2018 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival Cheat Sheet

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Taitung’s annual Hot Air Balloon Festival is here again. This year marks the seventh grand celebration of the Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival, where the hills are filled with colorful hot air balloons and spectacular light shows that attract crowds of visitors each year to celebrate together. These unique hot air balloons make for Instagram-worthy photos that can rival those taken in Turkey. We’ve compiled all the key details about this year’s event—dates, location, and transportation—so check them out right away.

Image source: Taitung Hot Air Balloon Event Website

The 2018 Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Festival is expected to run from June 30 to August 6. In addition to more than 30 internationally renowned hot air balloons and Taiwan-themed ones like the Heart Balloon and Welfare Bear Balloon, the Oh Bear Balloon will also make its debut. A total of 33 stunning hot air balloons will be on display, and tethered flights will be available to the public during the festival. For an experience comparable to Turkey’s, be sure to mark your calendar.

Additionally, the 2018 Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Festival will feature seven nightly balloon light music shows throughout the event. These concerts will offer different experiences, from nighttime ambiance to welcoming the dawn.

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As in previous years, the Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held at the Luye Gaotai Hot Air Balloon Launch Site in Taitung. The first step is, of course, getting to Taitung. You can choose to take the train or a bus to Taitung Railway Station, Luye Railway Station, or Taitung Transfer Station. As in past years, there will also be free shuttle buses to Luye Gaotai this year.

The shuttle bus will depart from Taitung Transfer Station, passing through Taitung Railway Station and Luye Railway Station before arriving at Luye Gaotai. While the schedule hasn’t been announced yet, in previous years, entry typically begins between 4:00 and 5:00 AM, with departure around evening. If the timing doesn’t work for you, consider taking a shared taxi. It costs a bit more but offers much more convenience.

For the light shows at the Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival, there are two types: sunrise and nighttime. Seven light shows will be held at popular attractions across Luye Township, Beinan Township, Chihshang Township, and Taimali, so no matter where you’re staying, you can plan your trip to catch one. The exact locations will be confirmed and updated on the official website once they’re announced—we’ll keep you posted.

Since you’re going to Taitung to see the hot air balloons, you’ll want to have a memorable and enjoyable experience. We’ve put together a few key tips for first-timers to help you plan your trip and avoid disappointment.

Hot air balloons only ascend and stay in the air during tethered flight times, so you won’t see balloons hovering above outside these designated hours. If you want that picture-perfect view of a sky full of balloons, be sure to check the tethered time schedule to avoid waiting unnecessarily.

For safety reasons, even though there are two tethered flight periods (morning and evening), balloon ascents depend on wind conditions. If the winds are too strong, flights may be delayed or canceled. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to go in the morning when the airflow and weather are more stable.

If you want to take in the full view of the balloons, head to the hillside side for the best vantage point. The grass is often wet with dew in the morning, so bring a picnic mat and try not to stand directly in front, as it can block the view for others behind you.

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Tickets for the 2018 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival are sold on-site only, with each session offering tickets for that specific day and time. Each person is limited to two tickets. Flights may be delayed or canceled due to unstable weather, and any updates will be posted on Facebook and the official website.

- Ticket Price: NTD 500 per person (regardless of age, 5–7 minute flight)
- Session 1: 5:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Ticket Sales Start: 5:00 AM
- Session 2: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Ticket Sales Start: 4:00 PM

1. All ages are welcome, but participants must be at least 110 cm tall.

2. Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by an adult.

3. Pregnant women are not allowed to ride the hot air balloon.

4. Individuals with health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, or acrophobia (fear of heights) should not ride for safety reasons.

5. Due to limited space in the basket, items other than cameras (such as large backpacks) must be handed over to staff for temporary safekeeping.

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In addition to the Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival, you can also use the “Taitung Fun Card,” launched in collaboration between the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Taitung County Government, to visit nearby places such as Chulu Ranch. Lie on the lush green grass, breathe in Taitung’s fresh air, or watch the herds of cattle roaming around. It’s a relaxing and leisurely way to enjoy a self-guided trip in Taitung.

In addition to its popular attractions, the LuYe Traverse Line also offers many fun local cultural experiences. Whether you want to ride a bike and stroll through Taitung, make seed pendants, leather carvings, or weaving crafts, or soak in one of Taitung’s hot springs, you can fully enjoy the beauty and culture of a Taitung self-guided trip.

When it comes to must-visit spots in Taitung, the rice-scented Beinan Bilon Trail is definitely not to be missed. That’s why the Taitung Fun Card has specially launched a combined route of the LuYe Traverse Line × Chi-Dao (Rice) Line bus, allowing travelers to take the bus from LuYe to Chi-Dao after exploring the former, then rent a bike from a partner shop to tour Chi-Dao and enjoy the breezy thrill of youth.

The Chi-Dao bike tour route also includes options for cultural experiences, such as making handmade soap at a soap workshop, DIY baking pizza in a wood-fired oven, or trying your hand at crafting indigenous handicrafts. This lets you explore all the highlights of Taitung while gaining a deeper understanding of local culture.

Authorized reprint from [Tripbaa – Asia Free Travel Expert] | Original article from [Come to Eastern Taiwan this summer for fun!2018 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival: Schedule, Location, and Ticket Guide]This article is authorized by Tripbaa in collaboration with ShopBack.

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