What's on in Hualien, Taiwan through the year

Busy — Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in Taiwan, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Rule

  Taroko access is still limited

  1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresBook early

  The gorge has been under repair since the 2024 earthquake. Some trails and the visitor centre are open, several classic walks are not, and Highway 8 through the gorge runs on escorted release windows — check the park before you commit a day to it. Source ↗

Busy — Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in Taiwan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Nature

  Whale and dolphin season

  1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyWhale season

  Boats run out of Hualien port through the warm half of the year. Dolphins on most trips, whales on a minority of them — and the sea off this coast is rough enough that mornings are the only sane slot.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Plum rain season

  1 May – 15 Jun · usuallyMonsoon

  The front that gives Taiwan its meiyu sits on the east coast for six weeks, mostly as heavy overnight rain. It is also when the rivers in the gorge run loud and the road crews stop work.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whale and dolphin season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whale and dolphin season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Plum rain season (1 May – 15 Jun (usually))

Busy — Summer break in Taiwan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Jul – 15 Oct · usuallyClosures

  The east coast is where systems make landfall first, and Hualien takes them undiluted. The Suhua highway and the rail line north both close on a warning day, which can strand you for two. Source ↗

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whale and dolphin season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer break in Taiwan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Orange daylily season

  1 Aug – 30 Sep · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  Sixty Stone Mountain and Chike Mountain above the rift valley go orange for about six weeks. These are working fields, not a display, so the flowers thin out wherever the pickers have been. Source ↗

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whale and dolphin season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whale and dolphin season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)), Orange daylily season (1 Aug – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Whale and dolphin season (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Taroko access is still limited (1 Jan – 31 Dec)