- Let's take a look at the map
- How New Year is celebrated in Taiwan
- Useful information for travelers
During the colonial rule of the Portuguese in Southeast Asia, this island was called Formosa, which means "beautiful". Today, Taiwan is desperately trying to maintain its independence from the Middle Kingdom, and tourism is becoming one of the important sources of income for its economy. The small island is striking in the number of nature reserves, national parks and nature reserves. There are about a hundred of them here, and therefore you can celebrate the New Year in Taiwan not only in a noisy modern metropolis, but also in a comfortable unity with nature, if you wish.
Let's take a look at the map
The island is washed by three seas and the Pacific Ocean and is located off the southeastern coast of the PRC. It is crossed by the Northern Tropic, but not only the geographical latitude determines the climate of Taiwan:
- The north of the island is located in the subtropical zone, while the south is dominated by a tropical monsoon climate.
- Winter is a dry season and rainfall in the southern part of the island is minimal. On the northern coast, most of the days of the year are cloudy, and December-January is no exception.
- In winter, the air temperature in Taiwan is very comfortable for walks and excursions. Thermometer columns rise to + 17 ° С on the northern coast and in Taipei and up to + 25 ° С in the south in the tropics.
In winter, fogs are frequent in the capital, which, mixing with smog, reduce visibility to several tens of meters.
How New Year is celebrated in Taiwan
New Year in the Republic of China is a public holiday and coincides with the celebration of the founding of the state. The period from January 1 to January 3 is declared non-working in Taiwan.
The main signs of the upcoming winter holidays are elegant illumination, ornate Christmas trees in shopping centers and shops and generous discounts on the occasion of the Christmas sales around the world. The people of Taiwan themselves are quite cosmopolitan, but although they recognize the New Year in a European style, they still respect their own more.
On the evening of December 31, you will see festive fireworks, lively nightclubs and restaurants and massive street festivities stronger than usual, but they will seem to you only a rehearsal of the main similarities that all progressive Chinese humanity celebrates in the second half of January or February.
Chinese New Year in Taiwan has a special meaning, as in the PRC and in other countries in the region. The holiday has no fixed date. Annually, it depends on the readings of the lunar calendar and is located between January 21 and February 19. Chinese and Taiwanese New Years are called the holiday of spring.
On the eve of the main day, the inhabitants of the country gather at home with the whole family, lock the gates and pray intensely that the mythical monster Nian does not ravage their home. Nanny scares are red and noise of any origin. This is why all Chinese cities are adorned with paper dragons, lanterns, flowers and ribbons in all shades of red during New Years celebrations.
Preparation for the holiday begins long before its onset. The inhabitants of the island clean up their homes, paying particular attention to old trash. It is important to get rid of it in order to give way and place to prosperity and new pleasant events in your own life. General cleaning is carried out not only in the house, but also in business. Before spring day, it is customary to repay debts, pay bills and solve other financial issues.
On the New Year's table of any Taiwanese family, you will find fried chicken, rice with vegetables, fish, fruit and wine. On a festive evening, strangers are not invited to visit and only family members gather for a meal. For those who are late or cannot arrive, it is customary to leave a free seat at the table. Children congratulate their elders, and they, in turn, present their younger relatives with red envelopes with change.
The morning of the first day of the new year is a time to visit family and friends. On the second day, it is customary to visit the parents of the keeper of the family hearth and pray to the God of Wealth.
A series of holidays lasts 12 days and only on the thirteenth there is a rest, when it is allowed to drink only rice water and cleanse the body and soul from the consequences of overeating and other excesses. The last spurt of the New Year's marathon in Chinese is the Lantern Festival, which begins on the 15th day and completes the annual extravaganza.
Useful information for travelers
You can travel to Taiwan on the wings of several airlines and on different routes. Choose the one you need depending on your own capabilities and preferences:
- The cheapest option is to fly on board Air China. The connections are due in Beijing and Shanghai, the flight time without taking them into account will be about 11.5 hours. The price of the issue is from 600 euros. The only drawback is the long transfer times, but this drawback will easily become an advantage if you spend time on sightseeing tours of the largest cities of the Middle Kingdom.
- Native Aeroflot flies through Korean Seoul with one connection. You will have to spend about 12 hours in the sky, and the cost of a round-trip ticket in this case will be at least 900 euros.
You will significantly save on the transfer if you subscribe to newsletters on the websites of the air carriers you are interested in. Daily newsletter will help you keep abreast of all discounts, special offers and promotions.
When traveling with children, do not forget to visit the Taipei Zoo. It is there that adorable pandas live, whom the Chinese love almost more than their own children. Before planning your visit, check when is the Chinese-style New Year in Taiwan - the zoo is closed on this day.
When going on a trip during the New Year celebrations according to the Lunar calendar, remember that this period is the most intense in the countries of Southeast Asia. Hotels are overcrowded on the days of the Chinese New Year, the cost of living in them, like other services, soars at times, and getting to popular attractions or on excursions will not only be difficult, but impossible, both morally and physically. If you do decide to take a risk, book hotels and air travel in advance, and calculate your budget with at least fifty percent of the usual budget.
