老外推薦：你不能錯過的10個台灣節慶 10 Taiwan Festivals You Can't Miss！│A Laowai's View of Taiwan

Hello everyone and welcome to a Laowise view of Taiwan. I'm Ben Hedges. In our previous video I shared with everyone from my personal experience why I think Taiwan is one of the best countries in the whole of Asia to visit. Today I would like to continue by introducing you to my top 10 festivals and activities in Taiwan. Number 1. Sky Lantern Festival Lunar New Year traditionally falls during January or February. At this time Taiwan is filled with a festive atmosphere. A lot of activities and events are organised to bring in the new year and one of them is the Sky Lantern Festival. This event has been listed as one of the 15 festivals to attend before you die and it's held in a small town called Pingxi. Any day of the year you can come to this small town, buy a lantern, write your wish on it, light it up and let it float up into the sky. However, there's only one day of the year when you can stand with several thousand people watching this majestic spectacle of thousands of lanterns floating off into the night sky. Number 2. The Beehive Fireworks Festival At Lunar New Year, apart from the Sky Lantern Festival, you can also go to the south of Taiwan to experience the Beehive Fireworks. Although the common theme between the Sky Lanterns and the Beehive Fireworks is, well, fire, they're not really the same thing at all. You see the Sky Lanterns float up safely into the sky, away from people, but the Beehive Fireworks shoot out at all angles, whether there are people in the way or not. If you like the action scenes from Saving Private Ryan, you'll definitely like the Beehive Fireworks Festival in Yanshui, but before you take part, be sure to follow the clothing requirements, taking protective measures to cover the entire body so as to avoid injury. Number 3. The Tong Blossom Festival Ok, so we've finished talking about the adrenaline pumping Beehive Fireworks, let's bring down the tension now. The Hakka people are the second largest ethnic group in Taiwan, and every year when spring turns to summer, in the areas where the Hakka population live, these beautiful white flowers bloom, providing scenic strolls too good to miss. Apart from the Tong Blossom Festival, it seems that in every season of the year there are beautiful flowers to be enjoyed in Taiwan. Ali Shan has the Oriental Cherry Blossom, Yangming Shan has the Kala, Hualien has the Orange Day Lily, and Caoling Historic Trail has the Awn Flower. Number 4. Duanwu Festival There are many types of cuisine in Taiwan, and if you come to Taiwan at the Duanwu Festival, apart from checking out the dragon boat races, don't forget to try the zongzi that Taiwanese people eat during the Duanwu Festival. While they may look plain, trust me, they're amazing. Number 5. Harvest Festival Every year when July and August harvest season comes around, the indigenous peoples of Taiwan hold the Harvest Festival, expressing their thanks for the year's crop. Apart from giving you a unique cultural experience, you'll also experience the passion and character of Taiwan's indigenous population. Word of warning here, feel free to have a few drinks with the Taiwanese aborigines, but don't get into a drinking competition with them. You won't win. Trust me. I've tried. Number 6. The Grappling with the Ghost Pole Climbing Competition Pole climbing is yet another type of extreme sport in Taiwan, kind of like Taiwan's version of American Ninja Warrior. Winning this contest is no simple feat. These guys have to climb to a height of 12 meters above the ground on poles covered in oil. Number 7. The Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival No matter what time of year you come to Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake should definitely be on your list of beautiful destinations to explore. But if you come in August, you'll be able to attend this event, which is included in the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum. To take part, you don't have to swim like Michael Phelps, but at a minimum, you have to be 10 years old and have the ability to swim long distances, because you're going to have to swim about 3 kilometers. If you like this kind of mass outdoor activity, every November, the Taroko Gorge Marathon is held in the Taroko National Park, bringing equally impressive amounts of mass exercise. Number 8. Mid-Autumn Festival This festival, which is closely linked to the moon, is one of the most important festivals in traditional Chinese culture. According to the traditions, it isn't Transformers that live in the moon. It is a legendary beautiful woman from ancient times and a lot of rabbits. Anyway, at Mid-Autumn Festival, not only can you sample multiple types of delicious moon cakes, Taiwanese people love to barbecue on this day. Number 9. The Confucius Memorial Cemetery Taiwan has played an important role in the protection and preservation of traditional Chinese culture. When you come to Taiwan, if precious ancient cultural artifacts don't completely satisfy your thirst for the culture of the East, and you want to experience a more interactive exposition of traditional culture, the Confucius Temple in Tainan, which holds a celebration of this great Chinese scholar's birthday every September, might be a good option. You can see the type of ceremony which has been held since ancient times. Of course, if you come to Tainan, apart from Confucius, you also mustn't forget to sample the local cuisine. Tainan is famous for its snacks. Number 10. New Year at Taipei 101 Finally, I want to recommend another Taiwanese New Year activity. But this time, we're talking about Western New Year, not the Lunar New Year. If you want to experience a bit of New Year excitement, you know, like the kind of excitement Gandalf brings to the party, then Taipei 101 is a great choice. This world-famous skyscraper puts on a dramatic fireworks display every New Year's Eve, letting you bring in the New Year in style. However, if you prefer to welcome in the New Year in a more natural setting, you can head to Sanxiantai on Taiwan's east coast to catch the sunrise on New Year's morning. Well, those are my top 10 festivals and events in Taiwan. But what do you guys think? Feel free to ask me anything about travelling in Taiwan. I'm Ben Hedges, and this is A Laowhy's View of Taiwan. See you next time.