Funba
Festivals are inseparable from life. In Taiwan, there are all kinds of festivals throughout the four seasons. In recent years, music festivals, fireworks shows, and art seasons have been especially diverse. When the cool breeze of autumn and winter arrives, it's perfect for heading outdoors to enjoy some fun, and taking part in water activities is also a great choice. Below, we’ll introduce the 2018 second-half Taiwan festivals × autumn–winter water activities — come take an autumn–winter trip!
Sun Moon Lake Fireworks Carnival
When it comes to fireworks festivals, most people in Taiwan would first think of the Penghu Fireworks Festival, but actually, the Sun Moon Lake Fireworks Festival has been running for ten years and draws huge crowds every year. This year’s festival runs from 9/7 to 11/17, with seven scheduled fireworks displays. Although the exact locations vary slightly each time, you can still enjoy the spectacular sight of fireworks reflecting over Sun Moon Lake — a truly dazzling and romantic scene.
Event period: 9/29–11/17
Taiwan Festivals × Autumn–Winter Water Activity Idea — 2018 Sun Moon Lake Come!Bikey Fireworks Display Schedule & Locations. (Image / Sun Moon Lake Official Website)
Of course, what everyone cares about most is “when are the fireworks?” Just save this image from the Sun Moon Lake official website and you won’t forget the dates. Plus, you can plan your Sun Moon Lake itinerary around the fireworks display schedule and location!
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One “limited-time activity” closely tied to the Sun Moon Lake Fireworks Festival is the Sun Moon Lake Bike Ride Around the Lake. In this breezy autumn season, enjoy the comfort of cycling along one of the world’s top ten most beautiful bike paths — the Sun Moon Lake Lakeside Cycling Trail. Upon completing the ride, you’ll even receive a “Lake Ride Completion Certificate” to commemorate this special moment!
(Image / Tripbaa Funba!Asia Free Travel Expert)
Besides admiring the beauty of the Twin Lakes and the spectacular fireworks at the Sun Moon Lake Fireworks Festival, you can also enjoy a boat ride on the lake, take the aerial cable car, or unwind with an afternoon tea at a café while waiting for nightfall — all wonderful experiences. We highly recommend trying the water activity of Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) on Sun Moon Lake. Whether you’re a beginner or visiting with family, it’s easy and fun, and you don’t even need to know how to swim. You can even lie down and relax while embracing the lake views, using this opportunity to take in more of Sun Moon Lake’s surroundings.
(Image / Tripbaa Funba!Asia Free Travel Expert)
Penghu Autumn Craze Festival
(Image / Penghu Autumn Craze Festival Official Website)
At first glance, the Penghu Autumn Craze Festival doesn’t reveal much about what it actually is, but it’s actually a Bay Lights Festival. From 9/27 to 11/4, the festival features concerts with different themes. Fans of hip-hop, EDM, and pop music can find their people here and dive into the event, with special guest performers joining in the fun. Most uniquely, it incorporates cutting-edge tech — AR — with creative interactive installations all using AR projections. By visiting the Penghu Autumn Craze Festival, you can bring home both beautiful memories and a taste of tech-based experiences. And for sports enthusiasts, there are various activities scheduled at different times such as bay swimming, beach woodball, volleyball tournaments, and cross-sea marathons. It’s truly a jam-packed, crazy-good autumn festival.
Event period: 9/27–11/4
If you're in Penghu and want to experience rural fishing village life, be sure to take a short trip to Nanbeiliao. Try traditional fishing methods, sample the local specialty — net-caught fish — and even try your hand at frying peanuts or making tofu pudding. Spending a little time DIY-ing in Nanbeiliao will make for an unforgettable memory during your trip.
Miscanthus Flower Season
(Image / Photographer: Chung Tsan Fan-Chiang, Flickr CC License)
Autumn is the season of miscanthus flowers. Their beauty really draws many visitors. Imagine swaying hillsides of silver grass — every photo looks like a postcard, and even getting up close for a selfie makes you feel like an influencer. But the Grass Mountain Ancient Trail Miscanthus Flower Season isn’t just about enjoying the scenery; it also aims to help visitors learn about the trail’s history, ecological environment, and the significance of hiking.
So when you visit Grass Mountain Ancient Trail, don’t just admire the miscanthus flowers — you can also explore the nearby Lingjiao Waterfall, or even go canoeing together on an adventure. That kind of experience is truly rare. Want to see Pingxi’s beauty without the crowds? A canoe can show you a whole different side of Pingxi. Those visiting in autumn should bring a light jacket, as splashes from the rushing river may leave you wet — fun and refreshing, but remember to stay warm and avoid catching a cold.
Event period: mid-November (official website not yet announced)
Wanli Crab Festival
(Image / Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications Official Website)
With autumn here, the peak season for Wanli Crabs has arrived. Nearly 80% of Wanli Crabs are produced in New Taipei City, and they actually consist of three types of natural sea crabs: flower crabs, three-spot crabs, and stone crabs. It’s said that Wanli Crabs are the most delicious crabs in Taiwan — no matter how you cook them, their flavor shines through. Just thinking about it makes your mouth water. Don’t miss out on the rich, sweet crab meat from 9 to late November during the Wanli Crab Festival, and while you’re at it, enjoy the coastal views of the North Coast.
Since you’re already at Fulong Beach on the North Coast, after a good meal and taking in the beautiful scenery, why not get active with some water activities? During the day, you can go canoeing at Fulong Beach, cruise past fishing villages, enjoy the shoreline views, and bird-watchers definitely shouldn’t miss this spot — the joys of canoeing are endless. Add in the food and these water activities, and even a two-day-one-night trip is totally worth it.
Event period: 9/12–11/30
Pingtung Wanjin Church Christmas
(Photo / Official website of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications)
Every December, Wanjin Village in Pingtung begins hosting a variety of Christmas events. In addition to light sculpture shows and themed lighting activities, Taiwan Festivals × Autumn–Winter Water Activities have also started collaborating with local specialty products. Recently, Provincial Highway 185—the Mountain Scenic Route—has become a road that combines tourism, culture, creativity, and religion.
But when it comes to what’s most famous and dazzling in Wanjin Village, it’s undoubtedly Wanjin Church. Amid hymns sung in the church and Christmas dance performances by children, enhanced by the ambient lighting, this is the very essence of an enjoyable Christmas experience. Also not to be missed is the “Century Happiness Bell,” where people’s happiness quietly unfolds to the chime of an ancient bell from Spain.
(Photo / Tripbaa – Asia’s Free Travel Experts)
Winter in Pingtong isn’t just about static activities; canyoning at Zhiquan Valley is also a particularly unique and thrilling water-based experience. Due to high water levels in summer making access difficult, even autumn and winter seasons come with weather constraints. Entering from Zhuokou River all the way to Zhiquan Valley, the scenery along the route is especially spectacular, and the fun brought by splashing waters adds to the excitement. Visitors can choose to go canyoning during the day and then head to Wanjin Church or camp under the night sky at night.
New Year's Eve
(Photo / Tripbaa – Asia’s Free Travel Experts)
New Year’s Eve is a global celebration shared by people all over the world. Although time zones differ, when the countdown begins—5, 4, 3, 2, 1—the anticipation and emotion are universal. In the past, people might have celebrated New Year’s Eve by simply having a meal with friends and heading home, watching fireworks at Taipei 101 or amusement parks, or even booking flights early to celebrate in other countries. But in fact, there are plenty of amazing places in Taiwan to ring in the New Year.
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(Photo / Tripbaa – Asia’s Free Travel Experts)
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of life at the end of the year, calm your mind, and spend a joyful day, consider heading to Gongliao Taoyuan Valley. In Taoyuan Valley, you can immerse yourself in nature, enjoy the fun of DIY earth oven baking and camping. Even if you don’t want to sleep and just want to fully enjoy the New Year’s Eve, there will be friends to join in the madness—and in the morning, you can welcome the first rays of the new year’s sunrise.
(Photo / Tripbaa – Asia’s Free Travel Experts)
Run away to the outlying islands at the end of the year for complete relaxation. After a year of hard work, treat yourself to a short getaway. Recommended: relax in the hot springs of Green Island and welcome the sunrise. Soaking in hot springs on a cold winter day is a real treat—you don’t need to go all the way to Kyushu in Japan, as Taiwan’s Green Island also has its unique “Asahi Hot Springs,” where you can soak while watching the sunrise. It’s truly a beautiful moment in life.
(Photo / Tripbaa – Asia’s Free Travel Experts)
If you don’t want to leave the main island but still hope to see the sunrise up close, head to Taitung for New Year’s Eve. In Taitung, visitors can kayak or paddleboard (SUP) on the sea, not only weaving through streams and rocks to enjoy the thrill and excitement of these water activities, but also viewing the sunrise from a unique perspective. Make this very special first day of the new year one to remember by greeting it with cool water adventures.
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[Authorized reprint by Qu Ba (Funba)]
Executive Editor \ Moya Proofreader \ Angela