Tired of fireworks? Here are 10 ways to ring in the New Year — happiness without leaving the country!

▲ Green Island Sunrise Hot Springs. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Tourism Website)

▲ Golden Dragon Mountain Sunrise (Photo / Provided by Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration, Tourism Bureau, MOTC)

Reporter Yu Jiayun / Comprehensive Report

Sick of squeezing into countdown concerts every December 31? Watching fireworks on TV at home is just too cliché. This New Year’s Eve, step out of the bustling metropolis and start 2017 in the most unique place possible. Ring in good fortune with a bell at Hualien Qingshui Temple, or countdown with your closest friends around a campfire. The 10 ways to welcome the New Year listed below will make 2017 just as bright — even without fireworks!

Sun Moon Lake’s shimmering waters and mountain views
In 2015, over 3,000 people attended the Golden Dragon Mountain sunrise event. Enjoy the lake scenery at the Sun Moon Lake Pier, then hike up Golden Dragon Mountain for a close-up view of the Yuchi Basin and distant rolling mountains and sea of clouds. As the first light breaks, golden rays shine through the branches of Taiwan incense cedars onto the mountain ridges — an experience you’ll want to repeat year after year.

▲ Sun Moon Lake Waterside Trail. (Photo / From the “Rediscover. Dynamic Sun Moon Lake!” Facebook fan page)

Sunset and sunrise in Tainan
On the evening of the last day of 2016, head to Tainan’s Salt Pan to watch the sun set and enjoy the beautiful evening glow. Then go to Zuozhen Erliao, the lowest-altitude sunrise and sea of clouds viewing spot in Taiwan, to welcome the first light of 2017. After that, return to downtown Tainan for a street food adventure to kick off the new year!

▲ Erliao Sunrise. (Photo / From the Tainan City Tourism Bureau website)

Bell-ringing in Hualien and F-16 fighter jet takeoff
Want to slow down and reflect on the soul on the last day of 2016? Come to Hualien. Ring the bell 108 times at Qingshui Temple in Jian Township, Hualien, to pray for peace and smoothness in the coming year. Then head to Qixingtan, the most beautiful coastline in eastern Taiwan, and wait for the sunrise amid the waves. Watch handsome F-16 fighter jets streak across the dawn sky — it’ll be an unforgettable sunrise scene.

Sunrise watching at Sanxiantai and Taimali in Taitung
Taitung is always a hotspot for those chasing the first light of the year. The iconic eight-arch bridge at Sanxiantai, bathed in the light of new hope, has captivated visitors in recent years, turning it into a major “sunrise chasing” destination. Taimali, known as the “Land of the Rising Sun,” features the “Sunrise Welcome Memorial Park,” a must-visit spot for pilgrims. Whether under the pavilion in the Millennium Sunrise Park or strolling along the beach, gaze out at the Pacific Ocean to watch the sunrise, take in the vast seas, and feel the harmony between mountains, sea, and humanity — it’s the ultimate life experience.

▲ Sunrise in Eastern Taiwan (Photo / Provided by Wu Dongjun)

Sunrise at Green Island Underwater Hot Springs
Who wants to watch concert fireworks on TV when you can soak in an open-air hot spring while watching the sunrise? Green Island’s Sunrise Hot Springs is a rare underwater hot spring. Besides greeting the sunrise, stargazing at night is also incredibly romantic. Soak in the warm springs, listen to the ocean waves, and enjoy a relaxing island-style hot spring experience.

▲ Green Island Sunrise Hot Springs (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government)

A cozy camping trip in Wuling
Getting away from the hustle and bustle to welcome the New Year in nature’s embrace is a great option. Pitch a tent at Wuling Farm, chat and sing around a campfire with family and friends until the sunlight lights up the Snow Mountain Range. During the day, you can also admire plum blossoms and take leisurely walks in the campsite — peaceful and relaxing!

▲ “Plum”-good times at Wuling Farm. (Photo / By reporter Lee Anjun)

Auspicious sunrise at Alishan
The sunrise at Alishan has always been a favorite spot among tourists. Watching the sunrise atop the high mountains is especially moving. Every year, the “Alishan Sunrise Impression Concert” uses Alishan’s natural environment as its backdrop, accompanied by the soothing sounds of orchestral music. It plays throughout the night for those who stay up to wait, ending with the final movement as the first sunlight emerges above Jade Mountain.

▲ The lucky first ray of sunlight at Alishan. (Photo / By reporter Hong Shengyi)

Kenting — the city that never sleeps
Kenting isn’t just a summer water playground. During the New Year’s countdown, it transforms into Taiwan’s southernmost city that never sleeps. Visitors can first head to Guanshan to watch the final sunset of 2016, enjoy the festive atmosphere on Kenting Night Market at night, and then head to Longpan Park in the early morning to welcome the first light.

Sunrise excitement in the Northeast Coast
Want to scream on the beach with celebrities and passionately welcome the New Year? Head to Fulong Beach in Taiwan’s Northeast Coast to attend the “Welcome the Sunrise, Win at First” Music Festival for an ultra-high-energy countdown night. The event kicks off in the early hours, with artists and performance groups taking turns on stage, partying all the way until the first light appears. It’s perfect for celebrating with close friends.

Taiwan’s Highest and Clearest New Year's Eve Countdown
Nantou’s Qingjing isn’t just a popular tourist destination for international visitors—the high altitude of 2,000 meters also makes it Taiwan’s best spot for stargazing. The annual New Year’s Eve celebration held on December 31st has become the highest-altitude countdown in Taiwan. You can choose to join the crowds in a loud countdown, or casually find an open space to step into 2017 under a sky full of stars.