Mooncakes, fireworks and more: What’s on in Taiwan this September

September brings cooler evenings, seasonal traditions and plenty of outdoor activities across Taiwan. From a 300-year-old dice game in Kinmen to fireworks by Sun Moon Lake, here are four events worth checking out this month. 

1. Kinmen Mid-Autumn Mooncake Gambling Festival

The Kinmen Mid-Autumn Mooncake Gambling Festival is a folk tradition with more than 300 years of history, rooted in the culture of the ancient Chinese imperial examination system. 

Known as Bo Bing (博餅), the game involves rolling six dice to determine different prize levels, with titles such as zhuangyuan (狀元), bangyan (榜眼) and tanhua (探花). Mooncakes are traditionally given as prizes, symbolizing good luck, success and prosperity. Anyone can join, including international visitors, making it a fun way to experience a traditional Mid-Autumn custom.

According to local legend, the game was created by Hong Xu (洪旭), a Kinmen-born general under Koxinga, to boost the morale of soldiers stationed in Xiamen and ease their homesickness during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The tradition later spread across Kinmen, Xiamen and Quanzhou before reaching Taiwan.

Date: September 1-25

Location: Kinmen Military Headquarters of the Qing Dynasty, Kinmen

Event Highlights:

• More than 130 participating shops: Visitors can collect Bo Bing tokens by shopping at participating stores during the festival.
• Spend NT$200, get one token: Present a paper receipt or purchase slip from a participating shop to receive one token for every NT$200 spent.
• Claw machine prizes: Each token gives one chance to play a claw machine, with a chance to win limited-edition Kinmen cultural souvenirs.

Travel Tips:

• Getting there: Fly from Taipei or Kaohsiung to Kinmen Airport, then take a bus, taxi or scooter to the Kinmen Military Headquarters of the Qing Dynasty.
• Nearby attractions: Jincheng Old Street, Shanhou Folk Culture Village, Zhaishan Tunnel, and Kinmen National Park.

For event schedules, participating shops, and more activity information, visit the official website.

2. Sun Moon Lake Music & Fireworks Festival

The Sun Moon Lake Music & Fireworks Festival is an annual autumn event organized by the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration. The festival has grown from a fireworks-focused celebration into a major tourism event combining live music, fireworks, sports and local culture.

The event was officially expanded and renamed in 2008, adding orchestral performances alongside its fireworks shows. Over the years, it has also incorporated events such as the International Swimming Carnival, lake cycling, marathons and the Sun Moon Lake Black Tea Culture Festival, connecting local industries with sports and tourism. This year's festival runs from Sept. 12 to Nov. 14, featuring three music-and-fireworks events at different locations around the lake. All three events are free to attend, with no tickets required.

Date: September 12 – November 14

Location: Sun Moon Lake, Nantou

Event Highlights:

• Sept. 12 | Ita Thao Pier: The opening show features a live music concert with a strong focus on Thao Indigenous culture, followed by fireworks after nightfall.
• Oct. 17 | Shuishe Zhongxing Parking Lot: The 18Light concert combines pop music with a large-scale fireworks display. 
• Nov. 14 | Xiangshan Visitor Center: The grand finale features the NTSO Youth Orchestra, pairing classical music with fireworks. 

Travel Tips:

• Best viewing spot — Ita Thao: Watch from the pier plaza or waterfront walkway for direct views of the fireworks. The area is also an important gathering place for the Thao people and a major lake cruise hub.
• Best for convenience — Shuishe: The Zhongxing Parking Lot has a spacious event area and good facilities for large crowds. Restaurants and shops nearby make it convenient to grab a meal before or after the show.
• Getting there: Take a bus from Taichung or Taichung HSR Station to Sun Moon Lake. For the Oct. 17 show, the dedicated Fireworks Shuttle from Taichung is another option, with advance booking recommended.

For the full event schedule and details, visit the official website.

3.Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival

The Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival is one of the lake's longest-running and largest annual events. Since 1983, swimming enthusiasts from Taiwan and around the world have gathered around the Mid-Autumn Festival to take on the challenge of swimming across Sun Moon Lake, with the course covering approximately 3,000 meters.

The event was officially inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002 and has grown into a major annual sporting spectacle, attracting tens of thousands of swimming enthusiasts from across Taiwan and overseas. Held as part of the wider Sun Moon Lake Music & Fireworks Festival, the swimming carnival also gives visitors a chance to combine a daytime sporting experience with the festival's music and fireworks events during the same autumn trip.

Date: September 20

Location: Sun Moon Lake, Nantou

Event Highlights:

• Open to international swimmers: The event welcomes swimmers from overseas, with participants from dozens of countries joining in recent years.
• Part of the autumn festivities: The swimming carnival takes place alongside the Sun Moon Lake Music & Fireworks Festival, allowing visitors to combine the two events in one trip.

Travel Tips:

• Getting there: Take a bus from Taichung or Taichung HSR Station to Sun Moon Lake, then use local transportation to reach the event area.
• Nearby attractions: Ita Thao, Wenwu Temple, Xiangshan Lookout, and the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway.

For event information, registration details, and the latest updates, visit the official website.

4.Taiwan Cycling Festival

Taiwan’s well-developed road network, diverse terrain and scenic landscapes make it an ideal destination for cycling. The Taiwan Cycling Festival combines cycling with local tourism, transportation and cultural resources across the country, offering visitors a chance to experience Taiwan’s mountains, coastlines, food and cultural heritage on two wheels.

This year’s festival, themed “Taiwan Is Beautiful on Two Wheels,” connects a wide range of cycling activities from August to December, welcoming both local and international visitors to explore Taiwan at a leisurely pace.

Date: August–December 2026

Location: Across Taiwan

Event Highlights:

• Taiwan KOM Challenge: Take on one of Taiwan’s most iconic mountain cycling challenges, climbing from Hualien’s coast to Wuling.
• FORMOSA 900: Cycle around Taiwan while discovering local scenery, food and culture along the way.
• Extreme Points Slow Cycling Series: Ride to Taiwan’s easternmost, northernmost, southernmost and westernmost points.
• Sun Moon Lake Come!Bikeday: Explore one of Taiwan’s most scenic lake-cycling routes.
• 16 routes + digital tracking: Starting Sept. 1, cyclists can collect layered physical stamps along 16 designated routes and record their rides through the Velodash app. Riders who complete designated routes can also enter a prize draw.

Travel tips:

• Getting there: Many cycling destinations can be reached by Taiwan Railways, HSR or bus, while bike-friendly transportation makes it easier to combine cycling with public transit.
• Plan your route: Choose a route based on distance, elevation and fitness level. Mountain routes require more preparation than leisure cycling routes.

For the full list of cycling events, routes and participation information, visit the Taiwan Tourism Administration official website.