The Ali Mountain Firefly Season Shines Brightly: Stargazing Tea Sessions & Hot Firefly Viewing Spots on Trail 11

By/Written and reported by Scenic Spots Family Ali

Following the flower appreciation seasons in Ali Mountain (the RuiLi Wisteria Season and the Ali Mountain Cherry Blossom Season), the highly anticipated Ali Mountain Firefly Season will take over, kicking off first in the RuiLi area of Meishan Township, Chiayi County. Welcome to marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of a sea of fireflies.

During the firefly season, the Ali Mountain Administration Office has collaborated with multiple communities and tribal villages (including Taixing, RuiLi, Renshou, Ruifeng, Fenchihu, Guanghua, Gongxing, LiJia, Leyao, and Chashan) to launch night-time firefly viewing tours and activities. These include the “Glow, Fireflies Are Here – 2020 Fireflies Come for Tea” event held from March 27 to May 3 at the Gongxing Bandit Mountain Eco Park, which offers guided trail tours by reservation as well as the opportunity to take memorable photos with fireflies.

From April 18 to 19, the “Stars Meet Fireflies – LiJia ‘Akuini’” event will be held in the LiJia community, offering a tribal tourism experience that combines Tsou culture with ecology. The Yuantan Eco Park will hold the “Early Summer Stroll: The Promise of Fireflies” event every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from April 10 to May 10, featuring tea sessions under the glow of fireflies and free guided tours by reservation. On April 12 from 5 PM to 8 PM, the Guanghua Community’s Firefly Viewing Platform and Trail—boasting a five-star ecological setting (starry skies, fireflies, white-faced flying squirrels, bioluminescent fungi, and alpine fish)—will host the “Wander Through the Sea of Fireflies” event, with free guided tours available by reservation.

Additionally, the Ali Mountain Administration Office will introduce the romantic “Starry Sky Picnic of That Year” experience from April 15 to May 30 in the Leyao tribal village, allowing couples to enjoy a picnic under the glow of fireflies and starlight.

The Greater Ali Mountain area boasts a uniquely rich natural ecological environment. From late spring to early winter, various species of fireflies can be admired, with up to 42 species found here—making up two-thirds of all species in Taiwan. They are distributed across low to mid-high altitude regions, making this one of the best places in Taiwan to view fireflies.

There are 11 top firefly viewing spots in the Greater Ali Mountain area: the Waterfall Trail in the Taixing Community, the Bamboo Pit Stream Trail in the Ruifeng Community, and the South Sky Giant Screen; the Wild Ginger Flower Trail in the RuiLi Community; the Shuishaiao Station and Yuantan Eco Park in the Renshou Community; the Firefly Trail in the Guanghua Community; the Maple Viewing Trail and Romantic Cave Trail in the LiJia Community; the Bandit Mountain Eco Park in the Gongxing Community; and the Tunabana Trail in the Chashan Community.