Courtesy of Yu-Liu Chen & Editorial Office
From 2025 into a hopeful 2026, Hualien has crafted a series of festive celebrations just for you. From the warm, biblical-themed Christmas City to the electrifying New Year’s Eve concert and the dazzling lantern festival that follows, the entire city is filled with rich holiday spirit. Travelers can enjoy Hualien’s wintertime charm, letting its beauty and passion light up the new year.
Taiwan’s Most Distinctive Rural Arts Festival｜Fuli Rice Straw Art Festival
Fuli Township is renowned for organic, eco-friendly farming and biodiversity, and is also the first location certified Special A Rank by Japan’s Rice Paddy Environment Appraisal System. With about 2,500 hectares of rice fields, Fuli Farmers’ Association transforms post-harvest agricultural waste - such as rice straw and bamboo weaving - into creative artworks each winter. The Fuli Farmers’ Association embodies the Satoyama Initiative’s vision of “harmonious coexistence with nature,” creating a unique style of straw art culture.
From the start, the Fuli Rice Straw Art Festival has emphasized landscape co-creation with farmers. It combines bamboo-weaving craftsmanship with creative participation from local village schools. It has now become one of Hualien’s signature annual events, attracting visitors from near and far. Every piece carries an interesting story, offering both fun and educational value - it’s a world where children can learn ecological knowledge through straw art.
INFO｜The 7th Fuli Rice Straw Art Festival
Address: No. 6, Donghu, Neighborhood 9, Fuli Township, Hualien County (Behind Luoshan Exhibition and Sales Center, Fuli Township Farmers’ Association)
Telephone: 03-8821705
Business hours: 12/25 Starts
Lavatory: Yes
※Actual event dates and details will be announced on the official website.
The Warmest Christmas Blessings｜Hualien Happy Christmas Land
Spanning more than 33,000 square meters, Hualien Happy Christmas Land attracts nearly 100,000 visitors each year. Adults and children alike arrive with phones and cameras ready, snapping endless photos at its popular installations.
Among the most iconic attractions are the giant Christmas installations, dreamy spherical Christmas houses, and artistic displays showcasing Christmas traditions from different countries. The internationally themed Christmas market brings together vendors from around the world - perfect for capturing heartwarming moments of cultural exchange. From sparkling star lights to live performances of Jesus, the shepherds, and the Biblical Magi, visitors can immerse themselves in a Christmas story that is both romantic and reverent. You can savor foods from around the world while admiring the festive lights and feeling the warmth and blessings of the season.
INFO｜2025 Hualien Happy Christmas Land
Address: No. 192, Fuqian Road, Hualien City (Fuqian Stone Sculpture Museum Park)
Telephone: 03-8227171#366
Business hours: 12/24-12/28 Christmas Market
Lavatory: Yes
※Actual event dates and details will be announced on the official website.
Eastern Taiwan’s Grand New Year Celebration｜Hualien New Year’s Eve Concert
The “Hualien New Year’s Eve Party” concert has become the most anticipated year-end event in eastern Taiwan, now entering its 12th year. Each New Year’s Eve, huge crowds gather at Hualien’s Dongdamen Square. The event not only boasts a professional stage and lighting setup on par with Taipei Arena, but also brings together top Asian vocalists and Taiwan’s most captivating stars, delivering powerhouse performances on the same stage. Audiences can enjoy a world-class audiovisual spectacle - no passport required. The lineup always brings surprises, with superstar performances followed by spectacular fireworks that light up the sky, making Hualien’s New Year’s Eve both romantic and radiant.
Beyond music, the celebration continues with heartfelt programming. Right after the countdown, the “2026 New Year’s Day Walking Event” invites everyone to welcome the year’s first sunrise while strolling through Hualien’s fresh air and majestic natural scenery - beginning a hopeful new year.
INFO｜2025-2026 Hualien New Year’s Eve Party
Address: Dongdamen Square, Hualien City
Telephone: 03-8227171#524
Business hours: 12/31
Lavatory: Yes
※Actual event dates and details will be announced on the official website.
Blossoms Welcoming the Year of the Horse｜Hualien Pacific Ocean Lantern Festival
As the Lunar New Year approaches, the festive spirit fills every corner of Hualien. Walking along every street and alley, tens of thousands of red lanterns hang high above, filling the air with a festive, joyful atmosphere that seems to greet both returning locals and visiting travelers. To fully experience the holiday joy, start at the Sunrise Boulevard Lunar New Year Street Market to prepare your festive goods, then head to the Hualien Pacific Ocean Lantern Festival for a night of sparkling lantern displays.
This Year of the Snake lantern festival takes “Full Bloom” as its theme, serving as the opening chapter of the “We Bloom!” initiative - symbolizing light and hope. From blossoming flowers to flowing illuminations, the displays express vitality and renewal. The festival’s main lantern is once again a highlight, combining a magnificent light show, dynamic stage performances, and imaginative art installations for a visual feast. Traditional Lantern Festival activities such as lantern riddles and lantern giveaways add warmth and fun. Make Hualien part of your Lunar New Year journey! Here, you can savor local snacks, enjoy natural scenery, experience vibrant cultural diversity, and feel the genuine warmth of Hualien’s people.
INFO｜2026 Hualien Pacific Ocean Lantern Festival
Address: Hualien City Sunrise Boulevard (Performance Plaza next to Chongqing Market)
Telephone: 03-8227171#524
Business hours: 2026/02/07-03/08 (Tentative and closed Lunar New Year's Eve)
※Actual event dates and details will be announced on the official website.