Best Time to See Fireflies！Ocean University Offers Free Eco-Guided Tours

▲ April each year is when fireflies emit their glowing light. (Photo / Courtesy of Ocean University website)

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

Starting every year in April, it’s the season when fireflies take flight！During this time, Ocean University holds a Firefly Season event, leading the public to the Longgang Ecological Park—rich in natural scenery—to admire the fireflies. The first firefly-viewing tour of the year will take place on the evening of the 24th. Ms. Pan Lingli from the Extracurricular Activities Guidance Office of Ocean University said that based on past experience, the current period marks the peak season for firefly viewing.

Ocean University has been hosting its firefly-viewing event for 14 years now, attracting many people to the mountains each year to “chase fireflies.” To protect the ecological environment and manage crowd sizes, Pan Lingli also urges the public to register online in advance and arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled time slot. After check-in, visitors can head to the First Lecture Hall to listen to an ecological briefing and safety instructions before heading up the mountain to enjoy the beauty of the fireflies. A quota of 500 visitors is available each day. Additionally, guided tours are offered every evening at 18:00 and 19:30 during the event period, and at 10:30 and 15:30 on holidays.

The Firefly Season runs from April 24 to May 4. During this time, an ecological exhibition will also be held in the Ocean University Exhibition Hall, featuring displays and guided tours on the native species, invasive species, and nocturnal wildlife of the Longgang Ecological Park. In addition to fireflies, the public can also gain an in-depth understanding of the area’s ecosystem, making it educational as well.

Ocean University also offers the following recommendations for visitors:

1. Please wear long sleeves, long pants, and sports shoes to avoid mosquito or snake bites.

2. Please bring your own flashlight with just enough brightness to light the path; overly bright lights can disturb the fireflies. Cover your flashlight with red cellophane when using it to illuminate the path, and never shine light directly on the fireflies. Red cellophane can be obtained free of charge at the exhibition hall and must be returned after use.

3. Do not use flash photography—it not only produces poor results but can also harm the fireflies.

4. Respect life; do not capture or take fireflies away, so they can continue to reproduce.

5. Safety first during nighttime firefly viewing. Mountain paths can be dangerous—no playing around or walking alone.

6. Visitors with special medical conditions or mobility issues should carefully consider whether to hike up the mountain.

7. Do your part for the environment by minimizing waste, sorting trash, and not littering.

8. In case of rain, firefly viewing may be canceled or adjusted depending on the situation, to avoid accidents.

9. During holidays, visitor numbers are limited. Entry without prior reservation is not permitted.

10. Online registration for nighttime firefly viewing is capped at 150 people, while on-site registration is limited to 100. Daytime guided tours along the Longgang Trail are limited to 30 people per session—no additional participants will be accepted once limits are reached.

For more information on Ocean University’s Firefly Season, please visit: http://www.stu.ntou.edu.tw/sc/, or contact Ms. Pan Lingli at extension 1078, (02) 2462-2192.

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