An intense cold wave has hit Taiwan, bringing snow to high mountains, including some that haven’t seen snowfall in years.
The cold weather has also brought thousands of motorists up into the mountains in search of rare wintry scenes. They haven’t been disappointed, but authorities are urging caution: people here are unused to driving in snow.
Taiwan’s mountains are in the grip of a strong cold snap that has sent temperatures down to the freezing point. This unusual cold has brought with it something else unusual for Taiwan: snowfall.
While a few especially high mountains get a dusting or two each year, some places that saw snowfall Friday have been snow-free for years. Yilan’s Taiping Mountain, for instance, saw 5cm of snowfall in places, the mountain’s first snowfall in three years.
Taiwanese tourists, used to traveling abroad to see snow, have flocked to mountains like this one: with COVID-19 making international travel impossible, this is their only chance to see snow for now. Over a thousand vehicles traveled up the mountain, carrying eager visitors.
Authorities at the scenic area that covers the mountain are urging drivers to put chains on their tires and be careful when driving: these aren’t motorists used to driving in true wintry conditions.