Taiwan through the year

Taiwan is small, but the Tropic of Cancer runs across it, and the climate changes noticeably from north to south and from the coast up into the mountains. Here is a rough calendar.

Spring (March–May). Flowers come first. On Yangmingshan, above Taipei, fields of white calla lilies bloom around Zhuzihu, and blossoms appear in the mountains. Towards the end of spring the plum rains arrive, a season of long, soft rain that often lasts into June.

Summer (June–August). Hot and humid everywhere, with afternoon thunderstorms. It is the season for beaches and islands and, at Luye Gaotai in Taitung, for the Taiwan International Balloon Festival, when hot air balloons rise over the East Rift Valley. Typhoons are possible from summer well into autumn.

Autumn (September–November). Often the most pleasant season: clearer skies, lower humidity and good light in the mountains and the cities.

Winter (December–February). Mild by most standards, but the northeast monsoon keeps the north grey and damp while the south stays sunny and dry. Strong winter winds along the west coast and across the Taiwan Strait are one reason the island has invested in wind power.

Whatever the month, somewhere on the island is in season.

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Photos: hugo_ob, iteaworld, nameks, magictv, hpgruesen on Pixabay, used under the Pixabay Content License. These are not my photographs.