New Store and Mount HeMei Firefly Watching – Free Guided Tours Now Open for Registration

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Chen Guanxin

 

Every spring, in addition to the blooming flowers that paint the landscape in breathtaking colors, one of the most thrilling seasonal highlights is the arrival of firefly-watching season. Located in New Taipei City, Mount HeMei will host free guided tours on April 13 and 14 from 17:30 to 19:30, starting at the west bank of the Biting Suspension Bridge. Led by professional guides, the tours will feature local native nectar plants and live butterfly displays, accompanied by frog choruses — a perfect combination of firefly and butterfly appreciation. This year, fireflies have started sparkling earlier than usual, and peak season is just around the corner. The firefly-watching period at Mount HeMei will continue until late April.

Mount HeMei is located on the west bank of Biting Pond in Xindian. It boasts a rich primitive forest ecosystem where butterflies, fireflies, and tree frogs thrive steadily, making it a woodland full of wild charm. The walking trails are designed based on principles of natural order, environmental aesthetics, and ecological engineering. Eco-friendly stone paths allow for separate routes for humans and insects, and herbicide use is minimized to protect the environment, achieving excellent ecological conservation results. Every year during the firefly season, the site attracts tens of thousands of visitors for nature observation. The firefly-watching area at Mount HeMei spans about 1 kilometer of mountain trail from the Great Buddha Temple parking lot at Biting Pond to Meizhi City Community, featuring 12 firefly breeding zones. The nearby Taipingli and Meichengli communities near the firefly areas have coordinated with their respective neighborhood chiefs to turn off lights, eliminating light pollution and resulting in noticeably increased firefly activity.

 

The firefly-watching season runs from today until April 21. For nighttime hikes in the mountains, it is recommended to wear rain boots. The use of flashlights, camera flashes, or glow sticks is prohibited in the firefly breeding zones. Even when using mobile phones or cameras, please be mindful not to disturb others who are enjoying the fireflies. In addition, there is limited parking near the Mount HeMei community, so it is advised to take public transportation. You can walk up the paved road over the suspension bridge from the “Xindian Station” of the MRT, and you’ll see fireflies within 10 minutes. Alternatively, take the Green 6 bus from “Xindian Station” and get off at “Meizhi City” Station, then walk up Yongye Road Lane 81 for about 5 minutes to reach the site. This event is completely free, but registration via email is required. When registering, please provide the name of one participant, the number of attendees, and the preferred session. For inquiries, call 0975-022-588 (Teacher Zhang); registration email: nt.tw@hotmail.com.

 

 

● Read more: Spring Getaways in New Taipei City – Explore Seven Scenic Routes Thoroughly

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