Chase the first ray of sunlight in 2017！ Taiwan’s earliest sunrise at 6:33 AM appears on Orchid Island

▲ Besides celebrating the new year, chasing the first ray of sunlight has become quite trendy in recent years. The moment when you see the sun slowly rise is truly moving. (Photo / Provided by the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Chasing the first light of the new year has become a popular activity in recent years. Popular spots to catch the first sunrise include Sanxiantai in Taitung and the Northeast Coast, and many people are likely gearing up for it. The Central Weather Bureau announced that the earliest sunrise on New Year’s Day 2017 will be on Dongqing in Orchid Island, Taitung. The earliest sunrise on the main island’s plains will be at Longkeng in Kenting, Pingtung. Those planning to chase the earliest sunrise of 2017 should definitely prepare in advance！

As the new year approaches, celebrating New Year’s Eve and welcoming the first light are essential rituals for many to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. Past popular sunrise-chasing spots have included Taimali in Taitung, Sanxiantai, Jinxuelong Mountain in Nantou, the Northeast Coast in New Taipei, and Qixingtan in Hualien. Watching the sun slowly rise from the horizon is an incredibly moving sight—even if the weather is freezing cold, your heart feels warm.

According to the Central Weather Bureau, the first ray of sunlight in 2017 will appear at 6:33 AM at Dongqing in Orchid Island, Taitung. If you want to greet the first sunrise of January 1st, consider making a quick trip to Orchid Island for a mini vacation. The earliest sunrise on the main island’s plains will be at Longkeng in Kenting, Pingtung, just two minutes later than Orchid Island, appearing at 6:35 AM.

The timing of sunrise and sunset refers to the moment when the upper edge of the sun is observed to intersect with the horizon from a flatland vantage point. If the observer is at a high elevation or if the direction of the sunrise or sunset is obstructed by mountain ridges, the timing may be earlier or later.

Aside from chasing the first light, the last sunset of 2016 is also quite captivating. Data from the weather bureau shows that the latest sunset on December 31st will be on Taiping Island at 6:12 PM. Meanwhile, the latest sunset on the main island of Taiwan will be in Anping, Tainan, Sizihwan in Kaohsiung, and Guanshan in Pingtung, all at 5:25 PM.