Alishan (Alishan National Scenic Area) weather in February

February in Alishan: cool, rainy, with muggy air — one of the best months to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Alishan🇹🇼 Taiwan · Taiwan & Okinawa · National park84
  1. 81Jan
  2. 84Feb
  3. 82Mar
  4. 80Apr
  5. 70May
  6. 69Jun
  7. 71Jul
  8. 69Aug
  9. 68Sep
  10. 73Oct
  11. 84Nov
  12. 85Dec

#2 of 12 months in Alishan · #378 of 1413 destinations to visit in February · comfort 84/100 (tier A)

Days
13°C
Nights
6°C
Wet days
17
Sun
8.9 h
Humidity
80%
Daylight
11 h
Alishan, Taiwan
Photo: Guilherme Christmann · Pexels

Traveller notes on Alishan in February

Notes from nearby Sun Moon Lake (41 km away)

Alishan doesn't have its own notes for February yet — these are about Sun Moon Lake, close enough to share the season.

Sun Moon Lake-forum threads on winter conditions describe the lake as genuinely prone to real fog during the cooler months, posters calling a foggy morning capable of obscuring much of the view regardless of the forecast. Regulars recommend not planning a winter trip to properly appreciate the lake for the first time, a clearer month offering a considerably better first impression. Posters describe sunset arriving noticeably earlier this time of year, itineraries needing real adjustment compared with summer. Regulars call the lakeside walking and cycling paths still genuinely pleasant on a clear day, cooler air actually welcome for sustained activity. Posters recommend real layers regardless of how mild midday feels, mornings and evenings both turning noticeably cooler at the water's edge. Regulars call a foggy day still worth exploring the cultural village or nearby temples. The record: 19.1C days feeling like 19C, 11.6C nights, 57.6mm across over 8 days and 78 percent humidity.
SunMoonLakeFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · about Sun Moon Lake · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Alishan

Alishan-forum threads on whether real winter wear is needed in January are unambiguous: yes, posters calling readings commonly single digits or close to zero, thick, puffy layers standing advice regardless of how mild Chiayi or Taipei feel. Regulars call a proper parka and thermal base layers genuinely useful, mornings and evenings considerably colder than the daytime peak. Posters describe mountain areas as running a few degrees cooler and windier than general figures suggest, Alishan's elevation adding a real chill. Regulars call the sunrise viewpoint specifically brutal before dawn, real cold-weather gear essential for the wait. Posters recommend layering rather than one heavy coat, temperatures climbing considerably once the sun is up. Regulars call the cypress forest walks still rewarding in January despite the cold, fewer crowds a genuine upside. The record: 11.9C days feeling like 11C, 4.9C nights, 96.2mm across nearly 17 days and 82 percent humidity.
AlishanJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Alishan-forum threads on sunrise temperatures describe conditions at the summit viewpoint as genuinely cold regardless of how mild Chiayi feels below, posters calling readings in the single digits Celsius entirely plausible for the early wait. Regulars call the sunrise train departure around five-thirty standard, staying overnight strongly preferred over a lengthy pre-dawn drive up. Regulars describe daytime temperatures as considerably milder once the sun is up, a real layer system working better than one heavy coat given the swing. Posters call late February through June broadly the favored stretch, typhoon season from July into early October a real reason to avoid later months. Regulars recommend booking sunrise train tickets well ahead, capacity limited and demand high. Posters call the cypress forest walks worth the visit independent of the sunrise. The record: 17.2C days feeling like 18C, 9.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 182.5mm across nearly 24 days and 82 percent humidity.
AlishanAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Alishan-forum threads on March weather describe daytime readings as generally mild but genuinely cold at night, posters citing single-digit overnight lows especially when a system moves through the wider region. Regulars call parka-style layers and proper thermal wear standing advice, mornings and right after sunset both considerably colder than the daytime reading suggests. Posters describe the famous sunrise viewpoint as running noticeably colder still, its higher elevation meaning conditions there rarely match a general Alishan forecast. Regulars call March genuinely good timing for cherry blossoms, the bloom regularly overlapping with this stretch. Posters describe fog and a passing shower as fairly common in the mountains despite the otherwise favorable reputation. Regulars recommend real cold-weather layers regardless of the lowland forecast. The record: 14.9C days feeling like 15C, 7.4C nights, an extraordinarily high 137.6mm across over 21 days and 80 percent humidity.
AlishanMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Alishan-forum threads on sunrise viewing are direct results here are genuinely inconsistent, one traveler reporting a great sunset but an underwhelming, cloudless sunrise the same trip, another describing thick fog ruining the sunrise while catching a genuine sea of clouds elsewhere on the same itinerary. Posters call September part of the broader wet season, a real chance of lingering shower activity even as the worst of typhoon season winds down. Regulars recommend building at least two mornings into any stay to improve the odds of catching a clear sunrise, a single attempt genuinely a gamble this time of year. Layers are standing advice given how much temperatures swing between a mild afternoon and a genuinely cold pre-dawn wait. Posters call the forest railway and cypress groves worth the trip regardless of whether sunrise cooperates. The record: 19.2C days feeling like 20C, 13.4C nights, an extraordinarily high 219mm across nearly 23 days and 88 percent humidity.
AlishanSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Alishan's card on the map.

Alishan climate normals — February

Daytime high13°C / 55°F🙂 cool
Nighttime low6°C / 42°F
Feels like (high)12°C / 54°F
Rainfall83 mm / 3.3 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days17 days
Humidity80%💦 very humid
Dew point5°C / 41°F
Sunshine8.9 h/day
Daylight11.4 h
Wind5 km/h / 3 mph
Snowfall1.3 cm / 0.5 in
Air quality (US AQI)53🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Alishan in February

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsLunar New Year crowds, Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in Taiwan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Alishan's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherAlishan's best weather comes in February, November and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Alishan in February

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Holiday

    Lunar New Year crowds

    25 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyCrowdedBook early

    The whole of western Taiwan drives up for the holiday week. Rooms inside the recreation area are gone months out and the shuttle queue at Chiayi runs long. Source ↗

  • Season

    Sunrise and sea of clouds

    15 Oct – 15 Apr · usuallyFog season

    The cool half of the year is when the Zhushan sunrise train is worth the 4am alarm; in summer the cloud is usually rain instead of a floor below you. Source ↗

What's on around the world in February →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Alishan — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Alishan?

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Alishan in February — FAQ

Is February a good time to visit Alishan?
February in Alishan: cool, rainy, with muggy air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Alishan on SeasonMap's comfort score (84/100).
What is the weather like in Alishan in February?
In February, Alishan averages a daily high of 13°C and a low of 5.5°C, with about 82.7 mm of rain over roughly 16.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Alishan in February?
Alishan has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 53 in February.
Does it snow in Alishan in February?
Alishan sees roughly 1.3 cm of snowfall in February.

Within 300 km: Sun Moon Lake's Cherry blossom around 1 Feb – 5 Mar, and Taipei's Lantern Festival around 15 Feb – 15 Mar.