February (reference dates: 2/5–2/28)	Transportation info: Get off at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall MRT Station
Rear entrance of Fuxing High School	Mountain cherry blossoms	Early to mid-February to late February (reference dates: 2/8–2/20)	Transportation info: Get off at Xinbeitou MRT Station, walk to the intersection at No. 366, Zhonghe Street, Beitou District, turn right, enter Kaiming Street opposite the OK Mart, and look left at the first alleyway
National Security Bureau Green Space	Winter cherry blossoms	Early to mid-February (reference dates: 2/1–2/10)	Transportation info: Take bus 260, 303, Red 5, or Royal Bus Jinshan Line to Yan Shan Li Station, walk about 5 minutes
China Lily Hotel	Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms	Early to mid-February (reference dates: 2/2–2/15)	Transportation info: Take bus 260 or Red 5 to China Hotel Station and you will arrive
Yangmingshan Park Flower Clock Plaza	Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms	Early to mid-February (reference dates: 2/3–2/15)	Transportation info: Shiping Station, Jiantan Station (transfer to bus 260 District to First Parking Lot (Flower Clock) Station or bus 260, Red 5 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk along Section 2, Hushan Road for about 30 minutes), Beitou Station (transfer to bus Xiao 8, Xiao 9 to Yangmingshan Park Service Center Station or bus 230 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk along Section 2, Hushan Road for about 30 minutes)
Fuxing 3rd Road (Shangqing Temple Trail)	Mountain cherry blossoms	Mid- to late February (reference dates: 2/15–2/28)	Transportation info: Take the MRT to Beitou Station, transfer to bus Xiao 6 to Bai Gong Villa Station, and you will arrive
Yongjing Park	Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms	Mid- to late February (reference dates: 2/15–2/28)	Transportation info: Exit 1 of MRT Minquan West Road Station, walk about 5 minutes toward Zhongshan N. Road, then turn right and walk about 3 minutes
Yangmingshan Park Fountain	Sakura in the Showa Era	Mid to late February to early March (Reference dates: Feb 25 ~ Mar 10)	Transportation Info: Zhishan Station, Jiantan Station (Transfer to bus 260 District to First Parking Lot (Flower Clock) Station or bus 260, Red 5 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk about 30 minutes along Section 2 of Hu Shan Road), Beitou Station (Transfer to bus Xiao 8, Xiao 9 to Yangmingshan Park Service Center Station or bus 230 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk about 30 minutes along Section 2 of Hu Shan Road)
Yangmingshan Park Service Center	Yoshino Cherry	Early to mid March (Reference dates: Mar 1 ~ Mar 12)	Transportation Info: Zhishan Station, Jiantan Station (Transfer to bus 260 District to First Parking Lot (Flower Clock) Station or bus 260, Red 5 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk about 30 minutes along Section 2 of Hu Shan Road), Beitou Station (Transfer to bus Xiao 8, Xiao 9 to Yangmingshan Park Service Center Station or bus 230 to Yangmingshan Station, then walk about 30 minutes along Section 2 of Hu Shan Road)
Flower Experimental Center	Yoshino Cherry	Early to mid March (Reference dates: Mar 3 ~ Mar 15)	Transportation Info: Take bus 260, 303, Red 5, or Royal Bus Jinshan Line to Shanzihou Police Station Stop, then walk about 3 minutes

 

With the cold weather upon us and Lunar New Year just a week away, pink cherry blossoms flutter across the mountains. The winter sun makes the mountain cherry blossoms appear even more vibrant. This beautiful sight has once again ignited the annual cherry blossom fever. According to Facebook page “Flower Watching Bulletin,” the cherry blossoms along the Kanhao Stream in Xizhi have all bloomed, lining the riverbank with a refreshing view. Along the winding roads of Xilu’an in Wulai, 60–70% of the cherry trees are in bloom, while around 50–60% are blooming on trails such as the Taiji Ridge Trail in Tucheng, Section 7–9K of Beixin Road 19 in Shimen, and near the Qing Shan Waterfall in Sanxia’s Huayan Forest. It is estimated that by the end of January, over 60% of the mountain cherry blossoms across various areas will have bloomed. Notably, those along Xilu’an Road in Wulai, Kanhao Stream in Xizhi, Erge Trail in Shiding District, and the Taiji Ridge and Tonghua Parks in Tucheng District are already splendidly in full bloom.

And the previously non-public “Shiding Xiaogediao Nursery,” a hidden cherry blossom gem, is now open to the public daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM until January 26, with the last entry at 3:30 PM. From now until March 31, famous cherry blossom spots and hidden gems including Shiding Xiaogediao Nursery, Tamsui Tianyuan Temple, and Wulai Scenic Area will successively burst into full bloom. This year’s “2014 New Taipei Sakura Season – Cherry Blossom Mini Tour” also offers themed cherry blossom itineraries, such as urban blossom viewing, spiritual cherry blossom tours, and family-friendly outings. These include locations like: Zhonghe Tai Mao Yi Cun, Tucheng Hope River, Xizhi Qingxiu Temple, Shiding Wuji Tianming Temple, Ruifang Gold Museum, and Jinshan Zhongshan Hot Spring Park... among others. The event also includes photo contests, Cherry Blossom Princess voting, Valentine’s activities, hiking, guided expert talks, and cherry blossom crafts.

 

 

●  Further reading:

Cherry blossoms in Little Half-Day, Lugu80% in bloom — Now is the time to enjoy cherry blossoms in Nantou

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