Firefly season is now at its peak & the "highlights after lights out" on HeMei Mountain are dazzling

Reported by reporter You t
ru / Taipei

The fireflies are out！HeMei Mountain’s firefly-watching season has begun！From April 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th, for four days from 17:30 to 19:30, meet at the west bank near Bitan Suspension Bridge and depart in batches. Led by professional guides, the tour includes exhibits of native butterfly plants and live butterflies, as well as a nighttime symphony of frog calls—double the romance with both fireflies and butterflies. This year, the fireflies have started glowing earlier and will now reach their peak, with the HeMei Mountain firefly season lasting until late April.


▲ This year, the fireflies have started glowing earlier and will now reach their peak, with the HeMei Mountain firefly season lasting until late April. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

HeMei Mountain is located on the west bank of Bitan in Xindian, boasting a rich primitive forest ecosystem where butterflies, fireflies, and tree frogs thrive steadily—it’s a wild and scenic woodland. The walking trails are designed with concepts such as natural principles, environmental aesthetics, and ecological engineering. Eco-friendly stone paths separate human and insect traffic, and protective weeding ensures excellent ecological conservation, resulting in an abundance of fireflies. Every year during the firefly season, this place attracts tens of thousands of visitors for nature observation.

The HeMei Mountain firefly-watching area spans a one-kilometer mountain trail from the Great Buddha Temple parking lot at Bitan to Meizhi City community, featuring twelve firefly breeding zones. The nearby Taipingli and Meichengli communities near the firefly zones cooperate by turning off lights, and without light pollution, the fireflies are noticeably more numerous. Zhang Shengxian, chairman of the “Taiwan Natural Technology Society,” which has long been engaged in ecological restoration at HeMei Mountain, said that reducing light pollution and protecting habitats for firefly reproduction is rare for urban communities. “The highlights after lights out” welcome everyone to come and enjoy the fireflies and butterflies, and experience the beauty of the natural environment.


▲ Last year’s spectacular firefly display at HeMei Mountain. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)


▲ Red Chest Black-Winged Firefly. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau)

The firefly-watching season lasts until April 21st. There are limited parking spaces near HeMei Mountain, so please use public transport. From the “Xindian Station” MRT, cross the suspension bridge and walk up the asphalt road—you’ll see fireflies in about 10 minutes. Alternatively, take the Green 6 bus from “Xindian Station” MRT to “Meizhi City” Station, then walk up Yongye Road Lane 81 for 5 minutes to reach the site. Please be especially cautious when walking mountain trails at night: watch out for snakes, insects, cliffs, and slippery paths, and it is recommended to wear rain boots. You don’t need to cover your flashlight with red paper—you may use it to navigate the mountain path and for night-time ecological art displays. However, the use of flashlights, camera flashes, and glow sticks is strictly prohibited in firefly breeding areas. When using mobile phones or cameras, please be mindful not to affect others’ firefly-watching experience.