With a rich cultural heritage and countless folk festivals throughout the year, Taiwan is an island that knows how to celebrate.
Folk festivals like the Mazu Pilgrimage, which began during the reign of Yongzheng Emperor during the late 1700s, are now larger than ever, drawing up to 1,000,000 attendees. Driven by a society that values tradition, Han, Hakka, and indigenous culture has flourished on this amazing and culturally diverse island. Today, these spectacles are amplified by modern technology and a generous society.
Lively festivals like these can’t be experienced anywhere else. And, they’re all open to the public. Find your life changing event below.
Festivals
Find out which festival is right for you.
VIEWS FROM AROUND TAIWAN
Folk Culture: Taiwan’s temples primarily worship gods from Taoist, Buddhist, and folk traditions, sometimes mixing them all together under one roof. How’s that for religious harmony! Many of these temples will organize extravagant events for God’s birthdays which include fireworks, folk performances and dances, and a procession in which the God is paraded around the neighborhood and celebrated. There are hundreds if not thousands of these celebrations per year. To learn more about Taiwan’s religious tourism, check out the official Taiwan Gods website.
Local Delicacies: The staple foods of Taiwan’s agricultural society are already world-famous for their taste on the street. Combine that with modern treats like “bubble tea” and the trendy bistros, eateries, and cafes that have sprung up all around Taiwan and you have a foodie paradise.
Historic Streets: Taiwan is still modernizing, and nearly every town in Taiwan has a historic district where wells are sticking out of the walls and street vendors famous for their hand-made delicacies sell to residents and tourists alike.
Abundant Nature: Taiwan’s 9 National Parks make up over 8% of its landmass. The island is home to another 18 National Forest Recreation Areas ranging which range from tropical forest at sea level to subalpine tundra at over 11,000 ft. above sea level. Every major county is filled with, developed hot springs, hiking areas, and flourishing wildlife that often appears “on the road”.
Editors’ PICKS
Image courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau
2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival
February
The Lantern Festival has its roots in Chinese tradition, and traditionally marks the end of Lunar New Years celebrations. In modern times, the government-sponsored two-week Taiwan Lantern Festival event has expanded to feature, multi-story art installations, high-tech lanterns, drone and fireworks shows, and folk performances.
This year’s 2023 Lantern Festival in Taipei returns to Taipei City. All lantern festival venues are conveniently to access by MRT. It is a great opportunity to explore Taipei with nearby attractions such as the Cultural and Creative Park, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, and other key urban sites.
Image courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau
2023 Taiwan International Festival of Arts
February - May
2023 Taiwan International Festival of Arts runs from Feb. 18 to May 14 and will feature 129 performances of 19 productions. For the first time the festival will feature a full selection of international performing artists from France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the United States, South Korea, and Australia, among others countries.
The festival will primarily take place at Taipei’s National Theatre and Concert Hall. Nearby attractions include national landmark Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Nanmen Traditional Market, and the Dihua Street Historic District which offers both trendy cafes with historic wholesale shops.
Image courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage
April
The Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage takes place over one to two weeks in April, and involves Mazu, a sea goddess and Taiwan's most important female deity, being carried by believers throughout Western Taiwan and visiting various temples along the way. The celebration has been identified as one of the world's three major religious festivals by the Discovery Channel.
Anyone is welcome to join the pilgrimage, and supporters often provide refreshments and snacks for free to those marching as they pass by. The route changes every year but usually visits many of Taiwan’s historic West Coast temples. Other attractions along the route include cultural parks, historic districts, night markets, and puppetry centers.
Image courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Penghu International Fireworks Festival
April - June
The Penghu Archipelago, a collection of 90 islands and islets to the West of Taiwan’s mainland is already famous for the Penghu National Scenic Area, which includes some of Taiwan’s most pristine sandy beaches, basalt column formations, and shallow coral reefs, and plays host to water sports, and bird watching.
The Penghu International Fireworks Festival brings additional flair to summer nights in Penghu by illuminating the sky with high-altitude fireworks.
Image courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Taiwan International Balloon Festival
July - August
Putting themed balloons into the skies above the Luye’s grassy highlands every summer, the Taiwan International Balloon Festival is one of the island’s most family-oriented festivals.
Every morning cute and colorful balloons piloted by teams from across the world take off and allow passengers a birds-eye-view of the magnificent East Rift Valley Scenic Area, and sunrise for those who are lucky.
Just nearby, the Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm offers one of Taiwan’s best grassroots indigenous immersion experiences, where one can learn about the weaving arts, experience local coffee, and have a chance to listen to "Pasibutbut,” a performance of eight-part polyphony. The area also features hot springs hotels, the Liji badlands, and paragliding opportunities..
Image coutesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Ilisin Harvest Festival of the Amis Tribe
July
The Amis People of Taiwan celebrate “Ilisin” once a year. Like our New Year it is an event that marks the end of one year and the beginning of the next, however, unlike Western New Year, it takes place during the mid-to-late summer. The schedule of each tribe’s festival is determined in accordance with tribal customs and the harvest season.
The Hualien County Government holds one Joint Aboriginal Harvest Festival every July where tourists and those curious about Amis tradition have the unique opportunity to observe and experience first-hand an “Ilisin”. This includes communal singing, dancing, learning about Amis clothing, and sampling local snacks like rice in a bamboo-tube and millet wine.
While in Hualien, travelers shouldn’t miss Taroko National Park, which features hiking trails, temples, and crystal clear rivers, all located inside the world’s largest marble canyon.