Most of Taiwan’s 23 million people are of Han Chinese descent, and Taiwan was ruled by Qing emperors in Beijing from the late 17th century to the end of the 19th century. It is thus no surprise that the country’s vibrant and diverse modern culture preserves many elements of classical Chinese civilization. Among these are traditions tied to the ancient lunisolar calendar and the festivals associated with it.
A key date on the traditional calendar is the Chinese Lunar New Year. The first day of the lunar year always falls between January 22 and February 19 on the Gregorian calendar. In 2025, this significant celebration began on January 29.
Around this time, schools take a long hiatus. Much of the economy grinds to a halt for several days. During vacation, Taiwanese people feast, visit relatives, clean their houses, and present cash-filled envelopes to the younger and older generations.
The traditional climax of the Lunar New Year season is called Yuanxiao Jie in Mandarin and Lantern Festival in English. Originally, the festival was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, but the modern event is a multi-day spectacular of which dazzling lanterns are just one facet.
Taiwan’s national-level Lantern Festival celebrations include concerts, modern and traditional performing arts, dazzling pyrotechnics, and lanterns of breathtaking size and beauty. Each year, the event moves to a different location. This year it will return to the plaza in front of Taoyuan’s high-speed rail station, 37 km west of Taipei’s downtown and a mere 17 to 23 minutes from the capital by bullet train.
As in previous years, the festival was themed according to the Shengxiao, the 12-year cycle called the Chinese Zodiac in English. Just as Westerners typically know their star sign, individuals of Chinese descent are well aware of the zodiac year in which they were born. The recent Lunar New Year’s Eve, on January 28, 2025, marked the final day of the Year of the Dragon. The following day ushered in the Year of the Snake.
The featured lantern at the upcoming event, called Paradise, was created by Akibo Li, a renowned designer whose pop music album covers have been seen by millions. Rather than depicting a serpent, this work is shaped like the symbol for infinity (∞), to signify an unending wonderland while suggesting roller coasters, water slides, and other amusements providing unalloyed pleasure.
Because Taoyuan translates as “Peach Garden,” a series of peach-themed emojis have been created to mark the Lantern Festival. Adding an international flair, foreign students at local universities are sharing blessings in their native languages, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural diversity. And to mark Taiwan’s stunning triumph in last November’s World Baseball Premier12, baseball cheerleaders have worked with motion capture technology to contribute an additional visual element to the main light show.
The 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival, which will run from February 12 to 23, is an opportunity for travelers to explore the cities of Taoyuan and Hsinchu, and neighboring Hsinchu County and Miaoli County.
This region is synonymous with Taiwan’s Hakka minority. Like most of Taiwan’s population, the Hakka people are of Han Chinese descent, yet they speak a distinct language and maintain their own unique customs. Renowned for their industriousness, the Hakka migrated into the island’s hilly interior before the period of Japanese colonial rule (1895–1945), transforming wilderness areas into productive farmland.
The Hakka of Miaoli have their own way of celebrating the Lunar New Year. The Bombing Dragon Ritual is a unique and exciting festival in which the faithful first welcome the dragon to ensure good fortune throughout the year. They then use copious quantities of firecrackers and fireworks to simultaneously repel evil spirits and send the dragon back to heaven.
A key community event several decades ago, the Bombing Dragon Ritual was almost forgotten due to societal changes associated with the postwar “economic miracle.” Since it was revived with government backing in 1998, the festival has been a big hit with locals and tourists.
The 2025 Miaoli Bombing Dragon will be held on February 6, 8, 9, and 14 at locations in Miaoli City. For full details, ask at one of the region’s visitor information centers.
Of course, not every traveler wants to spend their vacation surrounded by crowds. Fortunately for those who hope to enjoy nature, the northwest is blessed with both stunning mountain views and striking stretches of coastline.
A prime attraction in the former category is Lalashan (R’ra) National Forest Recreation Area. Accessed via the North Cross-Island Highway – a delightfully scenic road that connects Taoyuan with Yilan – Lalashan is famous for its giant trees, most of which are red cypresses.
The most intriguing part of the region’s coast is Caota Sand Dunes Geopark, a 284-hectare nature park, which features Taiwan’s longest stretch of sand dunes and preserves a landscape that is both enchanting and ecologically important. Dubbed “Taiwan’s mini-Sahara,” this special environment hosts plants that can tolerate salt, strong winds, and substantial temperature variations. Visitors are advised to wear hats and good walking shoes, and to bring sunglasses in case they find windblown sand to be bothersome.
Caota Sand Dunes Geopark is a short drive southwest of Zhuwei Fishing Port, a popular destination for those who adore seafood. In addition to stalls and shops selling ultra-fresh uncooked seafood, there are plenty of ready-to-eat options.
History-focused travelers might want to take a look at Zhongzhen New Village Cultural Park. It differs from other military dependents’ villages in that its distinct character is not the result of the Chinese Nationalist government’s 1949 retreat to Taiwan, but of later evacuations of soldiers (with their families) who had fought for the Nationalist cause on the China-Burma border. Burmese, Thai, and Yunnan cultures are represented within the village in the form of eateries serving signature delicacies.
In addition to having an appealing old quarter, Daxi is also the location of Cihu Mausoleum, the “temporary” resting place of Chiang Kai-shek and his son. The vault itself may not be a conventional tourist attraction, yet the nearby park filled with statues of the elder Chiang is a memorable sight.
If you are beginning to think there is so much to see in the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli area that you should extend your vacation, you would be right.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Administration and the Ministry of
Economic Affairs’ International Trade Administration are collaborating to encourage international
travelers attending MICE events in Taiwan to explore the country through its Travel Incentive
Program. In 2025, the Program offers travel incentives of up to NT$2,000 per person per visit, and
a maximum of NT$600,000 per proposal. The goal is to boost the development of both MICE and tourism industries, thereby promoting economic growth.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Travelers planning to attend the 2025 Lantern Festival and explore Taiwan’s northwest can gather additional information from the following websites:
Lantern Festival Official Website (multilingual website)
Hakka Affairs Council (bilingual website)
Taoyuan City Government’s travel website (multilingual website)
Hsinchu City Government (multilingual website)
Hsinchu County Government’s travel website (bilingual website)
Miaoli County Government Culture and Tourism Bureau (multilingual website)
Hsinchu-Miaoli Tourism Union (multilingual website)
Tourism Administration (Ministry of Transportation and Communications) (multilingual website)
Meet Taiwan (bilingual website)
The 24-hour tourist information hotline (0800-011-765) is toll-free within Taiwan and staffed by speakers of English, Japanese, and Chinese.
