SeasonMapAlishan (Alishan National Scenic Area) weather in January
Taiwan
January in Alishan: cool, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
#5 of 12 months in Alishan · #429 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 81/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Alishan in January
Notes from nearby Sun Moon Lake (41 km away)
Alishan doesn't have its own notes for January yet — these are about Sun Moon Lake, close enough to share the season.
Sun Moon Lake's forum flags January and the other cooler months for fog — regulars describe it as a genuine hit-or-miss attraction depending on the day, since mist can roll in and cut the view. One recent visitor got lucky with plenty of sun and called the quieter winter atmosphere a different, still worthwhile kind of beautiful.
Add your own note from Alishan's card on the map.
Alishan climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 12°C / 53°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 5°C / 41°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 11°C / 52°F | |
| Rainfall | 96 mm / 3.8 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 82% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 5°C / 41°F | |
| Sunshine | 8.6 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10.9 h | |
| Wind | 4 km/h / 3 mph | |
| Snowfall | 2.1 cm / 0.8 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 47 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Alishan in January
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 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
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).
Fair weatherAlishan's best weather comes in February, November and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Alishan in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Holiday
Lunar New Year crowds
25 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyCrowdedBook earlyThe 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 seasonThe 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 ↗
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?
Alishan in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Alishan?
- January in Alishan: cool, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Alishan on SeasonMap's comfort score (81/100).
- What is the weather like in Alishan in January?
- In January, Alishan averages a daily high of 11.9°C and a low of 4.9°C, with about 96.2 mm of rain over roughly 16.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Alishan in January?
- Alishan has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 47 in January.
- Does it snow in Alishan in January?
- Alishan sees roughly 2.1 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Alishan
Compare Alishan in January
Warmer or cooler than Alishan in January
Similar destinations in East Asia — January
Within 300 km: Taipei's Hot spring season on 1 Nov – 15 Mar, and Kenting's Lunar New Year around 25 Jan – 25 Feb.