Travel Guide: Viewing Tung Blossoms & Fireflies in New Taipei This Spring

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Every late spring to early summer, tung blossoms bloom and fireflies emerge in great numbers. The best leisure activities during this season are none other than strolling along snow-white tung blossom trails or venturing into the countryside at night to admire the twinkling fireflies. From mid-April to June each year is the best season for firefly and tung blossom viewing in New Taipei City. In addition to the 55 firefly viewing spots launched this year by the Agriculture Bureau in collaboration with various district offices, allowing the public to get close to nature and making New Taipei a city where fireflies can be spotted everywhere, the New Taipei Tung Blossom Festival will also kick off at 2 PM on Saturday, April 22, at Wanfu Ecological Park in Shenkeng District, heralding the arrival of the "May Snow" season.

【Info】
※ Firefly Viewing in New Taipei
Tucheng – Tung Blossom Park and nearby firefly trails, Shibi Liao Creek Streamside Trail (opposite Nantianmu Plaza in Tucheng District)
Sanxia – Yuan Mountain Firefly Path, Youmu Elementary School, along Shizitou Road in Ankengli, Qiwu Barbecue Area, Shanshui Pan, Shizitou Five-Way Intersection, Rih Dong Garden, County Routes 114 & 109, Daban Tree Forest Hot Spring Resort, Sanxia Xia’ankeng Firefly Tea Tour Package at Area 75, Sifenzi Firefly Secret Spot, Carbon Neutral Amusement Park
Xindian – Galaxy Cave, Quchi Wetland, HeMei Mountain Trail (at Yongye Intersection in Xindian District), Zhitan Elementary School (No. 92, Zhitan Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City), Guangxing Wetland, Wenshan Farm
Wulai – About 3–5 km along the Xiluowan Section in Wulaili
Shiding – Erge Mountain Nature Center, Yunhai Elementary School, behind Huafan University
Pinglin – Jiuzhigen Waterfront Park, Heli Campsite at Shulili, around the Pinglin Waterfront Suspension Bridge, Yuguang Elementary School (Pinglin Elementary School Yuguang Campus), along Guozhong Road and near Xiecheng by the lake... Shuangxi – Houfanzi Creek Ecological Education Park, Peony to Thirteen Levels (Marten Mountain Trail), Thirteen Levels Waterfront Park, Ganlin Elementary School, Shuangxi Pinglin Leisure Farm, Shuangxi Camellia Villa
Pingxi – Near Pingxi Old Street, near Shifen Old Street, Taiyang Club (Crown Prince Guesthouse), Taiwan Coal Mining Museum, Pinghu Forest Recreation Area, Wanggu Farm Road
Ruifang – Liulang Road Sightseeing Trail, Ruigan Elementary School, Sandiding Pyramid Bridge
Xizhi – Xinshan Dream Lake Trail, Cuihu Lake, 3 km mark on Cuiping Road
Wanli – Along Ruiquan Road in Xidi Village, along Daxing Elementary School in Shuangxing Village
Jinshan – Along Zhonghe Creek (turn at 4K on Yangjin Highway toward Qifeng Shi Hot Spring Villa, next to the path to Yangmingshan on Huangxi Head Farm Road), Bayan Settlement (settlement entrance next to 7.6K on Yangjin Highway)
Shimen – Ali Bang Ecological Farm
Shipi – Xibanli in Shipi District, Qingshan Road in Yuanshanli, Shipi District
Shenkeng – About 5–6 km along A’rouyang Industrial Road (Qingshan Herbal Garden)
Gongliao – Longgang Community
 
※ New Taipei Tung Blossom Festival
Shenkeng District – “Happy Tung Blossom Tour – Wonderful Shenkeng”: Wanfu Ecological Park on April 22 (Sat), A’rouyang Mansion Tung Blossom Trail on April 23 (Sun)
Tucheng District – “2017 New Taipei Tucheng District Hakka Tung Blossom Festival”: Nantianmu Plaza and surrounding trails, Tung Blossom Park on April 29 (Sat) – 30 (Sun)
Xindian District – “Art & Tung Blossom Stroll”: Erbazi Botanical Garden on April 30 (Sun)
Sanxia District – “Tung Blossom Tour in Sanxia”: Changfu Bridge on April 30 (Sat)
Ruifang District – “Tung Blossom Tour in Ruifang · Firefly Fun”: Square in front of Siguting Ji’an Temple, Sandiaoling Parking Lot on May 6 (Sat)
Shipi District – “Art & Tung Blossoms Love Shipi”: Hengshanli on May 6 (Sat)
Danshui District – “2017 Tung Blossoms in Love with the Hills”: Hakka Art and Culture Museum, Shanjia Railway Station, Huguo吉祥Temple on May 7 (Sunday)
Yingge District – “I Love Yingge: Tung Blossom Viewing & Pottery Fun”: Yingge Stone Hiking Trail next to Hongde Temple Plaza on May 13 (Saturday)
Shiding District – “Tung Blossoms Fluttering, Savoring Tea”: 9K-50 on County Road 47-1, North of Getouli on May 20 (Saturday)