The Central Weather Bureau has released a timetable predicting which parts of Taiwan will be the last to see the sun in 2019 and which will be the first to greet the first sunrise of 2020.
Those wanting to see the final sunset of the year should head to Anping in Tainan or Cijin in Kaohsiung. These two spots on Taiwan’s southwest coast will be the last places on Taiwan proper to see the sun sink below the horizon. Forecasters are predicting a sunset time of 5:25pm.
Taiping Island in the South China Sea will be the final point under Taiwanese administration to see the sun. Forecasters predict a 6:11pm sunset on this disputed island. However, the island is not generally open to civilians, and so only those stationed there will be able to see these last rays of sunlight.
Those looking to see the first sunrise of 2020, meanwhile, should head to the southeast. Orchid Island, off Taiwan’s east coast, will be the first point of non-mountainous Taiwanese territory to greet the sun. There, the sunrise is expected to take place at 6:33am. Those looking to stay on Taiwan proper can also head to Sanxiantai on the southeast coast or to Taiwan’s southernmost point, Cape Eluanbi. In both places, the first sunrise of the year will arrive just two minutes later.