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A Lazy Guide to 20 Butterfly-Watching Spots in New Taipei Where Butterflies Dance

Published: 2026-09-26 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-26 — Taiwan is known as the "Butterfly Kingdom," with about 400 species of butterflies thriving in its relatively small land area. Butterflies can be seen dancing in the air all year round. The New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau has specially compiled a "New Taipei Butterfly-Watching Lazy Guide," providing...

By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Department

Taiwan is known as the "Butterfly Kingdom," with about 400 species of butterflies thriving in its relatively small land area. Butterflies can be seen dancing in the air all year round. The New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau has specially compiled a "New Taipei Butterfly-Watching Lazy Guide," providing 20 butterfly-watching spots in New Taipei, allowing everyone to enjoy the beautiful sight of butterflies dancing in the air together!

The view of the Neidong Waterfall in the early morning, with sunlight gently falling on the mist, is quite beautiful. Various butterflies can be spotted here. (Image source / Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications)

With over 400 species of butterflies in Taiwan, you can find more than one-third of them in New Taipei. (Image source / New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau)

There are approximately 400 species of butterflies in Taiwan, and more than one-third of them can be seen within New Taipei City. Whether in urban areas or the suburbs, butterfly sightings are common. While walking in a park, you might spot a red-spot blue butterfly swiftly flying at high altitude, a swallowtail butterfly slowly fluttering among flowers, or a little grayling butterfly rising and falling suddenly on the ground.

Below are 20 butterfly-watching spots in New Taipei City:

Number

Location

Common Butterfly Species

Public Transport

Self-Drive

Xizhi Dajianshan (Big Sharp Mountain)

Sapporo Purple Lacewing, Black-tip Leopard Lacewing, Black-veined Brown, Red-margin Yellow Hedge Blue, Purple-spotted Swallowtail, Stone Wall Butterfly, Large Dark-spotted Skipper, White Spot Skipper, Jade Belt Skipper, Dark Mimetic Swallowtail, Yellow-costate Swallowtail, Blue Triangle, Small Purple Tiger, and Pale-striped Blue Tiger

1. Train: Take the Taiwan Railways Administration's West Coast or North-Link Line to Xizhi Station, then transfer to a taxi to reach Dajianshan Scenic Area.
2. Bus: Take Taipei Joint Bus Service routes 51, 311, 605, or Fuhang Bus (Banqiao–Jidian Line) to Xizhi Station, then transfer to a taxi to reach Dajianshan Scenic Area.

From Xizhi Interchange, exit the highway, then turn into Xiufeng Road or Qinqin Road from in front of Xizhi Station to reach Dajianshan Scenic Area.

Shiding Huangdi Dian (Emperor’s Pavilion)

Swallowtail, Yungtze Yellow Vein Shade, Little Jewel Blue, Broad-green-striped Swallowtail, Red Vein Swallowtail, Taiwan Swallowtail, Purple-edged Swallowtail

1. Shin Shin Bus Beidian Line: Can be boarded at locations such as Gongbao Building (Qingdao W. Rd side), Zhongshan S. Rd, Roosevelt Rd, Gongguan, Jingmei, Muzha, and Shenkeng, then ride directly to Huangdi Dian Station after crossing Jiuliao Pu Bridge. Walk 1.3 km to reach the hiking entrance. For the return trip, if returning to Xiaocukeng, board at the same location. If descending to Yongding Elementary School, take a Taipei Bus Pingxi Line bus.
2. Taipei Bus Pingxi Line: Primarily starts from Muzha Mamintan (also available from Shulin and Banqiao), passing through Shenkeng, Shuangxi Kou, Wenshan Coal Mine, and getting off at Yongding Elementary School. Walk forward 100 m, turn right at the Yuntaishan archway, and follow the industrial road uphill 2.2 km to reach the hiking entrance (Liu Bowen Temple). For the return trip, if returning to Liu Bowen Temple, descend to Yongding Elementary School to board. If getting off at Xiaocukeng, take a Shin Shin Bus.

1. From Jingmei, take County Hwy 106 to Shuangxi Kou, then turn onto County Hwy 106B (Shiding–Pinglin) to Jiuliao Pu Bridge (there is a temple called “Yuzhitang” at the bridgehead), turn left over the bridge, then follow the Xiaocukeng industrial road straight up to the parking lot of "Huangdi Dian Scenic Area."
2. From Jingmei, take County Hwy 106 to Shuangxi Kou, then continue on Hwy 106 (toward Pingxi) via Wenshan Coal Mine to Yongding Elementary School, walk forward 100 m and turn right onto the industrial road. Along the way, there are many temples, among which the more famous ones are Daluojinxian Fu and Liu Bowen Temple. Cars can be parked under Liu Bowen Temple.

Pingxi Cimufeng (Mother’s Peak) and Xiaozishan Hiking Trail

Taiwanese Yellow Butterfly, Little Yellow Three-lined Lacewing, Purple-spotted Swallowtail, Okinawa Hedge Blue, Ryukyu Blue, Brown Angle, Black-veined Brown, Little Jewel Blue, Pale Hedge Blue, Three-star Double-tailed Swift, Taiwanese Single-band Lacewing

1. Train: Take a train at Qidu, Ruifang, or Hou Dong stations to Pingxi Station
2. Bus:
(1) From MRT Muzha Station, take Taipei Bus 795 to Pingxi Station.
(2) From Ruifang Station, take Keelung Bus to Pingxi Station

1. Take National Highway 3 to National Highway 5, exit at Shiding Interchange and turn left onto County Highway 106 → Pingxi.
2. Exit at Badu Interchange on National Freeway 1 → Provincial Highway 2B → County Highway 106 → Pingxi.
3. Rui-Ba Highway (Provincial Highway 2D) → turn onto Provincial Highway 106 at Ruifang Industrial Park → Pingxi.
4. Xizhi → Xiping Highway (County Route 31) → Pingxi.

Ruifang, Jiufen, and Jinguashi

Common Bluebottle, Great Mormon, Common Three-ring, Black-edged Tiger, Red Ring Skirt, Taiwanese Cabbage White, Black-bordered Yellow, and Three-spot Swordtail

Take a Keelung Bus to Ruifang, then transfer to a Keelung Bus bound for Jiufen or Jinguashiliao, or take a Fuhe Bus to Jinguashi.

1. Take National Freeway 1 northbound, enter Freeway 65 at Dahua System, exit at Ruifang Interchange, and head toward Jiufen and Jinguashi.
2. Take National Freeway 1, exit at Nuannuan Interchange, connect to Rui-Ba Highway to reach Ruifang, then follow signs to your destination.

Ao Mountain Ancient Trail

Monarch, Cabbage White, Taiwanese Painted Lady, Common Bluebottle, Scarlet Jezebel, Blue Pansy, Great Mormon, and Ryukyu Blue Pansy

Take a train to Mudan Station, at Zhengguang No. 1 Bridge take the fork to the left toward Qìngyún Temple, then continue right along the Mudan River Road to reach the trailhead at No. 34-1, 13th Floor residential area.

From National Freeway 1, exit at Badu Interchange, connect to Freeway 62, exit at Ruifang Interchange, take the right-side exit, turn left onto Provincial Highway 2D, after crossing Ruifang Bridge turn right and head straight toward Jiufen. After passing Ruigan Overpass, turn right onto County Route 37 (Ruihou Highway), then at the junction where it reconnects with County Highway 102, take the small road ahead straight to the Ao Mountain Ancient Trail trailhead.

Bítóujiǎo and Lóngdòng Bay Cliff Trail

Swallowtail, Taiwanese Swallowtail, Blue Pansy, Large Tree Nymph, Taiwanese Spotted Joker, Dark Glassy Tiger, Taiwanese Wave, and White Wave Flitter

1. From Taichung Bus North Station, buses depart every two hours starting at 06:20, get off at Longdong Bay, then walk in for 10 minutes.
2. Take TRA to Keelung, then transfer to Kuokuang Bus or Keelung Bus to Longdong Bay Station / Longdong South Mouth Station.
3. Yilan → Kuokuang Bus (Yilan–Su’ao/Coastal Highway Line) → Longdong Bay Station.
4. Keelung → Kuokuang Bus / Keelung Bus → Longdong Bay Station.
5. Ruifang → Kuokuang Bus (Taiwan Trip Golden Hualong Line) → Longdong Bay Station.

Take National Freeway 1 (Freeway 1) northbound, after passing Wudu Interchange, connect to Freeway 62 (Wanrui Expressway), drive straight (toward Ruibin) until the end of Freeway 62, connect to Provincial Highway 2 (Coastal Highway), take the right fork and drive until after passing Longdong Tunnel, then turn left at the fork to enter the Longdong Cliff Bay Trail – Xilingyan Temple entrance parking lot.

Guanyin Mountain

Common Map, Small Green Spotted, Great Mormon, Cabbage White, Black-spotted White, Common Grass Yellow, Dark-veined Tiger, Dark-veined Tiger, Common Tit, and Great Mormon.

Take the Metro Luzhou Line → Luzhou Station → Exit 1 → take Orange 20 Bus → (on weekends) get off at Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center or Lingyun Temple → walk about 20 minutes to Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center.

1. National Freeway 1 (southbound or northbound) → Wugu Interchange → Freeway 64 (Baoli direction) → Guanyin Mountain Interchange → Section 3 of Lingyun Road → Guanyin Mountain.
2. Taipei → Shilin → Dadu Road → Guandu Bridge → Baigu direction → Section 4 of Chengtai Road (County Highway 103) → Lingyun Road (Township Road 53-1) → Guanyin Mountain.

Shíbāfènkēng Stream Water Source Area (Youth Park)

Crow, Great Mormon, Pygmy Blue, Pulia Red Flash, Dark Punchin, Black Swallowtail, Taiwanese Yellow, and Taiwanese Wave

1. Get off at Danfeng Station on Taipei Bus, walk toward Shíbāfènkēng Stream.
2. Take the free Xinzhhuang City Bus and get off at Tianxiang Street intersection, then walk to the destination.

By car: Drive along Section 3 of Zhongshan Road on Provincial Highway 1 in the direction of Guishan, turn right onto Shoushan Road to North Road 118 toward Linkou, and follow Shibafen Pit Stream for about 5 minutes to reach the destination.

Yuantong Temple

Great Mormon, Crow Butterfly, Common Tiger, Common Mormon, Blue Spotted Crow, Dark Grass Blue, Striped Albatross, Scarlet Jezebel, Hypolimnas bolina, Common Emigrant, Hypolycaena kina, Hypolycaena erylus, Blue Tigers, Crow Butterflies, Three-ring Anglewings

1. Routes serving Yuantong Temple: 201 (Kulun Street–Yuantong Temple), 242 (Xiaonanmen–Yuantong Temple), 243 (Chongqing S. Rd.–Yuantong Temple), 275 (Taipei Main Station–Yuantong Temple). Walk approximately 1.5 km to reach the destination.
2. MRT Zhonghe Line 【Jing’an Station】 – Transfer to Orange Bus Route 2.
Note: It takes at least 20 minutes to walk from the Yuantong Temple bus stop to the main hall plaza.

Turn left from Jingshing Road toward National Freeway No. 2, continue straight on Yuantong Road to the end, pass the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, and go uphill along the mountain road to arrive.

Sanxia Kuan Mountain

Kurume Birdwing, Bamboo Red Alpine, Taichung Red Alpine, Clouded Yellow, Great Blackvein, Narrow-winged Alpine, Common Yeoman, Purple Crow

Take Taipei Bus 812 (Banqiao–Sanxia Line) and get off at “Zhongyuan Elementary School Stop,” then turn right into Lane 240 of Datong Road.

Take Provincial Highway 3, then turn onto North Road 85 to Zhongyuan Elementary School, turn onto Datong Road, and turn right into Lane 240.

Manyueyuan Forest Recreation Area

Striped Blue Crow, Blue Spotted Crow, Common Tiger, Crow Butterfly, Common Jezebel, Brownish Black-veined Small Copper

Take a Taipei Bus from Sanxia to Manyueyuan, get off and walk along the Ruizaixi Ecological Trail for 30 minutes (Taipei Bus Sanxia Station contact: 02-26711914).

National Freeway 3 → Sanying Interchange → County Road 110 → Sanxia → Provincial Highway 3 → Dapu → Turn left onto Provincial Highway 7B → Coujiao → ChaJiao → Head toward Yumu Village → Lelegu Valley → Manyueyuan Forest Recreation Area

Galaxy Cave

Ryukyu Purple Crow, Dark Leafwing, Stone Moth, Narrow-winged Alpine, Ryukyu Three-ring Anglewing, Taiwan Waved Swordtail, Puli Glassy Tiger, Lesser Three-ring Anglewing

1. Xindian Bus (Green 12, Pinglin–Xindian MRT Line), get off at “Galaxy Cave Stop” on Beiyi Road.
2. Xindian Bus 647 or Green 5, get off at the “Zhongsheng Bridge” terminal.
Walk uphill along Beiyi Road for about 10 minutes, take the big turn toward Galaxy Road, and walk for another 25 minutes to the Galaxy Cave hiking entrance.

National Freeway 3, Xindian Interchange → Beixin Road Xindian MRT Station → No. 458, Section 2, Beiyi Road → Galaxy Road → Galaxy Cave hiking entrance.

Xiaocukeng

Mormon, Taiwanese Black-spotted Copper, Cabbage White, Dark-veined Tiger

Take Xindian Bus to Wulai Line, get off at Xiaocukeng Station, and walk to Yongxing Road toward Zhitan Elementary School.

Take Xinwu Road to Xiaocukeng, turn onto Yongxing Road, and head toward Zhitan Elementary School.

Wulai Jiajiuliao Trail

Common Tiger, Common Tiger, Small Blue Spotted Crow, Ryukyu Blue Spotted Crow, Scarlet Jezebel, Stone Moth, Small Three-ring Anglewing, Taiwanese Yellow, Taiwanese Cabbage White

Take Xindian Bus Wulai Line, and get off at Jiajiuliao Station.

Drive from Taipei toward Wulai, park at the Wulai Old Street parking lot, walk back past the red arch bridge, and turn right to reach the trail.

Neidong Forest Recreation Area, Fushan

Swallowtail butterfly, Spotted bluewing, Broad swallowtail, Ascension swallowtail, Ringed butterfly, Red-edged bluewing, Stone wall butterfly, Esaki’s tortoiseshell, Yellow-spotted swallowtail

Take the Xin Dian Bus bound for Wulai to Wulai Station, then walk from the Wulai Checkpoint to Xinxian District. Xin Dian Bus: (02)2666-0678

1. National Freeway 3 → Xin Dian Interchange → Provincial Highway 9 → Xin Dian → Wulai → Xinxian District → Neidong
2. National Freeway 3 → Xin Dian Interchange → Provincial Highway 9 → Xin Dian → Wulai → Xinxian District → Fushan

Four] Water

Black swallowtail, Taiwanese yellow-barred duskywing, great swallowtail, swallowtail butterfly, blue glassy tiger, Ryukyu purple mormon, tailless white-striped swallowtail

Take the Xin Dian Bus Wulai Line to Feitsui Reservoir Station, then take the left path next to the Taipower Training Center onto Guishan Road. Upon seeing the Eternal Bridge, you will arrive.

Along the Xin-Wu Highway, after passing the Feitsui Reservoir entrance, there is a turn. The small road on the left is Guishan Road. The turn is at the Taipower Training Center. Enter Guishan Road to reach the destination.

Erge Mountain, Bipod Ridge

Stone wall butterfly, Taiwanese checkered-skipper, single-banded demon, ringed butterfly, blue-spotted crow, Stephens' purple crow, blue-spotted crow, Taiwanese wavelet, spotted swallowtail

1. Take the Xin Dian Bus Pinglin–Taipei Line, get off at Laoliao Station and walk to the destination.
2. Enter from Shenkeng, transfer to bus 660 or 666 at MRT Muzha Station to Shenkeng High Road Trailhead.

Follow Beiyi Road to Xiaogetao, follow signs toward Bipod Mountain.

Datun Creek Ancient Trail

Taiwanese wavelet, yellow-spotted swallowtail, blue-spotted crow, Formosan pygmy blue, Taiwanese wavelet snake-eye, red admiral, Formosan pygmy blue, Taiwanese star-threespot, dark false commodore, Taiwanese single-banded skipper

1. Take the MRT to Tamsui Station, transfer to bus 866, 875, 876, or 877 to Beixinzhuang Station, walk about 400 meters toward Sanzhi, then cross the Guizai Bridge. After a few dozen steps, you’ll see an 8-story red-tiled building with a gray base. Walk up the small path beside it.
2. Take the MRT to Tamsui Station, transfer to bus 875. After passing Xinghua Police Station / 0 km fork of Balaka Highway, get off at Beixinzhuang Station. Walk forward, turn right at the Sanbanqiao archway, then continue along the industrial road with signs.

National Freeway 1 → Exit at Wugu Interchange, head toward Taishan/Newzhuang → Keep left, exit at Wugu Interchange (Wugu/Bali), head toward New 5th Road Section 2 / County Highway 107A → Chengtai Road Section 3 / County Highway 107 → Chengtai Road Section 3 / County Highway 103 → Guandu Bridge (Tamsui/Taipei) / Provincial Highway 15 → Minquan Road / Provincial Highway 2B → Beixin Road / Beixin Road Section 1 / County Highway 101 → Arrive at destination

Shimen Jing Mountain Waterfall

Single-banded demon, yellow triple-spot, stone wall butterfly, Taiwanese pierid, blue-spotted crow, Taiwanese wavelet snake-eye, blue-spotted crow, purple-edged copper

Take the Tamsui Bus or Taiwan Motor Transport bound for Jinshan, Shimen, or Keelung from Tamsui, get off at Laomei Station, then walk to Laomei Elementary School and transfer to Shimen Township’s community bus to arrive.

Take Provincial Highway 2 along the coastal road, turn onto County Highway 17 near Laomei Elementary School, continue for about 4.6 km to reach the trailhead of Qing Shan Waterfall.

Jinshan Shitou Mountain Park

Blue-spotted crow, large white butterfly, swallowtail butterfly, Ryukyu blue-spotted crow, purple-edged copper, Stephens' purple crow, pale small-lined blue, stone wall butterfly, cabbage white, black-veined brown

1. Take the Tamsui or Keelung Bus from in front of Tamsui MRT Station or beside Keelung Railway Station, get off at Jinshan “Post Office” Station.
2. Take the Royal Bus from Taipei Park Road Gongbao Building to Jinshan, get off at Jinshan “Post Office” Station.
3. Take the Kuo-Kuang Bus from Taipei Main Station to Taipei–Jinqing Center, get off at “Jinqing” Station.
4. For those getting off at Jinshan “Post Office” Station, walk along Minsheng Road to Huanggang Road for about 15 minutes to arrive.

1. National Freeway 3 (Jinji Interchange) → Provincial Highway 2 → Wanli → Jinshan → Provincial Highway 2 (turn right at 42.5 km) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow signs to arrive.
2. National Freeway 1 (Wugu Interchange) → Highway 64 → Bali/Wugu (toward Tamsui) → Guandu Bridge → Zhuwei → Tamsui River Mangrove → Provincial Highway 2 → Sanzhi → Shimen → Jinshan → Provincial Highway 2 (turn left at 42.5 km) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow signs to arrive.
3. Taipei → Yangjin Highway (Provincial Highway 2A) → Turn right onto Provincial Highway 2 (turn left at the 42.5 km mark) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow the signs to reach the destination.
4. Taipei → Shilin → Guandu → Zhuwei → Hongshulin → Provincial Highway 2 → Sanzhi → Shimen → Jinshan → Provincial Highway 2 (turn left at the 42.5 km mark) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow the signs to reach the destination.

Jiufen’s scenery is refreshing and uplifting. (Photo provided by soulpower109)

Catch the butterfly season and enjoy the beautiful sight of butterflies dancing in the air. (Photo source: New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau)

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