Fireflies Flutter Across Taiwan: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Firefly-Watching Spots in Late Spring

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Every year from mid-April to mid-May, during the transition from spring to summer, is the season when fireflies fill the air. Dancing through the forests at night, their tiny lights shine like stars, heralding the arrival of the peak summer season. Below is a compilation of the best firefly-watching locations across Taiwan for travelers to reference, and to help you plan a firefly-watching trip. Since fireflies thrive in clear, warm, and undisturbed environments, please be mindful not to harm the ecological environment while enjoying the view.

Taipei – Yangmingshan Tianxi Garden
【Info】
Address: No. 45, Lane 336, Section 3, Zhishan Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2841 - 4855
Opening Hours: 9:00 - 16:30
※ Admission requires registration
 
Taipei – Waishuangxi Qian Die Valley Insect Ecological Farm
【Info】
Address: No. 292, Section 3, Zhishan Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
Phone: 0928-627121
Opening Hours: 9:00–17:00
※ Only accepts reservations via email
 
Taipei – Zhinan Stream
【Info】
Address: Zhinan Stream Cao ns Bridge Plaza, Taipei City
Transportation Info:
Public Transport – Take Taipei MRT Maokong Left Line (Zhinan Temple), Maokong Left Line (Zoo), Brown 15, or Small 10 bus to Cao ns Station.
Driving – Head toward Cao ns Bridge along Section 3, Zhinan Road, Wenshan District.
 
Taipei – Hushan Trail
【Info】
Location: Northwestern side of the Nangang Mountain Range in Xinyi District, Taipei City; easternmost part of the Four Beasts Mountains
Transportation Info:
1. From MRT Houshanpi Station, walk along Zhongpo South Road toward Fude Street; approximately 20 minutes to reach the Cihui Tang hiking entrance at Lane 251, Fude Street.
2. Take a bus to “Fengtian Temple Station,” then enter via Lane 221, Fude Street to reach the Zhen Guang Chan Temple hiking entrance.
3. Take a bus to “Fude Elementary School Station,” then enter via Lane 251, Fude Street to reach the Cihui Tang hiking entrance.
 
Taipei - Da’an Forest Park
【Info】
Address: No. 1, Section 2, Xinyi South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2700 - 3830
 
Taipei - Muzha Park
【Info】
Address: No. 50, Section 4, Xinglong Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2788 - 4255
 
New Taipei - Wulai Cloudland Amusement Park
【Info】
Address: No. 1-1, Waterfall Road, Wulai Village, Wulai District, New Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2661 - 6009
 
New Taipei - Xindian Hemei Mountain
【Info】
Address: No. 14, Lane 13, Alley 81, Yongye Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City
Transportation Information
Public Transport – Take the Taipei MRT Xindian Line to Xindian Station. The Bishan Scenic Area is visible on the left upon exiting the station. Walk for 5 minutes to reach the Bishan Suspension Bridge.
Driving – 1. From Taipei City, take Roosevelt Road to Beixin Road, turn right onto Huanshui Road towards Bishan, and arrive at the Bishan East Bank Parking Lot where the Bishan Suspension Bridge is located. 2. Take National Freeway No. 1 and exit at New Taipei Interchange via Provincial Highway 62, then take Ruifeng Highway past the Cat Village at Houzhuang Railway Station and continue forward.
 
New Taipei - Ruifang Sandiaoling
【Info】
Location: Walk from Sandiaoling Railway Station in Shuoren Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, to the Sandiaoling Waterfall Group
Public Transport: Take a TRA train and get off at Sandiaoling Railway Station
Driving: From Taipei, take National Freeway No. 1 and connect to Provincial Highway 62, exit at Ruifang Interchange, then take Ruifeng Highway passing through Houzhuang Railway Station’s Cat Village and continue forward
 
New Taipei - Gongliao Terraced Paddy Fields
【Info】
Address: No. 65-2, Neiliao Street, Gongliao District, New Taipei City
Public Transport: Get off at Gongliao Railway Station on the TRA, then transfer to the New Taipei City bus “Taoyuan Valley Trailhead”
 
New Taipei - Xizhi Cuihu Trail
【Info】
Address: No. 5 Lane, Hudong Street, Xizhi District, New Taipei City
Public transport: Get off at Jinlong Lake Station on Xinghe Bus Line 817.
Driving: Turn onto Zhongxing Road from Datong Road in Xizhi, go straight to the end, turn right onto Mingfeng Street, then left onto Hudong Street, and follow along Jinlong Lake to reach the destination.
 
New Taipei – Qingshui Road, Tucheng District
【Info】
Address: No. 89, Township Road, Lane 587, Qingshui Road, Tucheng District, New Taipei City
 
Taoyuan – Houci Lake
【Info】
Event location: Houci Lake Park; registration is done online and is available until full capacity.
 
Hsinchu – Neiwan Dongwo Creek, Starry Sea Firefly Area
【Info】
Address: No. 6, Zhongzheng Road, Neiwan Village, Hengshan Township, Hsinchu County
Public transport: Get off at Neiwan Railway Station and head in the direction of Neiwan Elementary School uphill.
 
Miaoli – Zhuolan Yanchuan
【Info】
Address: No. 63-1, Jingshan, Jingshan Li, Zhuolan Township, Miaoli County
Phone: 04-2592-1680

Taichung – Dongshi Forest Farm
【Info】
Address: No. 6-1, Shilin Street, Dongshi District, Taichung City
Phone: (04) 2587 - 2191
 
Taichung – Daking Zhongzheng Camping Area
【Info】
Address: Beikeng Lane, Neighborhood 29, Minzheng Li, Beitun District, Taichung City
Phone: (04) 2239 - 0685
Public transport: Take the train to Taichung Railway Station, cross to the opposite side, and transfer to Taichung Bus Line 66 to reach the destination.
Driving: From National Freeway No. 1, exit via Zhongqing Interchange into Taichung City, turn left onto Wenshin Road, continue to the end and turn onto Dongshan Road. Go straight for 5 km to reach Daking Roundabout. From the roundabout, follow the right road toward Kuozi Pit, then turn left at the fork onto Hengkeng Lane. Pass by the Earth God Temple and turn left to arrive at the Zhongzheng Camping Area.
 
Taichung – Baxianshan Nature Education Center
【Info】
Address: No. 8, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Heping District, Taichung City
Phone: (04) 2595 - 0299
 
Taichung - Lavender Forest
【Info】
Address: No. 20, Zhongxing Street, Xinshe District, Taichung City
Phone: (04) 2593 - 1066
 
Nantou - Sun Moon Lake
【Info】
Address: No. 599, Zhongshan Road, Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Phone: (04) 9285 - 5668
Firefly viewing spots:
1. Lianhuachi Firefly Trail
2. On the road from Sun Moon Lake to Tanan
3. Cat V疑讲降兰br /> 4. Youshuixiang
5. Tou She Reservoir Trail and Living Basin
6. Zhushiyuan
 
Nantou - Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area
【Info】
Address: No. 153, Da'an Road, Zhong'ai Village, Ren'ai Township, Nantou County
Phone: 049-2974519
 
Nantou - Lugu San Sheng Yuan Area
【Info】
Address: No. 128, Section 1, Zhongzheng Road, Lugu Township, Nantou (Lugu Township Visitor Center)
Phone: (04) 9275 - 5623, (04) 9275 – 5322 (Lugu Township Tourism Service Office)
 
Nantou - Lugu Neihu Elementary School
【Info】
Address: No. 51, Xingchan Road, Lugu Township, Nantou County
Phone: (04) 9275 - 2437
Opening hours: Open Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 8:00 to 18:00 (closed on weekdays)
 
Chiayi - Yuantan Natural Ecology Park
【Info】
Address: No. 1-1, Lane 6, Youyelin, Rui Village, Meishan Township, Chiayi County (Ruitai Visitor Center)
Phone: (05) 250 - 2026
 
Tainan - Nansi Meiling
【Info】
Address: No. 3-10, Wanguangli, Banan Mountain, Nansi District, Tainan City
Phone: (06) 575 - 5830
The firefly season in Meiling runs from April to June each year, with the highest numbers of Luciola cerata. The Shuichukeng area along the Wulong Trail is a popular firefly-watching spot. (It takes about 80 minutes on foot, covering a distance of around 2 kilometers, starting from the Wulong Trail entrance and walking uphill.)
 
Tainan - Nanliao
【Info】
Address: No. 34, Nanliao, Guanlingli, Baihe District, Tainan City
Phone: (06) 682 - 2977
 
Hualien - Liyu Pond
【Info】
Address: No. 100, Huan Tan North Road, Chinan Village, Shoufeng Township, Hualien County
Firefly viewing spots: Guanyin Pavilion at the southern end of Liyu Pond Scenic Area, the Tan Nan Trail, or Qingyang Farm