Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival at Luye Gaotai. Also known as the Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival, this is the most anticipated event in Taiwan every summer. Come and join the event this 2021. The one-man team luomujie blog created this travel guide to help you have a wonderful hot air balloon experience. From the various ways to go to Taitung up to the scheduled events, everything you need to know about the festival is on this page.
- 1. When is the 2021 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival?
- 2. How to go to Taitung
- 3. Airport transfer options to the nearest TRA/MRT or HSR Stations
- 4. What to do after arriving at TRA Taitung Station
- 5. Schedule of events for the 2021 Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival
- 6. Online Booking for the Tethered Balloon Experience
- 7. Where to stay in Taitung?
1. When is the 2021 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival?
The 2021 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival is expected to happen from July to August.
2. How to go to Taitung
The easiest way to go to Taitung is to fly from Taipei Songshan Airport, but most people prefer to ride the TRA train to Taitung Station. If you're coming from Taipei, it will be difficult to get tickets for the Taipei-Taitung trip. The demand is so high that it becomes impossible to go to the east coast of Taiwan. Luckily, the High Speed Rail along the west coast of Taiwan makes it possible to travel to Kaohsiung, and then transfer to a TRA express train at Xin Zuoying Station to get to Taitung Station.
People from Taoyuan, Taichung, Chiayi and especially Tainan, should just go south to Kaohsiung via the High Speed Rail network. I have included the klook links so you will get 20% discount for your HSR tickets. To book a train ticket for the TRA, just follow the link that I have given. You will be directed to the English version of the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) online booking website [Reserve here]. Select your origin, destination (ex. Taitung Station) and the date you want to travel. The train timetable will be shown for your chosen date. To book a seat, click the ticket icon under the "Order tickets" column. A new page will open where you will type your passport number. Press the inquiry button again. You will know if there is a seat or not. If you got a seat, continue the booking process. If not, just opt for the HSR method.
Read the table below to know more about the different ways to go to Taitung.
| Route | Mode of transportation | Terminal | Where to buy tickets online | Ticket price | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAIPEI to TAITUNG | by train via TRA | Taipei Main Station [to Taitung Station] [Google Map] |
Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) online booking website [Reserve here] | NTD 783 |
3.5 to 4.5 hours (Puyuma or Tze-Chiang Limited Express) [high demand] [difficult to get tickets] |
| by plane via UNI Air | Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)[Google Map] [to Taitung Airport (TTT)] | UNI Air website (Select English language) [Reserve here] | >NTD 1,566 (promo) NTD 2,280 (regular) | 65 minutes | |
| by plane via Mandarin Airlines | Mandarin Airlines website (Select English language) [Reserve here] | >NTD 1,560 (promo) NTD 2,303 (regular) | 50 minutes | ||
| TAIPEI TO KAOHSIUNG (then follow the Kaohsiung to Taitung route below) | by train via HSR | Taipei Main Station (or HSR Banqiao Station or HSR Nangang Station) [to HSR Zuoying (Kaohsiung) Station] | NTD 1,192 | 1.5 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes | |
| KAOHSIUNG TO TAITUNG | by Bus 0978 [route and timetable] via Kuo-Kuang bus and Kaohsiung Bus company | Kaohsiung Main Station (Kuo-Kuang bus terminal) [Google Map] [to TRA Taitung Station] [Google Map] | buy your tickets at the bus station | NTD 186 | 3.5 to 4 hours |
| by Bus 1778 [route and timetable] via Kuo-Kuang bus company | Kaohsiung Main Station (Kuo-Kuang bus terminal) [Google Map] [to Taitung Bus Station/Taitung Transfer Station] [Google Map] | NTD 540 | |||
| by train via TRA | TRA Xinzuoying Station[Google Map] (connected to HSR Zuoying Station) [to Taitung Station] [Google Map] | Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) online booking website [Reserve here] | NTD 294 (Chu-Kuang Express) NTD 370 (Tze-Chiang Limited Express) | 3 to 4 hours (Chu-Kuang Express) 2.5 to 3 hours (Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains) | |
| TAIPEI to HUALIEN (then follow the Hualien to Taitung route below) | Taipei Main Station [to Hualien Station] | NTD 340 (Chu-Kuang Express) NTD 440 (Puyuma, Taroko or Tze-Chiang Limited Express) | 2.5 to 4 hours (Chu-Kuang Express) 2 to 3 hours (Puyuma, Taroko or Tze-Chiang Limited Express) | ||
| by bus then local train via combo ticket | Taipei City Hall Bus Station to TRA Luodong Rear Station [Google Map] by bus TRA Luodong Station to TRA Hualien Station [Google Map]by train | Taipei City Hall Bus Station (MRT Taipei City Hall Station [Blue Line] Exit 2 [buy the combo tickets at Taipei City Hall Bus Station] | NTD 209 (if there are no local trains when you arrive at Luodong Station, will need to add ~NTD 70 to upgrade for an express train ticket) | 3 to 4 hours (the earlier, the better) | |
| by direct bus from Nangang, Taipei to Hualien | Nangang West Bus Station to TRA Hualien Station | TRA/MRT Nangang Station then go the ground floor of CITYLINK mall [Reserve here] |
3 to 4 hours | ||
| HUALIEN to TAITUNG | by train via TRA | Hualien Station [to Taitung Station] [Google Map] | Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) online booking website [Reserve here] | NTD 220 (local train, no need to reserve) NTD 343 (Puyuma or Tze-Chiang Limited Express train, book online to reserve) | more than 3 hours local train 1.5 to 3 hours (Puyuma, Taroko or Tze-Chiang Limited Express) |
| TAICHUNG to HUALIEN (then follow the Hualien to Taitung route above) | by plane via Mandarin Airlines | Taichung Airport [to Hualien Airport] | Mandarin Airlines website (Select English language) [Reserve here] | >NTD 1,159 (promo) NTD 2,318 (regular) | 60 minutes (after arriving at Hualien Airport, board a taxi to TRA Hualien Station) [Google Map] |
| TAICHUNG to TAITUNG | by train via TRA (2 or 3 trains depart per day) | TRA Taichung Station[Google Map] [to Taitung Station] [Google Map] | Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) online booking website [Reserve here] | NTD 641 to NTD 806 | 5.5 hours |
| TAICHUNG TO KAOHSIUNG | by train via HSR (then follow the Kaohsiung to Taitung route by transferring to a TRA express train at Xinzuoying Station) | HSR Taichung/Taoyuan/ Hsinchu/Chiayi/ Tainan Station [to HSR Zuoying (Kaohsiung) Station] | NTD 632 | ~1 hour | |
| TAOYUAN TO KAOHSIUNG | NT$ 1,064 | 1.5 to 2 hours | |||
| HSINCHU TO KAOHSIUNG | NTD 960 | 1.5 hours | |||
| CHIAYI TO KAOHSIUNG | NTD 328 | 30 minutes | |||
| TAINAN TO KAOHSIUNG | NTD 112 | 13 minutes |
3. Airport transfer options to the nearest TRA/MRT or HSR Stations
The Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) is the best gateway to go to Taitung for travellers planning to enter Taiwan. Just look for an airline like AirAsia that has a direct flight to KHH. If you are able to book, then congratulations! You are just one step closer to Taitung.
| Airport | Transfer Point | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) | Airport MRT A12 (Terminal 1) or A13 (Terminal 2) Station | Taipei Main Station (A1 Station) or HSR Taoyuan Station (A18) |
| Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) | MRT Taipei Songshan Airport Station [Brown Line] | Taipei Main Station or fly directly to Taitung Airport |
| Taichung International Airport (RMQ) | Bus 156 (Taichung Airport to HSR Taichung) | HSR Taichung Station |
| Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) | Kaohsiung MRT R4 Station [Red Line] (Kaohsiung International Airport) | Kaohsiung MRT R16 Zuoying Station [Red Line] (HSR Zuoying Station/TRA Xinzuoying Station) |
4. What to do after arriving at TRA Taitung Station
After arriving at TRA Taitung Station, you can go to your hotel or go directly to the festival if you are too excited to see the hot air balloons. Follow the links that I have given below on the table, to know the location of the bus stops.
| Destination | Bus number |
|---|---|
| Taitung Bus Station/ Taitung Transfer Station (臺東轉運站)[Google Map] | Urban Anticlockwise Circular Line Bus 8168 Bus 8167 |
| Luye Highland aka Luye Gaotai[Google Map] (if you want to go to the hot air balloon festival directly after arriving at Taitung Station) | Bus 8168 [Taiwan Tour Bus East Rift Line] (Ask the driver first if the bus is going to Luye Gaotai, or else the vehicle will go to Taitung Bus Station) |
5. Schedule of events for the 2021 Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival
| Date | Venue | Time | Activity | Comments/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 11 to Aug. 30 | Luye Gaotai[Google Map] | [Tethered Balloon Activity] 5:30 to 7:30 [Shuttle Bus Departure time from Taitung Bus Station/Taitung Transfer Station (臺東轉運站)][Google Map] 04:10 04:30 04:50 [Return to Taitung Transfer Station] 07:10 07:30 | morning tethered balloon activity | Reserve online or register on-site to join the tethered balloon activity The 5:30 am and 5:00 pm tethered balloon activities is also the time to watch the hot air balloons while sitting on the grass at Luye Gaotai. morning bus fare: NTD 75 afternoon/night bus fare: NTD 120 |
| [Tethered Balloon Activity] 17:00 to 19:00 [Shuttle Bus Departure time from Taitung Transfer Station (The bus will also make a stop at TRA Taitung Station after 18 minutes.)] 15:00 15:30 16:00 [Return to Taitung Transfer Station] 18:40 18:50 19:00 [Return to Taitung Transfer Station after the Night Glow Show] 20:30 20:40 20:50 | afternoon tethered balloon activity | |||
| July 11, Aug. 16 and Aug. 30 | 19:00 | Night Glow Show | Balloon tethered activities are affected during these dates (ex. The afternoon balloon tethered activity is suspended to give way for the preparation of the Night Glow Show at 7:00 pm For the Zhiben Hot Spring venue: there is bus that will take you from TRA Zhiben Station | |
| Aug. 8 | Zhiben Hot Spring[Google Map] | |||
| Aug. 22 | Taitung Forest Park[Google Map] | |||
| July 18 | Sanxiantai[Google Map] | [Morning Glow Show] 4:00 [Shuttle Bus Departure time from Taitung Transfer Station to Sanxiatai] 02:40 [Shuttle Bus Departure time from Taitung Transfer Station to Taimali Dawn Park] 03:10 [Shuttle Bus Departure time from Taitung Transfer Station to Dawu Coast Park] 02:30 [Return to Taitung Transfer Station from Sanxiatai,Taimali Dawn Park or Dawu Coast Park] 06:00 | Morning Glow Show | |
| Aug. 1 | Taimali Dawn Park[Google Map] |
6. Online Booking for the Tethered Balloon Experience
To join the tethered balloon activity, you can book a slot online ( [Reserve here] ) or just go to Luye Gaotai to register on-site. If you are able to book online, just show the QR code to the Taitung Fun Card representatives.
Just a reminder, if you will join the tethered balloon activity, then you might not have time to sit on the lawn area to watch the hot air balloons. To catch the hot air balloons soaring in the sky and not just held by a rope, when you go to the event the weather forecast must be super good. I suggest going for the 5:30 am sessions to get the best viewing experience.
7. Where to stay in Taitung?
The technique during the Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival is to choose a hostel or hotel which is walking distance from the Taitung Transfer Station (Taitung Bus Station). So if you want to go to the 5:30 am event or even on the Morning Glow Show, you can just walk from the hostel or hotel to the bus station.
When I went to Taitung, I stayed at Hostel Who Knows. The dorm rates at that hostel was very affordable and the host speaks good English. He even helped me buy a ticket to Green Island and Orchid Island. If ever the owner asked you about who recommended Hostel Who Knows, just tell this: "that guy from the Philippines who travels every week in Taiwan".
| Name | Location | Distance from Taitung Transfer Station/ Taitung Bus Station | Estimated price per night (1 adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel Who Knows [Reserve here] | [Google Map] | 450 meters | NTD 375 |
| Le Da Backpackers Hostel [Reserve here] | [Google Map] | 400 meters | NTD 600 |
| Inn by the Village [Reserve here] | [Google Map] | 220 meters | NTD 2,900 |
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