Hualien Golden Needle Flower Season Draws Huge Crowds; Traffic Control Starts Aug. 8, Banning Large Buses

▲ Eastern Switzerland: Golden Needle Flowers at Liushishi Mountain (Photo provided by Hsieh Chaoren,reference photo)

By Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Hualien Golden Needle Flower Season begins on August 8. The sea of golden flowers has drawn large crowds of tourists over the years. To handle the high volume of vehicles and people and ensure driving safety and travel quality, after a site survey, the Yuli Police Precinct and Fuli Township Office have decided to implement traffic controls. Starting August 8, all roads in Chikushan and Liushishi Mountains will ban Class A and B large buses from ascending.

The traffic control period aligns with the Golden Needle Flower Season, starting on August 8 and ending on September 22.It will be in effect daily from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. There are two one-way sections: one is the uphill route from Zhutian Village entrance at kilometer 308.5 on Provincial Highway 9 to Yunmin Farm, and the other is the downhill route from the start of the Wan’nin to Fuxing Tribal Connection Road to the direction of Ami Creek. The section between Yunmin Farm and the start of the Wan’nin to Fuxing Tribal Connection Road allows two-way traffic, but red-zone areas are no-parking zones. All roads in Chikushan and Liushishi Mountains will ban Class A and B large buses, but vehicles such as nine-seaters, private cars, and motorcycles may still pass normally.

The Chikushan area is often shrouded in clouds and mist, and the heavy humidity and dew provide the moisture needed for golden needle flowers to thrive. Coupled with soft soil and fertile red earth, the golden needle harvest here is bountiful every year, prompting farmers in Liushishi Mountain to follow suit. With its expansive plateaus, when summer arrives and the golden needle flowers bloom, the mountain landscape transforms into a sea of blossoms, resembling the beauty of Switzerland in Europe—earning it the nickname “Eastern Switzerland.” The scenery is enchanting, and the mild, cool mid-altitude climate makes it a popular summer destination. When the golden needle flower season arrives, visitors flock here from far and wide, creating a lively atmosphere.

▲ Viewing Golden Needle Flowers at Liushishi Mountain – Beautiful Like a Painting (Photo provided by Roulu, reference photo)

▲ Hualien Golden Needle Flowers at Chikushan (Photo provided by Wu Dongjun, reference photo)