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To celebrate the Spring Festival, the Nantou County Government hosted the grand Cherry Blossom & Winter Bamboo Shoot Festival on January 24 at Xiaobantian Shima Park in Lugu Township, combining seasonal flowers with local agricultural specialties. The event also marked the opening of the 2026 Nantou Flower Carnival. County Mayor Hsu Shu-Hua personally endorsed and attended the celebration. She invited visitors from across Taiwan to visit Nantou during Spring Festival to enjoy cherry blossoms, savor fresh winter bamboo shoots, soak in hot springs, and explore lantern festivals for a warm and festive spring holiday.

Mayor Hsu noted that Nantou’s flourishing flower industry is a vital pillar of the county’s economy. The government actively promotes seasonal flower events, linking agricultural products and tourism resources across townships to boost local prosperity. This year’s Cherry Blossom & Winter Bamboo Shoot Festival highlights Lugu’s breathtaking Kawazu-zakura and Taiwan cherry blossoms, paired with the township’s renowned winter bamboo shoots from the largest Moso bamboo production area. Visitors can stroll among pink blossoms, taste freshly prepared bamboo shoot dishes, and relive the traditional custom of “eating winter bamboo shoots during the New Year.” Local volunteers demonstrated cooking on-site, complemented by fragrant oolong tea, offering guests both visual and culinary delights in an authentic tea-country atmosphere. 

 Hsu further explained that in recent years, the county has invested in improving Shima Park’s cherry blossom trails, viewing platforms, tea-themed shelters, and pavilions. Currently, around 30 to 40 percent of the blossoms are in bloom, with the peak season expected soon—an ideal time for family outings. The festival also featured lively community dances, student performances, street artist interactions, raffles, agricultural product exhibitions, and promotional booths, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

 She emphasized that Nantou boasts many cherry blossom hidden gems, including Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, National Chi Nan University, Caopingding, and Ren’ai Township, all entering peak bloom in succession. In Caotun, cherry blossoms and plum blossoms intertwine to form a romantic landscape. While the Spring Festival marks the height of the hot spring season, the excitement continues with the 2026 Nantou Lantern Festival. Kicking off on February 14, the event will celebrate the Year of the Horse. The festival will showcase twin main lanterns, a circus-themed lantern zone, traditional lanterns, New Year performances, fireworks displays, and water dance performances, creating a dazzling visual feast. Furthermore, the brand-new JiuJiuFeng Helium Balloon Park in Caotun will open, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic daytime views of Huoyanshan and surrounding forests, followed by lantern displays at night—creating a perfect travel route for the New Year and the Spring Festival.

 Attendees included Chiu Shao-Wei, Director of the Department of Planning, Nantou County Government; Nantou County Councilor Chen Yu-Ling; and Lugu Township Mayor Chiu Ju-Ping, adding warmth and excitement to the celebration.