Typhoon Barway Approaches Taiwan; Transportation, Events, and Attractions Affected

Typhoon Barway is poised to bring its strongest impact to Taiwan this Friday and Saturday, July 10-11, prompting a wave of cancellations and postponements across the island. Authorities are scrambling to manage the disruptions, affecting everything from crucial exams to daily commutes and leisure activities.

The most significant academic disruption is the postponement of the university entrance exam, the "College Entrance Examination" (分科測驗), which will now take place on July 13-14. This decision highlights the severity of the expected weather conditions.

Transportation services are heavily impacted. Ferry services between Kaohsiung and Penghu are rescheduled or canceled from July 10-12 due to anticipated rough seas. Eastern sea routes will be suspended from the afternoon of July 8 through July 11. Flights to and from northern, eastern, and southern Taiwan are also progressively being halted between July 9 and 11. Road access to popular sites like the "Giant's Hand" in Taichung's Xue Shan Keng Industrial Road is restricted, and the Alishan Forest Railway will suspend services on its main line from July 10-12.

Numerous events are also affected. The "Yehliu Rock Story Night Tour" is suspended from July 9-11. The Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival will close early on July 9 and remain shut on July 10. The "Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global" community celebration planned for July 11 in Taipei is canceled, with July 12's status pending weather conditions. Several cultural events and art festivals in Taoyuan and Nantou have been postponed, some to late August. Concerts, including one by Crowd Lu, have been rescheduled.

Tourist attractions are also taking precautions. National forest recreation areas in Hualien, Taichung, and Yilan will close preemptively from July 9. Key sites like the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Dayueshan, and Ba Xian Shan will shut down. Wuling, Cingjing, and Fushoushan farms will close from noon on July 9. Guishan Island will be sealed off for four days starting July 9. These closures are in effect to ensure public safety as the typhoon approaches.