Taiwan’s summers are long and hot, while winters are short and mild. Year-round attractions include ancient temples, delicious cuisine, and the outdoors. Spring is a festive time with many of Taiwan’s most interesting cultural festivals taking place around the time of Lunar New Year. Natural attractions include tree blossoms viewing, touring Taiwan’s many blooming flower seas, and hiking. When typhoon season begins in the summer, Taiwan becomes warmer and more humid. This is also the time of countless arts festivals, both international and local, as well as folk festivals, and harvest festivals held by the island’s many indigenous tribes. The fall is an ideal time for outdoor sports, and includes Taiwan’s biggest and most international cycling competition, the KOM Challenge, as well as the Taiwan Open of Surfing. While a rare glimpse of snow can be had in Taiwan’s alpine regions during winter, in general the climate is very comfortable during this cooler season.