Winter in Taiwan lasts for the months of December, January and February, with January being the coldest month. Winter here only really begins after December 25th every year.
Before Christmas, the weather in Taiwan is quite nice and visitors still have a good chance of experiencing a few sunny days. However, after Christmas, Taiwan starts to get cold, the daylight hours shrink and the average temperature starts to drop.
Going up the mountain to see the snow is one of the best things to do in winter in Taiwan.
Although temperatures vary by month and location, it can be colder in northern Taiwan while it is much warmer in the south. In Taipei, winter highs usually hover around 16 degrees Celsius and lows around 14 degrees Celsius. The weather is accompanied by cold winds, cloudy skies and may drizzle for several days. In contrast, the climate is more favorable in southern Taiwan. Winter in Kaohsiung has ideal weather conditions with average temperatures of 22-24 degrees Celsius.
Here are some experiences you should try when coming to Taiwan in winter:
Watching snow at Hehuanshan
Snow is rare in Taiwan. To see it here, you need to go to one of the country's most famous and beautiful peaks, Hehuanshan, a high mountain area in central Taiwan.
Snow-covered Hehuan Mountains
Hehuanshan is located at an altitude of 3,416 m, bordering Hualien and Nantou counties. The road to the top of the mountain passes through Wuling Pass, which is also the highest road in Taiwan at an altitude of 3,275 m. In addition to Hehuanshan, Taiwan also has several other places where you can see snowfall, such as Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan, Snow Mountain in Taichung and Yushan (Taiwan's highest peak) in Nantou.
Besides Hehuanshan, Taiwan also has a number of other places where you can see snowfall such as: Taipingshan National Forest in Yilan, Snow Mountain in Taichung and Yushan (Taiwan's highest peak)...
Watching fireworks to welcome the new year
If you are visiting Taipei during the holiday season, head to Taipei 101, which hosts one of the world's most extravagant fireworks displays. Some 16,000 fireworks were launched from the tower over six minutes last year on New Year's Eve. Visitors can also head to Elephant Mountain for spectacular views of the city.
If you're visiting Taipei during New Year's Eve, head to Taipei 101 – home to one of the most lavish fireworks displays in the world.
Christmas Show
Christmas is an unofficial holiday in Taiwan, which means children still need to go to school and people still need to work. But visitors can still find beautifully decorated trees and Christmas carols in most shopping malls.
Christmas is an unofficial holiday in Taiwan.
However, for the most exciting Christmas experience here, take the train to Banqiao. Every year, a Christmas event called Christmasland is held in the square between Banqiao Station Square and New Taipei City Hall Square. Hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights and decorations create a wonderful scene. With colorful light displays, sparkling light tunnels, live performances and Christmas markets, it is arguably one of the most exciting places to experience the holiday in Taiwan during the winter. This year, Christmasland runs from November 11, 2022, to January 2, 2023.
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is one of the most iconic winter festivals to attend in Taiwan. Each year, a different city in Taiwan is chosen to host it. The event showcases dozens of colorful lanterns of all shapes and sizes, attracting thousands of people to see these beautiful works of art.
The Lantern Festival is one of the most iconic festivals to attend in winter in Taiwan.
In 2023, Taipei will host the Taiwan Lantern Festival, with various exhibitions around the city. The central exhibition area is at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the exhibition areas are at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Xinyi, the eastern district business district. The festival is scheduled to take place from February 5 to 19, 2023, with about 300 lanterns.
Soak in the hot springs
Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations of hot springs in the world. While almost every county in Taiwan has some form of hot spring, you will find the highest concentration of them in the northern part of the island and near the central mountain range. Hot spring areas include Beitou, Wulai, Jiuzhize, Ruisui, Zhaori, etc.
Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations of hot springs in the world.
Enjoy hot pot
There is nothing better than warming up on a chilly winter day with a steaming pot of hot pot. Eating Taiwanese hot pot is one of the must-do activities during the chilly winter.
If you like spicy food, don’t miss Mala Hot Pot in Taipei. They have branches all over the city, but it’s best to make a reservation in advance. Some other notable hot pot places to check out in Taipei include Orange Shabu (a Japanese-style hot pot restaurant) and Wu Lao Guo – famous for its creamy tofu pot.
There's nothing better than warming up on a chilly winter day with a steaming pot of hot pot.
Visit the night market
During the winter, strolling around night markets and enjoying hot street food are popular activities for tourists when visiting Taiwan. Besides the most famous night markets in Taiwan, many smaller markets also open up across the country during the Lunar New Year.
A night market in Taiwan
Enjoy some luwei (food stewed with spices and soy sauce), piping hot fried chicken, or a bowl of tangyuan (rice balls stuffed with sweet fillings and served in hot syrup) and you'll be ready to brave the cold weather for hours.
Visit Miaolin Purple Butterfly Valley
Every year, the purple crow butterflies migrate to southern Taiwan, where they settle during the winter months. The best place to see them up close is in the Maolin National Scenic Area (also known as the purple butterfly valley).
The Taiwan purple crow butterfly is one of only two winter migratory butterflies in the world.
Interestingly, the Taiwan Purple Crow Butterfly is one of only two winter migratory butterflies in the world. The other is the Mexican Monarch Butterfly. If you want to learn more about them, you can join a guided tour when you visit the park. The guides will take you to all the best spots, ensuring you will see dozens of beautiful butterflies.
The best time to visit Maolin Purple Butterfly Valley is from November to March. Come in the morning for the best chance of seeing them.
Freediving in Xiaoliuqiu
Winter in Xiaoliuqiu is the best time to experience freediving with dry weather
Xiaoliuqiu is one of Taiwan's most beautiful offshore coral islands, located a short ferry ride from Kaohsiung. One of Xiaoliuqiu's biggest attractions is the chance to swim with green sea turtles.
Winter in Xiaoliuqiu is the best time to experience freediving with dry weather and little rain. You can also explore geological caves, snorkeling, SUP and kayaking.
