Organized by the Nantou County Government, the 2025 Nantou Stargazing Season will officially kick off in May. As one of Taiwan’s few tourism campaigns focused on nighttime attractions, the event has, since its inception in 2019, built a strong reputation thanks to its low light pollution, abundant mountainous terrain, and the designation of Hehuanshan as an International Dark Sky Park. With well-developed astronomy education resources, Nantou has become the premier destination for stargazing tourism in Taiwan. This year, the event partners with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Administration’s “Taiwan Top 100 Tourism Highlights”, with Nantou spotlighted as the featured county in May, unveiling a diverse lineup of nighttime tourism and culturally immersive experiences.
The 2025 Nantou Stargazing Season features four themed evening events taking place in Cingjing, Xitou, Dongpu, and Nantou City. The upgraded programs blend astronomy tours, ecological experiences, indigenous cultural elements, marketplace activities, and live music performances. This year also features a collaboration with popular IP character Maji Meow, who will appear at three of the themed events as the “Stargazing Ambassador,” enhancing interactivity and appeal for families and couples alike.
The first event, “Starry Hearts Music Party”, takes place on May 10 in Cingjing, featuring a live performance by popular band Power Station, a fire-dancing show, and astronaut costume experiences. From May 17 to May 31, ten “Star Train Stargazing Tours” will also be available for astronomy enthusiasts to join.
Next, on May 17, the “Forest Friends Star Party” will be held at the Xitou Songlin Parking Lot, featuring a musical show by the beloved Little Funy Family, a creative tea bar presented by Taichi Green Land Development Association, firefly night tours during the peak season, and a fun forest animal photo activity for visitors.
The third themed event, “Indigenous Starry Romance: New Moon Party”, takes place on August 23 at Dongpu Hot Springs Plaza in Xinyi Township, themed around Chinese Valentine’s Day and Bunun indigenous culture. Highlights include couples’ outfit contests, Bunun cultural tours, and limited-edition starlight chocolate giveaways. Performers include Bunun artist Quan Shihuang and Lucian vocalist Wé Zhé for a romantic starlit concert.
The final event, “Luminous Wonderland: Moonlight Party”, will return to Nantou City on October 4 at Barefoot Fairy View Restaurant, tying in with Mid-Autumn Festival and a supermoon celestial event. The evening features picnic experiences, DIY pineapple cake sessions, an ecological forest tour in Baguashan, and a performance by soothing-voiced artist Lin Moxi, concluding the 2025 season on a high note.
As part of the Top 100 Tourism Highlights campaign, Nantou will also launch weekly themed promotions and joint discounts throughout May. These include special deals for May birthdays and for visitors whose names contain any of the characters “星 (star), 空 (sky), 季 (season).” A prelude concert, “Starlight in Sight: Light Spot Music Festival,” will warm up the festivities on May 3 in Cingjing.
To promote sustainable stargazing tourism, the county continues its collaboration with industry, government, and academia through the “Stargazing-Friendly Business 2.0” initiative. Goals include facility upgrades to enhance dark-sky aesthetics, the pursuit of International Dark Sky Community certification, and the training of local stargazing guides. During the press conference, representatives from National Chi Nan University, Taipei Astronomical Society, Nantou B&B Association, and Nantou Tour Guide Association joined County Magistrate Hsu Shu-Hua in signing a pledge to promote this dark-sky economy milestone.
An online campaign, “Your Stargazing Memories in Nantou,” will run alongside the main events. Visitors who attend any themed event and post a photo on the “Travel in Nantou” Facebook page will have a chance to win exciting prizes, including a telescope.
We warmly invite everyone across Taiwan to visit Nantou this year—witness the magnificent starry skies, explore the harmony of nature and culture, and enjoy a starlit journey like no other.
For more event details, please visit the 2025 Nantou Stargazing Season official website or the Facebook fan page.
