A boundless golden carpet    Tour guide: Chikeshan’s daylilies outshine Liushitashan

▲Daylilies in Chikeshan, Hualien, are currently in full bloom—now is the best time to visit.

Reported and photographed by reporter Chen Ruizhong / Hualien

When many people think of daylilies in Hualien, their first thought is “Liushitashan,” but this summer vacation, the hottest spot for daylily viewing in Hualien is none other than “Chikeshan.”

Local Hualien tour guide Xiao Yang said that in previous years, the flowering period of Liushitashan’s daylilies was earlier than that of Chikeshan, and the blooming conditions were better. In addition, the wide views from Liushitashan’s mountaintop allow visitors to overlook a golden carpet woven by daylilies, making it the best place for daylily viewing in Hualien.

▲Compared to the undulating terrain of Liushitashan, Chikeshan’s sea of daylilies has gentler slopes.

Butthis year, due to typhoons and insufficient moisture, Liushitashan’s blooming conditions are only about 20–30% of previous years.Additionally, to make a living, farmers have already begun harvesting the daylilies (after blooming, daylilies are only ornamental and lose their agricultural market value), so overall the blooming conditions are far worse than in previous years.

In contrast, Chikeshan is now in full bloom. The daylily seas at sites such as Wang Family’s Old House and Lin Family Farm are both beautiful and abundant. Travelers are advised to prioritize Chikeshan this summer, while keeping an eye on the blooming status of Liushitashan and waiting until it’s in full bloom before visiting, to avoid disappointment.

See more of Chikeshan’s daylily seas＜＜＜＜＜＜Click here～

Xiao Yang pointed out that although Chikeshan is about 20 kilometers closer to downtown Hualien than Liushitashan, it’s harder to pass other vehicles on the mountain road in Chikeshan, so travelers heading there on their own should pay extra attention to safety.

▲The blooming condition of daylilies is closely related to moisture levels—if there’s insufficient moisture, blooming will be delayed.