Taiwan's Climate Pattern

Taiwan’s climate is fundamentally shaped by its geographic position and topography. Situated between 22°N and 25°N latitude, the island lies at the intersection of tropical and subtropical climate zones, straddling the Tropic of Cancer which passes through Chiayi and Hualian County. This positioning, combined with the Central Mountain Range creates distinct microclimates across remarkably short distances.

The island’s climate cannot be understood through simple categorisation. Whilst Taiwan is often labelled as having a “subtropical” climate, this designation applies primarily to the northern and central regions. The south experiences genuinely tropical conditions, whilst the mountains host temperate and even alpine environments. This diversity means that within a two-hour journey, you might move from humid coastal lowlands to misty mountain forests where temperatures drop by 15°C or more.