What's on in Taipei, Taiwan through the year

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

• Holiday

  Lunar New Year

  25 Jan – 25 Feb · usuallyClosures

  Taipei empties as families go south and the city is briefly walkable. Shops and small restaurants shut for three or four days; the temples and the night markets carry on. Source ↗

Still on: Hot spring season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

Peak crowds — Lunar New Year, Lantern Festival

• Festival

  Lantern Festival

  15 Feb – 15 Mar · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The city runs its own lantern displays for a fortnight after Lunar New Year, and Pingxi up the branch line releases sky lanterns on two announced nights. The trains out there are the hard part. Source ↗

Still on: Lunar New Year (25 Jan – 25 Feb (usually)), Hot spring season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

Busy — Lantern Festival, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Lantern Festival (15 Feb – 15 Mar (usually)), Hot spring season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)

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

Nothing new starts in April.

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

• Season

  Plum rain season

  5 May – 20 Jun · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  The front reaches northern Taiwan first, usually in the first half of May. Heavy, short bursts rather than all-day drizzle, and the mountain trails around the basin close in the worst of it.

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: Plum rain season (5 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

  A typhoon day is declared by the city and everything stops: offices, schools, the MRT above ground. Two or three a year get close enough to matter. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Ghost Month, Summer break in Taiwan

• Holiday

  Ghost Month

  5 Aug – 15 Sep · usuallyMajor festival

  The seventh lunar month, when offerings are burnt on the pavements and people put off weddings, house moves and swimming. Nothing shuts, but the mood and the smell of the streets change. Source ↗

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

Busy — Ghost Month, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)), Ghost Month (5 Aug – 15 Sep (usually))

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

Nothing new starts in October.

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

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Hot spring season

  1 Nov – 15 Mar

  Beitou and Wulai only make sense once it is cold and wet, which is exactly what Taipei's winter is. The sulphur valley is at its best on the grey days.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Hot spring season (1 Nov – 15 Mar)