Fireflies twinkle on summer nights: Taipei City’s Department of Urban Development recommends 5 firefly-watching trails

▲ Shuiche Liao Trail in Beitou District. Photo provided by Taipei City.

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

April marks the season when fireflies begin to appear, and many firefly-viewing spots have launched related events. Many people are also planning trips to places like Dongshi Forest Farm and Sun Moon Lake to see them. However, as the environment around Taipei’s hiking trails has improved year by year, the number of fireflies has also been increasing. The Taipei City Department of Urban Development has specially recommended 5 firefly-watching trails, allowing residents to enjoy the “twinkling fireflies” without traveling far.

The five recommended firefly-watching trails in Taipei are the “Cueishan Trail” in Shilin District, the “Dagouxi Riverside Trail” in Neihu District, the “Shuiche Liao Trail” in Beitou District, the “Hushan Nature Trail” in Xinyi District, and the “Osmanthus Suspension Bridge Trail” in Nangang District.


▲ Hushan Trail – Water Interaction Platform. Photo provided by Taipei City

Huang Liyuan, head of the Department of Urban Development, said that the “Cueishan Trail” in Shilin District was originally an abandoned police shooting range, featuring rich and diverse natural landscapes. Thanks to the vegetation restoration efforts by the department, the trail is now home to “Luciola kagiana” fireflies that flutter and play joyfully along the path. Meanwhile, the “Dagouxi Riverside Trail” in Neihu District benefits from the clean water quality of the nearby Dagouxi stream, making it suitable for fireflies to live and reproduce.

Xia Xiantong, head of the Roads and Trails Section at the Department of Urban Development, mentioned that the “Shuiche Liao Trail” in Beitou District allows visitors to easily enjoy a sea of calla lilies during the day and stroll amidst starlight and fireflies at night. Wang Shanjuan from the Chinese Taipei Nature Trails Association noted that the “Hushan Nature Trail” in Xinyi District, located near the clear and pristine Hushan Stream, often sees fireflies dancing within the waters. Additionally, the “Osmanthus Suspension Bridge Trail” in Nangang District, with its rich ecology and fewer outside visitors, also offers sightings of fireflies fluttering about during early summer nights.


▲ Neihu District – Dagouxi Riverside Trail. Photo provided by Taipei City


▲ Shilin District – Cueishan Trail Plaza. Photo provided by Taipei City


▲ Nangang District – Osmanthus Suspension Bridge Trail. Photo provided by Taipei City