Taiwan's International Hot Air Balloon Festival, held every year in Taitung County during the summer, is one of the premiere tourism events in the country. Prepare to be amazed by an array of balloons, or enjoy the amazing natural scenery in Taitung by taking a tethered or non-tethered hot air balloon ride.
Background: Taiwan's hot air balloon festival started in 2011 in Luye Township of Taitung County, as a way for Taitung County to promote hot air balloon tourism. In 2013 the event changed its name to the Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Festival and began to invite hot air balloons from other countries. Price: Tethered balloon ride (熱氣球繫留體驗): 550 NT to 650 NT Non-tethered balloon ride （熱氣球空中自由飛行): about 10,000 NT Paragliding (滑翔傘): 1800-2500 NT Hours/When to go: 2025 Dates: July 5th to August 21st. Tethered Balloon Ride (熱氣球繫留體驗): 4PM- 6:30PM or 4:30AM to 6:30AM (July to August). The ride lasts about 5 minutes. Ticketing website: KKday or EZtravel Untethered balloon ride （熱氣球空中自由飛行): Usually between 4AM and 6AM Ticketing website: Klook Warning: Hot Air Balloons can be cancelled with short notice due to bad weather such as too much wind, rain, or influence of a Typhoon. Live Feed: Check out a live feed of the Luye highland here: https://tour.taitung.gov.tw/en/media/live-camera/livecamera
Website:
https://balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/en How to get there: By Train/Bus: From Taitung TRA station, there is a shuttle bus that leaves to Luye Highland at 4:10AM, 4:30AM, and 4:50AM, as well as 3PM, 3:30PM, and 4PM (75-120 NT per ride). Or, take the TRA to Luye station, and then walk, take a taxi, or take a bus to Luye Highlands (the train station is roughly 2 kilometers away from the highlands). By Car/scooter: From Taipei, take National Highway 5 to Yilan, then drive south on provincial road 9 until you get to Luye. See the map below for the location of the Highlands. It will be hard to miss. You can rent a scooter from Taitung Station on Klook or KKday. Scooter rental is about 300 NT per day.You can check out our scooter rental guide here. You can also rent a car for about 1500 NT per day. You can rent a car on Klook here. You can hire a driver or tax; you can charter a car here. By Plane: Fly into Taitung Airport from Taipei, then take a taxi/bus to the highlands. Where to stay: Booking accommodation in the Taitung can be difficult in the summer months and on weekends when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance. We suggest a better quality selection on Agoda.com. We have stayed at and recommend the Papago International Resort in Chishang (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), which is a five star hotel with private villas with pools for each room, and Mountain and Ocean B & B in Taimali (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), which is a quiet and affordable B&B right next to the beach. Tours: There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, Surfing, Speed Boating, Glamping, River tracing and other tours in Taitung. You can find more tours of Taitung on Klook here or KKday here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: Please see below:
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 Booking a hotel in Taiwan can be difficult and frustrating, especially if you are unfamiliar with the landscape and do not have any previous booking experience. In this blog, we will give you a basic overview of the hotel atmosphere in Taiwan as well as provide you with some basic tips to find the best hotel for you.
Disclaimer: The following FAQ is only based on our opinion after years of booking accommodation in Taiwan, and should not be considered an absolute fact. Planning your trip to Taiwan? Here are some top travel tips for you:
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Papago International Resort in Taitung County
Booking a hotel in Taiwan can be difficult and frustrating, especially if you are unfamiliar with the landscape and do not have any previous booking experience. In this blog, we will give you a basic overview of the hotel atmosphere in Taiwan as well as provide you with some basic tips to find the best hotel for you.
Disclaimer: The following FAQ is only based on our opinion after years of booking accommodation in Taiwan, and should not be considered an absolute fact. 
Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (宜è˜åœ‹éš›ç«¥çŽ©è—術節) is one of the largest children's festivals in Taiwan, occurring every year during summer break along the Dongshan River in Yilan. It features a large outdoor waterpark as well as musical performances, exhibitions, games, and cultural events. It has become a yearly tradition for many families in northern Taiwan.
Planning your trip to Yilan? Here are some top travel tips for you:
Background: The festival first began in 1996 and has continued every year, except for 2008-2009 due to lack of funds, in 2003 because of SARS, and in 2020 due to COVID. The completion of the Hsueshan Tunnel in 2006 made it much easier for large amounts of people to travel quickly from Taipei to Yilan. The large event attracts many visitors from Taipei. During summer weekdays and weekends the venue can be expected to be totally packed with visitors. Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM (pool area closes at 6 PM), starting from the beginning of July to mid-August every summer. ​ In 2025, the festival runs from July 5th to August 17th. Price: 350 NT on weekends and 250 NT on weekdays 50 NT parking fee for cars 20 NT parking fee for scooters You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here. ​ Website: https://www.yicfff.tw/index.php?lang=5tKpKqHPsMZQ82iPyZj4TQ Tours and Activities: You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Su'ao Crayon Castle, Taipingshan, Turtle Island, Lanyang Museum, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Zhang Mei Ama Capybura Farm, Bambi Land, Yinong Ranch, National Center for Traditional Arts, Taxi Museum, Glamping, Camping, ATV / 4-wheeling experience, SUP / paddle boarding, Ximeng Forest Theater, Surfing, Kayaking, Horse Riding, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Water Biking, Snorkeling, Canoeing, Shrimping and many others through Klook here or KKday here. Accommodation: Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. We have stayed at and recommend Ying Shih Guest House, a resort in Datong Township near Taipingshan and Fan Fan Hot Spring (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Jiaosi Hotspring Hotel, a hotel with hot springs in each room (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). We have also stayed at Toucheng Leisure Farm, a recreational farm and experience center in Toucheng (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or on Klook here).​ How to get there: By car/scooter: From National Highway 5 in Yilan, take provincial highway 7 east to Dongshan River Water Park.​ Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By bus: From Luodong TRA station, take bus GR21 to Dongshan River Water Park. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below:  As of January 2025, Taiwan rolled out a new “Digital Nomad Visa, (數位遊牧停留簽證)” which allows foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries to stay in Taiwan up to six months. Other requirements, such as an annual salary of at least USD 20,000-40,000 and a bank balance of at least USD 10,000, are also required. The visa does not include Taiwan National Health Insurance, Taiwan labor insurance, Taiwan Pension, or a Taiwan work permit. Even so, this visa is a powerful incentive for remote-working foreigners to visit Taiwan, which will hopefully encourage them to stay long-term.
Note: This guide is for reference only. The ultimate authority on what documents are required and whether or not your application will be accepted is the immigration bureau. Some of the information in the blog may be inaccurate for your specific situation. For clarifications, please call the foreigner hotline directly (toll-free): 0800-024-111. This information for this blog was taken from the BOCA website. Table of Contents
 Throughout the year, Taiwan is full of festivals and holidays. There are three major festivals and many National Holidays when people are off from school and work; there are also many smaller religious festivals and events throughout the year. In 2025, four additional public holidays were added to the calendar. At times, it may be confusing to keep track of when Taiwan’s public holidays or banking holidays are held. In this guide, we will provide a month-by-month breakdown of public holidays in Taiwan.
Planning your trip to Taiwan? Here are some top travel tips for you:
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 In April and May every year, in Taiwan, you can spot lots of fireflies (lightning bugs) in northern Taiwan as well as in mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan. Checking out these mystical bugs can be a magical experience, especially if you have never seen them before. If you happen to be in Taiwan during the springtime, be sure to check out the fireflies. In this blog, we will tell you the best places to spot fireflies in Taiwan as well as provide a useful map.
Planning your trip to Taipei? Here are some top travel tips for you:
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Taipei 臺北旅遊指南
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- Taiwan’s Northern Coast Travel Guide – Discover a Beautiful and Amazing Coastline 台灣北海岸懶人包 >
- Keelung Travel Guide – Best Places to See in the Harbor City 基隆旅遊指南
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- Gaomei Wetlands – Complete Guide to Taichung’s Amazing Wildlife Area 高美濕地
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Travel Guide to Kaohsiung – Southern Taiwan’s Most Vibrant City 高雄旅遊懶人包
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