{"schema_version":"v1","type":"trip_article","slug":"hakka-tung-blossom-festival","locale":"en","canonical_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/trips/hakka-tung-blossom-festival","updated_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00+00:00","headline":"Hakka Tung Blossom Festival: April to May on the hill trails of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli","one_sentence_summary":"The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival follows the tung bloom, roughly April to May, and peak bloom shifts with the weather. In 2026 it ran from 18 April into early May on village trails in Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli.","facts":[{"label":"Bloom season","value":"Roughly April to May; in 2026 the programme started on 18 April and ran into early May. The bloom is short and its peak shifts with the weather each year.","source":"https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8","sourceLabel":"hakka.gov.tw"},{"label":"Location","value":"In 2026, 13 cities and counties across Taiwan took turns hosting events; this page covers the Hakka village trails of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli.","source":"https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8","sourceLabel":"hakka.gov.tw"},{"label":"Taoyuan in 2026","value":"18 April–9 May: five districts (Longtan, Daxi, Yangmei, Guishan and Luzhu) took turns hosting, with the main venue at the Taoyuan Hakka Cultural Hall in Longtan and 13 listed viewing spots.","source":"https://www.nownews.com/news/6808818","sourceLabel":"nownews.com"},{"label":"Hsinchu in 2026","value":"Opened on 18 April and ran to 9 May under the theme \"Romantic Tung Gathering\", starting at the Hualong community centre plaza in Qionglin, with events in Qionglin, Beipu, Emei, Hukou and Baoshan.","source":"https://supertaste.tvbs.com.tw/travel/359301","sourceLabel":"supertaste.tvbs.com.tw"},{"label":"Miaoli in 2026","value":"Started in Sanyi on 18 April. The main event on 25 April was at the Yimin Temple plaza in Shitan and the Mingfeng Old Trail, where guided walks were free with advance registration. Other events in Zaoqiao, Dahu and Miaoli City ran into early May.","source":"https://udn.com/news/story/7324/9443453","sourceLabel":"udn.com"},{"label":"Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Shishan Line","value":"Route 5700, from TRA Zhubei Station via Zhudong and Beipu Old Street to the Shishan Visitor Center. Fares go by distance; a one-day pass is NT$100 (checked October 2026).","source":"https://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/line/4","sourceLabel":"taiwantrip.com.tw"},{"label":"Good to know","value":"Late-spring weather in the hills changes quickly and stone steps are slippery after rain, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a jacket.","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_blossom","sourceLabel":"en.wikipedia.org"}],"city_tabs":{"miaoli":{"title":"Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli · Hakka hills","bullets":["Most tung trails are in the Hakka villages of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli, reachable by car or by local train and a connection","Bloom updates are posted in the Hakka Affairs Council's tung blossom section","Down the hill, the Hakka villages serve Hakka food and lei-cha"],"source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_blossom","sourceLabel":"Hakka Affairs Council"}},"faq":[{"q":"When is the Hakka Tung Blossom Festival held?","a":"In late spring, roughly April to May, when the tung trees bloom. In 2026 the Hakka Affairs Council linked 13 cities and counties into one programme that started on 18 April and ran into early May. The 2027 dates have not been announced; bloom updates are posted in the council's tung blossom section.","sources":["https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8"]},{"q":"Where are the main places to see tung blossoms?","a":"The Hakka village trails of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli. In 2026 Taoyuan's events rotated through Longtan, Daxi, Yangmei, Guishan and Luzhu, Hsinchu's covered Qionglin, Beipu, Emei, Hukou and Baoshan, and Miaoli's main event was on the Mingfeng Old Trail in Shitan.","sources":["https://www.nownews.com/news/6808818","https://supertaste.tvbs.com.tw/travel/359301","https://udn.com/news/story/7324/9443453"]},{"q":"Is it better to drive or take public transport?","a":"Both work. Driving is more flexible. Without a car, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Shishan Line runs from Zhubei Station to Beipu and Shishan, and on the day of Miaoli's 2026 main event free buses ran from HSR Miaoli Station. Plan around the return services so you are not coming down too late.","sources":["https://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/line/4","https://udn.com/news/story/7324/9443453"]},{"q":"Do you need to stay overnight?","a":"Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli are not far from northern Taiwan, so a day trip works. If you want to be on the trail at dawn, before the daytime crowds, stay a night near the villages and set out early the next morning instead of catching a pre-dawn train from Taipei.","sources":["https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8"]},{"q":"Are the tung blossom trails hard to walk?","a":"Most village trails are paths locals use every day, so no hiking experience is needed. Watch your footing where fallen blossoms cover the stone steps.","sources":["https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8"]},{"q":"What should you prepare before setting out?","a":"Check the weather: stone steps are slippery after rain, so wear non-slip shoes, and bring a jacket because it cools down in the hills towards evening.","sources":["https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8"]}],"sources":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_blossom","https://tung.hakka.gov.tw/","https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/","https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8","https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=9153df23-2277-4b05-96a7-e63a8c704609","https://cloud.hakka.gov.tw/Details?p=2251&pid=85655","https://udn.com/news/story/7324/9443453","https://www.nownews.com/news/6808818","https://supertaste.tvbs.com.tw/travel/359301","https://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/line/4"],"key_takeaways":[{"text":"The Hakka Affairs Council started the festival in 2002. In 2026 it linked 13 cities and counties into one programme and did not hold a main event of its own.","date":"2026-05-31","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8","source_label":"hakka.gov.tw"},{"text":"The bloom is short; in 2026 it moved from south to north, starting in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan. Bloom updates are posted in the council's tung blossom section.","date":"2026-05-31","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.hakka.gov.tw/chhakka/app/data/view?module=hotnews&id=25&serno=677e5937-6cd3-4f1a-8335-7db597c1f2d8","source_label":"hakka.gov.tw"},{"text":"Hakka farmers first planted tung trees for tung oil and seeds, as a cash crop rather than for their flowers.","date":"2026-05-31","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_blossom","source_label":"en.wikipedia.org"}],"reading_outline":[{"id":"executive-summary","label":"Summary"},{"id":"city-routes","label":"Places and routes"},{"id":"rules","label":"Before you go"},{"id":"faq","label":"FAQ"},{"id":"sources","label":"Sources"}],"topic":{"chain":["trips","taiwan-festivals","hakka-tung-blossom-festival"]},"status":"published","hero_image":{"src":"/hero/hakka-tung-blossom-festival.webp","alt":"Hakka Tung Blossom Festival: April to May on the hill trails of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli"},"editorial":{"tagline":"Tung flowers drop whole and cover the stone steps of Hakka villages","paragraphs":["The Hakka Affairs Council started the Tung Blossom Festival in 2002. In 2026 the council held no main event of its own; instead, cities and counties ran their own trail walks, markets and Hakka cultural activities during the bloom, with the programme running into early May.","Tung flowers are white with a pale yellow centre and fall whole when they finish, covering trails and stone steps, which is why they are called \"May snow\". The bloom follows the temperature: in 2026 it moved from south to north, starting in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan.","The tung tree was not planted for its looks. Hakka farmers grew it for tung oil and seeds as a cash crop, mostly on the slopes behind their villages.","Miaoli's main event in 2026 was in Shitan Township. The Mingfeng Old Trail is part of the Raknus Selu Trail (the \"camphor trail\"), with Hakka performances, craft workshops and old-street tours along the way."]},"guide":{"lede":"Peak bloom shifts with the weather each year, so check the Hakka Affairs Council's bloom updates before you go. The 2027 dates are not out yet; events usually run in April and May.","sections":[{"heading":"Bloom season and bloom updates","body":"The festival runs in late spring, roughly April to May. The bloom is short: a warm early spring brings it forward, and a wet, slow-warming spring pushes it back.\n\nThe Hakka Affairs Council posts bloom updates in its tung blossom section, and **the council announces the 2027 dates**."},{"heading":"Village trails in Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli","body":"Events and trails in the three areas in 2026:\n\n**Taoyuan**: five districts took turns, with the main venue at the Taoyuan Hakka Cultural Hall in Longtan. The 13 official viewing spots included the Sankeng bike path and Xiaocukeng Old Trail in Longtan, the Shiyizhi and Zhaiming Temple old trails in Daxi, the Baojia Old Trail in Yangmei and the Wujiutongshan Trail in Luzhu.\n\n**Hsinchu**: the programme opened in Qionglin; Beipu had blossom walks on its trails and heritage tours, Emei centred on Emei Lake, and Hukou and Baoshan held their own events. Both Taoyuan and Hsinchu ran until 9 May.\n\n**Miaoli**: Sanyi opened the programme, the Mingfeng Old Trail in Shitan hosted the main event, and Zaoqiao, Dahu and Miaoli City added guided walks and short tours until early May.\n\nEach county will announce its 2027 events and trails."},{"heading":"Trails and fitness","body":"Most village trails are paths locals use every day, so no hiking experience is needed. There are plenty of stone steps, and they get slippery when covered in fallen blossoms, so take the slopes slowly if your knees are not great."},{"heading":"Shishan Line shuttle and Miaoli event buses","body":"Without a car, the Hsinchu side is served by the **Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Shishan Line (5700)**, from TRA Zhubei Station through Zhudong and Beipu Old Street to the Shishan Visitor Center. Fares go by distance, with a NT$100 day pass (checked October 2026).\n\nOn the day of Miaoli's 2026 main event in Shitan, free buses linked HSR Miaoli Station, TRA Miaoli Station, the Yimin Temple in Shitan and Yundong Temple in Touwu; whether they run again in 2027 depends on Miaoli County's announcement.\n\nDriving is more flexible if the blossoms are good and you want to stay longer. By bus or train, plan around the return services and do not come down too late."},{"heading":"Where to stay and what it costs","body":"Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli are close to Taipei, so a day trip is enough for one trail; to be on the trail at dawn, stay a night near the villages.\n\nIn 2026 the guided walks on the Mingfeng Old Trail in Shitan were free but needed advance booking, with 40 places each in the morning and afternoon. Otherwise the main costs are transport, a meal or two of Hakka food and a room if you stay over."},{"heading":"Crowds and timing","body":"The bloom is short and concentrated, so popular trails are busy at weekends; start at dawn to avoid the crowds."},{"heading":"Weather and what to wear","body":"Late-spring weather in the hills changes quickly and stone steps are slippery after rain, so wear non-slip shoes; it cools down in the hills towards evening, so bring a jacket."},{"heading":"Village etiquette, Hakka food and lei-cha","body":"At the foot of the trails are Hakka villages where you can eat Hakka food and drink lei-cha, a ground tea.\n\nThe villages are where people live, so keep your voice down, and check before taking photos that you are not capturing homes or residents. Life and work go on as usual during the blossom season, so give way to residents on the trails and lanes."}]},"kind":"festival","available_locales":["zh-TW","en","th","id"],"event_start_date":null,"event_end_date":null,"dates_estimated":false,"next_edition":null,"offers":[{"id":"joye-sanyi","title":{"zh-TW":"苗栗三義卓也小屋門票","en":"Joye Cottage, Sanyi (Miaoli) ticket","th":"ตั๋วโจเย่คอทเทจ ซานอี้ เหมียวลี่","id":"Tiket Joye Cottage, Sanyi (Miaoli)"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"ticket","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/hakka-tung-blossom-festival?o=joye-sanyi&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"shifeng-spa","title":{"zh-TW":"苗栗大湖石風溫泉城堡：湯屋・大眾湯","en":"Shi Feng Stone Spa, Dahu: private & public baths","th":"ออนเซ็นปราสาทหินสือเฟิง ต้าหู: ห้องส่วนตัวและบ่อรวม","id":"Shi Feng Stone Spa, Dahu: pemandian privat & umum"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/hakka-tung-blossom-festival?o=shifeng-spa&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"}]}