YILAN (TVBS News) — A powerful cold front swept across Taiwan on Monday (March 17), plunging temperatures to freezing levels at the scenic Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area (太平山國家森林遊樂區). Despite the biting cold, the air lacked sufficient moisture to produce the snow that many visitors had hoped for. Juan Ming-yang (阮名揚), manager of the recreation area's management center, assured the public that roads remained free of ice, eliminating the need for vehicles to be equipped with snow chains.
The park gates swung open at 6 a.m., welcoming early risers eager to experience the winter landscape. By 9 a.m., 348 visitors had entered the park, arriving in three tour buses and 54 private vehicles. This turnout, while respectable given the conditions, remained well below the 1,000-vehicle threshold that would necessitate implementing the one-in, one-out traffic control measures. Juan observed that temperatures had bottomed out at precisely 0 degrees Celsius at dawn, creating a delicate coating of rime frost on the highest treetops. As morning progressed, the mercury inched up to 1°C by 9 a.m., causing the crystalline formations to begin their slow, glistening retreat.
The Yilan Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (林業及自然保育署宜蘭分署) issued an advisory for potential visitors, emphasizing the importance of staying updated on park conditions and traffic control measures. Officials stressed the necessity of packing appropriate cold-weather attire to ensure comfort and safety while exploring the mountainous terrain. With meteorologists predicting the cold snap to persist in the coming days, the agency recommended that visitors exercise caution and develop thorough itineraries for their journeys to Taipingshan.