A Beautiful Mistake: Tung Blossoms Bloom in Summer in Shuili and Baguashan

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Tung blossoms, which usually resemble snow-white blooms and flower in April and May, have recently bloomed again in snowy white around the Mingtan Power Plant in Shuili, Nantou, and along Lingxing Road in Baguashan. Experts say this is due to the recent fluctuating weather conditions of cold and heat, causing the plants to “misjudge” that spring has arrived — a phenomenon known as “vernalization.” Although the tung blossom display is not as dense as in spring, it is still breathtaking to see these flowers blooming at the tail end of summer.

▲ Tung blossoms in Shuili. (Photo / From the 2013 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival website, press photo)

Currently, areas where tung blossoms are blooming include the Mingtan Power Plant and nearby areas in Shuili, while in Baguashan, they are scattered along Lingxing Road, where several tung trees are in bloom. In fact, a similar vernalization effect is most commonly seen in azaleas, which, like tung blossoms, form buds in autumn and go dormant in winter. With the recent unstable weather and slight drops in temperature, followed by highs of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, some sensitive plants bloom earlier than usual.

▲ Recently bloomed tung blossoms in Shuili are located near the Mingtan Power Plant (left photo) and Cheche (right photo). (Photo / From the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration website)

If you want to admire the snow-white tung blossoms, there’s no need to wait until next spring. Take advantage of this recent “beautiful mistake” caused by the weather and head to Shuili and Baguashan to enjoy the blooms.