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Winter in Taiwan lasts through December, January, and February, with January being the coldest month. Winter truly begins after December 25th each year.
Before Christmas, the weather in Taiwan is quite pleasant, and tourists still have a good chance to experience a few sunny days. However, after Christmas, Taiwan begins to get colder, daylight hours shorten, and average temperatures start to drop.
Climbing mountains to see the snow is one of the best things to do in winter in Taiwan.
Although temperatures vary by month and location, northern Taiwan is generally colder, while southern Taiwan is much warmer. In Taipei, winter temperatures typically reach a high of 16°C and lows around 14°C. The weather is characterized by cold winds, overcast skies, and possibly drizzle for several days. In contrast, southern Taiwan enjoys a more favorable climate. Kaohsiung experiences ideal winter conditions with average temperatures of 22-24°C.
Here are some experiences you should try when visiting Taiwan in winter:
Enjoy the snow at Hehuanshan
Snow is rare in Taiwan. To see snow here, you need to go to one of the country's most famous and beautiful mountain peaks, Hehuanshan, a high-altitude area in central Taiwan.
Mount Hehuan is covered in snow.
Hehuanshan is located at an altitude of 3,416 meters, bordering Hualien and Nantou counties. The road to the summit passes through Wuling Pass, which is also the highest road in Taiwan at 3,275 meters. Besides Hehuanshan, Taiwan also has several other places where you can see snowfall, such as Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan, the snow-capped mountains in Taichung, and Yushan (Taiwan's highest peak) in Nantou.
Besides Hehuanshan, Taiwan has several other places where you can see snowfall, such as Taipingshan National Forest in Yilan, snow-capped mountains in Taichung, and Yushan (Taiwan's highest peak)...
Watching fireworks to welcome the New Year.
If you're visiting Taipei during this holiday season, head to Taipei 101, which hosts one of the world's most extravagant fireworks displays. Approximately 16,000 fireworks were launched from the tower over six minutes on New Year's Eve last year. Visitors can also go to Elephant Mountain to watch the fireworks from a spectacular panoramic view of the city.
If you visit Taipei during New Year's Eve, be sure to go to Taipei 101 – home to one of the world's most spectacular fireworks displays.
Christmas show
Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Taiwan, meaning children still need to go to school and people still need to work, visitors can still find beautifully decorated Christmas trees and hear Christmas carols in most shopping malls.
Christmas is not an official 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 Square. Hundreds of thousands of lights and Christmas decorations create a spectacular scene. With colorful light shows, a sparkling light tunnel, live performances, and a Christmas market, it's considered one of the most exciting places to experience the holidays in Taiwan during the winter. This year's Christmasland runs from November 11, 2022, to January 2, 2023.
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is one of the most iconic festivals to attend in winter in Taiwan. Each year, a different city in Taiwan is chosen to host it. The event showcases dozens of colorful lanterns in all shapes and sizes, attracting thousands of people to admire 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 throughout the city. The central exhibition area will be at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and other displays will be located in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Xinyi, and the eastern district's commercial district. The festival is scheduled to take place from February 5th to 19th, 2023, featuring approximately 300 lanterns.
Soak in a hot spring.
Taiwan boasts one of the highest concentrations of hot springs in the world. While almost every prefecture in Taiwan has some form of hot spring, you'll find the highest density in the north of the island and near the central mountain range. Visitors can explore hot spring areas such as Beitou, Wulai, Jiuzhize, Ruisui, and Zhaori.
Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations of hot springs in the world.
Enjoy hot pot
Nothing beats warming up on a chilly winter day with a steaming hot pot. Eating Taiwanese hot pot is one of the must-do activities during the cold winter months.
If you enjoy spicy food, don't miss Mala Hot Pot in Taipei. They have many branches throughout the city, but it's best to make a reservation in advance. Some other notable hot pot spots to explore in Taipei include: Orange Shabu (a Japanese-style hot pot restaurant) and Wu Lao Guo – famous for its creamy tofu hot pot.
Nothing beats warming yourself up on a chilly winter day with a steaming hot pot of soup.
Visit the night market.
In winter, strolling through night markets and enjoying hot street food are popular activities for tourists visiting Taiwan. Besides the most famous night markets in Taiwan, many smaller markets also open throughout the country during the Lunar New Year.
A night market in Taiwan
Enjoy some luwei (a stewed dish with spices and soy sauce), piping hot fried chicken, or a bowl of tangyuan (sweet rice balls served in hot syrup) and you'll be ready to brave the cold weather for hours.
Visit Miaolin Valley, home to the Purple Butterfly Valley.
Each year, the purple flying fox migrates to southern Taiwan, where it settles 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 Taiwanese purple crow butterfly is one of only two species of butterflies in the world that migrate in winter.
Interestingly, the Taiwanese purple crow butterfly is one of only two species of butterflies in the world that migrate in winter. The other is the Mexican monarch butterfly. If you want to learn more about them, you can join a guided tour when visiting the park. Guides will take you to all the best spots, ensuring you see dozens of beautiful butterfly species.
The best time to visit the Maolin Purple Butterfly Valley is from November to March. Arrive in the morning for the best chance to see them at their most beautiful.
Freediving in Xiaoliuqiu
Winter in Xiaoliuqiu is the best time to experience freediving due to the 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, snorkel, paddleboard, and kayak.
