Children’s Day is an important public holiday in Taiwan when children’s rights are celebrated, and there are many child-related activities throughout Taiwan. In this blog, we will explain the history of the holiday, its significance, and how it is celebrated now in Taiwan.
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Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best Places to visit on Children’s Day Taipei Children’s Amusument Park, Leefoo Village Amuseument Park, and Formosan Aboroginal Cultural Village
- How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
- Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
- Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
When is Tomb Children’s Day in Taiwan?
April 4th every year.
Usually, it is usually combined with the Tomb Sweeping Holiday to make a four-day national holiday extended weekend.
However, if April 4 coincides with the Tomb Sweeping Holiday, the holiday is observed on April 3. If it falls on a Thursday, the holiday is moved to the following day.
The Origins and Significance of Children’s Day:
Children’s Day is a holiday created to safeguard children’s rights, including their access to survival, healthcare, education, and proper upbringing. It seeks to enhance children’s well-being while combating abuse and exploitation. The date of its observance differs across countries, depending on their national contexts.
In 1949, during a conference in Moscow, the International Democratic Women’s Federation proposed June 1 as International Children’s Day in memory of the 1942 Lidice Massacre. Today, over 40 countries commemorate this occasion.
UNESCO later declared November 20 as World Children’s Day on December 14, 1954.
The primary aim of Children’s Day is to inspire all nations to establish a special day for children. Initially, it was intended to foster communication and understanding between adults and children. Over time, its purpose broadened to encourage efforts that promote children’s well-being worldwide and to reinforce the United Nations Charter’s commitment to protecting children’s rights. On November 20, 1989, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
History of Children’s Day in Taiwan
In 1931, Kung Hsiang-hsi （孔祥熙） founded the China Charitable Children’s Aid Association and proposed April 4 as Children’s Day. This date was chosen because it falls in spring, offering pleasant weather, and aligns with other traditional festivals like March 3, May 5, and September 9. The Executive Yuan approved the proposal, officially incorporating it into the “Regulations on Commemorative and Festival Holidays,” which required government agencies, organizations, and schools to hold celebrations on this day.
Between 1991 and 1997, Children’s Day was merged with Women’s Day as a combined public holiday. However, in 1998, it was removed as a separate holiday and incorporated into the regular weekend schedule. Before Taiwan adopted a biweekly two-day weekend system that same year, elementary school students and younger children were still given the day off.
In 2011, Children’s Day was restored as a public holiday, once again granting everyone a day off nationwide. Further adjustments were made in 2012: if April 4 coincides with the Tomb Sweeping Holiday, the holiday is observed on April 3. If it falls on a Thursday, the holiday is moved to the following day.
What do people do on Children’s Day in Taiwan?
Recognizing Children
Many counties and cities hold ceremonies before the holiday to honor outstanding children in elementary schools and kindergartens for their academic excellence and good character. Charitable organizations organize events to support children in need, such as aid programs for sick children. Additionally, local governments across Taiwan partner with businesses to host various parent-child activities.
Theme Park Discounts
Government agencies and social groups collaborate with businesses, amusement parks, and other organizations to offer gifts and special discounts. Some theme parks and other attractions that offer discounts during the Children’s Day Holiday are as follows:
- Taipei Children’s Amusement Park. You can check out our full guide to Taipei Children’s Amusement Park here.
- Taipei Zoo
- National Taiwan Science Education Center and Taipei Astronomical Museum check out our blog to the Science Center here and Taipei Astronomical Museum here.
- Xpark Auqarium in Taoyuan
- LeoFoo Village Theme Park in Hsinchu
- Lihpao Land Theme Park in Taichung
- Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village in Nantou. You can check out our full guide to this park here.
- Janfusun Fancyworld Theme Park in Yunlin
- Wanpi World Zoo and Theme Park in Tainan
- E-da World Theme Park in Kaohsiung
- Farglory Ocean World Theme Park in Hualien
- National Aquarium in Kenting. You can check out our full guide to this park here.
You can find more discount tickets to theme parks in Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here.
Tomb Sweeping Day Festivities
As mentioned above, Children’s Day is usually combined with the Tomb Sweeping Holiday to make a four-day weekend. The Tomb Sweeping Holiday has much more cultural and traditional significance than Children’s Day, so you will often see families gathered together for tomb sweeping activities on Children’s Day. For more information, you can check out our full Tomb Sweeping Holiday Guide Here.
Traveling, shopping, Visiting Family, etc.
Children’s Day is after all a national holiday so workers have an extended weekend off to travel, including international travel, as well as shop, visit family, eat out at restaurants, see movies, etc. Often times families may already have gathered together to complete traditional Tomb Sweeping Holiday duties, which happens during the same four-day weekend.
My Experience as a Foreigner During Children’s Day in Taiwan:
Because Children’s Day and the Tomb Sweeping Holiday are a four-day holiday, usually try to plan a vacation during this time. However, experience has shown that traffic is horrible going south of Taipei at the start of the holiday, and also horrible coming back to Taipei on the last day of the holiday, meaning that for two days we are kind of just stuck in traffic if we choose to go out, so I usually try to take the day off before the holiday to try to avoid traffic, and come back to Taipei early also to avoid traffic.
If we make no holiday plans, usually I will take my kids to Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, which usually has discounts on Children’s Day.
You can book tickets to Taipei Children’s Amusement Park for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
Tips For Travelling During the Children’s Day / Tomb Sweeping Holiday in Taiwan:
- The airports can be packed, and flights will usually be more expensive.
- The roads will be jammed going south on the first day and jammed going north on the last day.
- It may be hard to book train tickets during the holiday.
- Hotels will be more expensive than normal. Every day will be like a Saturday night price.
- Camping spots should stay the same price.
- Tourist spots may be packed with people.
- Many theme parks will have discounts during the holiday. You can find more discount tickets to theme parks in Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here.
- Many roads near graveyards may be closed to vehicles, especially around Taipei.
You can find more discount tickets to theme parks in Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here.
Also be sure to check out our full Taipei Children and Kids guide here.
Thanks for reading! For more festivals and activities in Taiwan, check out our full Taiwan Festival Guide here.
