What's on in Sun Moon Lake (Yuchi), Taiwan through the year

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

Nothing new starts in January.

Peak crowds — Cherry blossom, Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in Taiwan

• Nature

  Cherry blossom

  1 Feb – 5 Mar · usuallyCrowded

  The hillside above the lake flowers weeks before Japan does, and the culture village at the top of the ropeway makes an event of it. Weekend traffic on the ring road is the price.

Busy — Cherry blossom, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Cherry blossom (1 Feb – 5 Mar (usually))

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

• Nature

  Firefly season

  1 Apr – 15 May · usuallyFireflies

  The trails around Toushe and the lake's quieter southern shore fill with them for about six weeks in spring. Guided night walks only, and no torches.

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

• Season

  Plum rain season

  10 May – 20 Jun · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  The front parks over central Taiwan for a few weeks of heavy afternoon rain. The lake is at its fullest and the cycle path round it is at its emptiest.

Still on: Firefly season (1 Apr – 15 May (usually))

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

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Plum rain season (10 May – 20 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

  Inland and high, so it is the rain rather than the wind that does the damage. Landslides close the mountain roads in and out for days at a time. Source ↗

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

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Cross-lake Swimming Carnival, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Cross-lake Swimming Carnival

  10 Sep – 5 Oct · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The one day of the year swimming in the lake is allowed, and more than twenty thousand people take it. Entries open months ahead and every room around the shore goes with them. Source ↗

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Cross-lake Swimming Carnival, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)), Cross-lake Swimming Carnival (10 Sep – 5 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Festival

  Come! BikeDay

  21 NovMajor festival

  The lake circuit is closed to cars for a day in late November and given to several thousand cyclists. Cool, dry and the best month of the year to be out here. Source ↗

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

Nothing new starts in December.