Firefly Watching / Beyond the Swarm of “Fireflies” – “Night Elves” Also Emerge at Sheding Park

Reported by You t
ru / Comprehensive Report

During the transitional season between spring and summer, which is also peak “firefly” season, Kenting’s Sheding Nature Park—ranked among Taiwan’s Top 10 Firefly-Watching Spots—under its pristine natural conditions, sees thousands of fireflies lighting up the woods every spring holiday season. On days following rainfall, in addition to the “fireflies,” visitors might even catch a glimpse of the beautiful “night elves,” which emit their own glow and are found only on the ground surface.


▲ Thanks to its well-preserved ecological environment, no artificial lights are installed in the park after nightfall.

Every year during the spring-summer transition, which is also the best season for firefly viewing, Kenting’s Sheding Nature Park spans approximately 128.7 hectares. The park boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna, naturally formed limestone caves, bamboo groves, and banyan trees. Among its hidden gems is a stunning natural crevice landscape formed within coral reef rock fractures—known as a “natural crevice in the wall”—which can be discovered during a nighttime visit to witness a variety of vibrant ecological scenes.

Nowadays, spotting beautiful “fireflies” in Taiwan is not easy, as they are highly susceptible to habitat pollution and human disturbance. At Sheding Nature Park in Kenting, the intact ecological environment is well maintained, and no artificial lighting is used after dark. Visitors wishing to explore firefly habitats must rely on flashlights or headlamps. After walking through paths lined with bamboo groves and stone steps, they can turn off their lights in slightly water-flowing areas to catch a rare glimpse of fireflies dancing freely in the light-pollution-free mountain forests.


▲ %The park features abundant plant life, naturally formed cave formations, bamboo forests, and unique karst landscapes.