Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Xinshe Sea of Flowers

People at Xinshe Sea of Flowers. Photo by Dquai. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Xinshe Sea of Flowers

Flowers are lovely in their transience. Their impermanence, which is here today and gone tomorrow, somehow captures our imagination. We collect them to decorate our homes, photograph them, and even dry them as keepsakes. Nonetheless, flowers have been a mainstay on the site of the Xinshe Sea of Flowers since 1913.

The Japanese government used it as a nursery dedicated to improving plant species yield. Locals have continued to work with plants since the end of the Japanese occupation.

The Xinshe Sea of Flowers is a rare opportunity to commune with flowers in the heart of bustling Taichung. This two to four week flower exhibition, held in late November to early December. It attracts thousands of locals and tourists alike.

Visitors revel in the colors on display, enjoying the annual theme, which may include fairy tales, public figures, famous buildings, or even movies. Tourists can gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s agriculture and flower industries by visiting an education exhibition center.

Some visitors happily spend up to four hours here, taking in the atmosphere. Flowers may be fleeting, but memories last a lifetime at the Xinshe Sea of Flowers.

1. The event is organized by the Council of Agriculture’s Seed Improvement

Xinshe Sea of Flowers. Photo by fullfen666. Wikimedia Commons

The event is organized by the Council of Agriculture’s Seed Improvement and Propagation Station and Taichung City Government.

2. The flower landscape zone is divided 

Salvia farinacea. “Sea of flowers in Xinshe” 2020, Taichung, Taiwan. Photo by Ping an Chang. Wikimedia Commons

The flower landscape zone is divided into two sections. They include the “Landscape Plants and Flower Zone” and “Exquisite Plants and Flowers Zone,” with the former “planted with cosmos and zinnia, showing a pink, wavy and vivid landscape,” and the latter “planted with sage grass, marigold, spicata, and cosmos, presenting color variations and geometric patterns in different layers.”

This event will include three other zones, in addition to the landscape of various flower seas: the edible plant zone, the sorghum zone, and the Hakka culture zone.

3. The Sea of Flowers has a different theme each year

Xinshe Flower Sea Love Travel Flower Border Theme Area. Photo by Fcuk1203. Wikimedia Commons

The Sea of Flowers in Xinshe has a different theme each year for the Taichung International Flower Carpet Festival.

For example, the 2019 theme was Le Petit Prince. It was Alice in Wonderland in 2020.

4. There is an edible landscape area

In the Edible Landscape Area, located in the festival’s northwest quadrant, you will find a variety of vegetables and fruits. Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, garden pea, beet, eggplant, pepper, gourd, carrot, tomato, squash, and even fruits like passion fruit and watermelon are available.

Local farmers expertly grow each vegetable and fruit. The expo labels each product in both Chinese and English. The English signage and labels are useful for anyone who cannot read Chinese. Rows upon rows of leafy greens, colorful gourds, and fruits. From a distance, the vegetables resemble colorful stripes in a field.

5. Taiwanese street food is available from vendors

Stinky tofu sits lined up at a market, Taiwan. Photo by Andrewhaimerl. Wikimedia Commons

A food tent with many vendors selling typical Taiwanese food, such as meat skewers, fried chicken, stinky tofu, scallion pancake, milk tea, and many more, is located in the northeast corner of the flower expo.

There are also some chairs and tables inside the tented area. Just in case you get tired of walking around. Taiwanese people adore their food! And eating out in Taiwan is very cheap!

6. There is a farmer’s market in Xinshe Sea of Flowers

Farmer’s market. Photo by 玄史生. Wikimedia Commons

A farmer’s market with rows and rows of vendors selling fresh and dried mushrooms, leafy greens, delicious fruits, honey products, and so on is located in the southwest quadrant of the flower festival.

Xinshe has ideal weather and soil conditions for mushroom cultivation. Around Xinshe Sea of Flowers, there are many mushroom farms, and many farmers sell their locally grown mushrooms at the festival.

It is an excellent way to support local communities by purchasing local produce and investing in local businesses. Furthermore, buying local food ensures that you are getting the freshest produce, even better than that found in supermarkets.

7. Agriculture Expo in Central Taiwan

The Central Taiwan Agriculture Expo is located near the farmer’s market in the southwest quadrant of the flower festival.

The agriculture expo is hosted by the governments of four counties in Central Taiwan (Taichung City, Mantou County, Changhua County, and Miaoli Country).

Each county’s agricultural highlights are showcased in four exhibition areas. The goal is to promote agriculture and rural tourism in the country’s mountainous regions.

Many of the displays are in Chinese, but some include infographics. Even if you’re just passing through to escape the late autumn heat, it’s worth checking out some exhibits.

8. Traffic is expected during the festival

If you plan to attend the Sea of Flowers Festival, please keep in mind that traffic restrictions may apply on certain local streets, and parking at the venue will be limited. Visitors are strongly advised to plan their transportation in advance to avoid traffic congestion.

Guest Shuttle Services are also available on the weekend of the event. Taichung Transportation Department has planned three shuttle routes that run after every 15-30 minutes, including Taiyuan Parking Place, Fengyuan Train Station, and Dongshi Riverside Park.

9. Free entry at Xinshe Sea of Flowers

The Xinshe Sea of Flowers and Taichung International Flower Carpet Festival are both free to the public. It is well worth visiting the magnificent floral fair, which is truly a visual feast.

It’s held every year from November to December. During the 23-day exhibition period, which includes four weekends, the flower extravaganza attracts over two million visitors from across the country. On the first weekend, there is a full schedule of intimate performances.

10. Xinshe Sea of Flowers has several pavilions

The chamber’s total area is about 30 hectares. It is covered in tons of vividly beautiful flowers, creating a seemingly endless panorama of colorful picturesque scene. Some specially themed exhibitions include:

• Happy Farming Exhibition
• Amu Forest Exhibition
• Happy Farming Villages Exhibition
• Incredible Fern Exhibition
• Healthy and Beautiful Farming
• LOHAS Promoting Group
• Colorful Taichung International Flower Carpet Festival

They are each designed to highlight the unique characteristics of the rural district.