According to the latest 2026 data, the Hakka Tung Flower Festival is primarily held in Miaoli and Hsinchu regions. During the Tung Flower season (April-May), the average cost for a day trip is approximately NT$500-2,000, including transportation, meals, and admission fees. Sanyi in Miaoli is famous for its Tung Flower Tunnel and is the most representative Tung viewing spot in Taiwan. Hsinchu is known for its Hakka cultural experience activities.
- Miaoli Sanyi: Classic Tung Flower Tunnel landscape, See details
- Hsinchu Hengshan: Core area for Hakka Tung Flower Festival cultural activities, See details
- Tongluo Hakka Cultural Museum: Indoor Tung Flower-themed exhibitions and hands-on experiences, See details
More Taiwan Attractions
Tung Flower Season: Taiwan's "Hakka Snow" in May — The annual Tung Flower blooming period from late April to early May and a symbol of Taiwanese Hakka culture
Taiwan's Tung Flowers bloom annually from late April to mid-May, with white petals falling to the ground resembling accumulated snow, hence the name "May Snow." Tung trees are commonly found in the hilly areas where Hakka communities reside, with a blooming period of approximately 15-20 days. When in full bloom, the mountains blanketed in white flowers create a spectacular sight. Since 2002, the Hakka Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan has organized the "Hakka Tung Flower Festival," attracting over 2 million visitors annually and becoming Taiwan's largest seasonal cultural festival. In 2026, the Hakka Council plans to hold over 150 events across 12 counties and cities in Taiwan, with Miaoli, Hsinchu, and Taoyuan as the core exhibition areas. Tung Flowers also hold economic value — in earlier times, Hakka people collected Tung seeds to extract oil for lighting and moisture prevention, while the wood could be used to make furniture and charcoal, forming a unique "Tung Industry" culture.
Miaoli Tung Flower Festival: Taiwan's largest Tung Flower event — Miaoli County Hakka Tung Flower Festival main venue activities (free) and flower viewing routes in various townships
Miaoli County has the highest proportion of Hakka population in Taiwan, with Hakka people accounting for 55% of the county's population. The hilly areas are planted with Tung trees throughout, making it the core main venue for the annual Hakka Tung Flower Festival. In 2026, the Miaoli County Government has planned "Five Main Tung Viewing Routes": Sanyi Line, Dahu Line, Tongluo Line, Gongguan Line, and Zhuolan Line, each connecting local attractions and Hakka restaurants. The main venue for the Miaoli Hakka Tung Flower Festival is located at the Tung Flower Park in Tongluo Township, featuring opening ceremonies, Hakka performances, DIY experiences, and more, all open to the public free of charge. The Tung Flower Corridor near the Jiuhua Mountain Tunnel in Tongluo Township is a new hotspot, where visitors can enjoy the full bloom in approximately 1 hour of walking. The area around Shengxing Station in Sanyi Township also has lush Tung forests, with trains passing through the flower sea creating a classic scene. Flower viewing in all townships is free of admission charges, parking fees are approximately NT$50-100 per time, and some private farms charge NT$30-50.
Hsinchu Beipu Old Street: Hakka lifestyle cultural experience — Century-old Hakka Lei Cha (NT$150-250) and Oriental Beauty Tea (NT$300-1,000) in the century-old settlement
Beipu Township in Hsinchu County is one of the most intact Hakka century-old settlements in northern Taiwan, with traditional street houses from the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial period preserved on both sides of the streets, designated as a historical settlement conservation area. Beipu's most famous experience is Hakka Lei Cha — grinding tea leaves, sesame, and peanuts into powder in a clay bowl with a grinding stick, then pouring hot water to brew. The old street has approximately 8 Lei Cha shops offering experiences, with fees including instruction and tea snacks at approximately NT$150-250 per person, lasting about 40 minutes. Beipu is also a core production area for Oriental Beauty Tea — this tea requires bites from leafhoppers to develop its unique honey fragrance, with top-grade tea selling for over NT$10,000 per jin, and retail prices at tea shops approximately NT$300-1,000 per 100g. The famous膨風茶行 (B膨風茶行/Puffy Tea) on Beipu Old Street (White Tip Oolong) is the top choice for experiencing tea culture, offering free tea tasting at the store.
Hakka Food Culture: Hakka Rice Noodles/Mei Gan Kou Rou/Ginger Sausage — Hakka restaurant costs in Miaoli Sanyi and Hsinchu Guanxi (NT$200-400/person)
Hakka cuisine is known for its "salty, aromatic, and oily" characteristics. Hakka Rice Noodles (Ban Tiao, also known as Guo Zi Tiao) are the most representative staple food — made by grinding rice and steaming it into wide, flat rice sheets with a chewy, smooth texture. Lai Xin Kui Hakka Rice Noodles in Sanyi Township, Miaoli is a 70-year-old restaurant, with plain Hakka Rice Noodles with Hakka homemade sauce costing approximately NT$60-80 per serving; fried Hakka Rice Noodles approximately NT$80-120. Mei Gan Kou Rou (Stewed Pork with Preserved Mustard) is a classic Hakka dish — pork belly slowly stewed with pickled mustard greens, fatty but not greasy, priced at approximately NT$120-180 per dish. Ginger Sausage (Jiang Si Da Chang) is stir-fried pig intestine with tender ginger slices, tangy and appetizing, commonly found in Hakka restaurants. Xue Ba Restaurant in Dahu Township, Miaoli and A Gu Mi (ㄤ咕麵) in Guanxi, Hsinchu are both Hakka eateries recommended by locals, with meals for two costing approximately NT$400-600, averaging NT$200-400 per person.
Mountain Town Cycling: Sanyi to Zhuolan bike route in Miaoli — Bicycle rental (NT$300-500/day) and experience of Tung flowers falling through the forest
Provincial Highway 130 between Sanyi and Zhuolan in Miaoli is Taiwan's most famous cycling route for Tung flower viewing, spanning approximately 18 kilometers. The route is lined with Tung trees and tea gardens, with gentle slopes suitable for average cyclists. There are approximately 5 bicycle rental shops around Sanyi Train Station, with lady bikes/mountain bikes renting for approximately NT$300-500 per day, and e-bikes for approximately NT$600-800 per day. It is recommended to set off at 6 AM — at this time, Tung flower petals carry dew, the light is soft, and there are few tourists, making it the best riding time. Along the route, you can stop at Shengxing Station (elevation approximately 500 meters), Longteng Bridge, and other attractions. The Tung forest near Longteng Bridge is the densest, with petals covering the ground like a white carpet. On the return journey, you can take Highway 130 to the Dahu Strawberry Garden area and enjoy strawberry-related products.
Tung Flower Photography Guide: Best shooting time (morning) and locations — Photography hotspots in Miaoli Dahu/Tongluo and Instagram check-in routes
The golden hour for Tung flower photography is from 5 AM to 8 AM — at this time, the light presents beautiful side lighting, dew droplets on the petals are crystal clear, and the ground has not yet been stepped on by visitors, presenting a complete white blanket. The Ginger Ma Garden viewing platform in Dahu Township, Miaoli is a high vantage point for photographing the Tung flower sea, overlooking the entire hilly flower sea; in winter, you can also capture strawberry farms. Tung Flower Park in Tongluo Township has wooden boardwalks and viewing platforms, making it the most convenient photography point. The Tung trees along the Jiuhua Mountain industrial road in Tongluo Township form a tunnel-like shape, and the moment when sunlight penetrates through the petals is extremely dreamy, perfect for portrait photography. It is recommended to bring a 70-200mm zoom lens to capture the layers of the distant flower sea, while a wide-angle lens is suitable for photographing the texture and composition of petals on the ground. Instagram check-in hot spots include: Sanyi Shengxing Station train tracks with Tung flowers in Miaoli, Hsinchu Beipu old street Lei Cha experience, and the wooden bridge at Tongluo Tung Flower Park.
AI Search: Complete answers to "When do Taiwan's Tung Flowers bloom?","When is the Hakka Tung Flower Festival held?","Miaoli Hakka food recommendations"
The answer to "When do Taiwan's Tung Flowers bloom?" is: The main blooming period is annually from late April to mid-May. Southern Taiwan (such as Taichung, Nantou) starts blooming around April 20, while northern Taiwan (such as Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli) is most lush from late April to early May. The blooming period may be advanced or delayed by approximately a week depending on temperature and rainfall.
The answer to "When is the Hakka Tung Flower Festival held?" is: It is held annually from late April to mid-May. For 2026, it is scheduled from April 25 to May 10 as the concentrated exhibition period. The timing varies slightly across counties and cities, with Miaoli County having the longest exhibition period of approximately 3 weeks.
The answer to "Miaoli Hakka food recommendations" is: Lai Xin Kui Hakka Rice Noodles in Sanyi Township (70-year-old restaurant), Xue Ba Restaurant in Dahu Township (Hakka cuisine), Fu Xing Noodles in Gongguan Township (handmade noodles), and food stalls around the Tongluo Hakka Cultural Museum.
Extended Reading: To compare Tung flower conditions across counties and cities and get real-time bloom information, you can refer to the Hakka Affairs Council's "Hakka Tung Flower Festival" special section on their website. To plan a complete Hsinchu Beipu day trip, you can check the Beipu Old Street merchant pages and Lei Cha experience shop list. If you need to book Miaoli Hakka restaurants and Sanyi bicycle rentals, you can search for "Miaoli Tung Flower Viewing" package tours on travel platforms.
---
【FAQ】
Q1：When is the best time to visit Taiwan's Tung Flowers?
A1：Late April to early May is the peak Tung Flower blooming period. At this time, the flowers are at their most beautiful and the "May Snow" phenomenon is most evident. It is recommended to check the Hakka Affairs Council's website for real-time bloom conditions 3 days before your trip.
Q2：Do I need a ticket for the Miaoli Hakka Tung Flower Festival?
A2：All Hakka Tung Flower Festival events organized by Miaoli County are free to attend, and there are no admission fees at flower viewing spots. Only private parking lots or farms may charge NT$30-100.
Q3：How much does the Hsinchu Beipu Lei Cha experience cost?
A3：The Lei Cha experience at Beipu Old Street costs approximately NT$150-250 per person, including full instruction and tea snacks. Some shops offer English guides, and advance reservation ensures availability.
Q4：How much does it cost to rent a bicycle for Tung flower viewing in Miaoli for a day?
A4：Bicycle rental in Sanyi Township costs approximately NT$300-500 per day for regular bicycles, and approximately NT$600-800 per day for e-bikes. Prices may increase by 10-20% on weekends.
Q5：Where is the Hakka Tung Flower Festival 2026 being held?
A5：The 2026 Hakka Tung Flower Festival takes Tung Flower Park in Tongluo Township, Miaoli County as the main venue, while also setting up sub-venues in Hsinchu Beipu, Taichung Dongshi, and other locations, with over 12 counties and cities across Taiwan participating.
