As spring arrives, the days are filled with vibrant life and blooming flowers. When night falls and countless fireflies dance in the air, the annual highlight of Sun Moon Lake — the “2015 Sun Moon Lake Taomi Firefly Season” — takes place from April 3 to May 17. The spectacular view of glowing fireflies lighting up the grasslands and wetlands of Taomi, reminiscent of a myriad of twinkling lights, is set to attract tens of thousands of visitors.

In addition to preserving the sustainable ecology of the Caonui wetlands, the Sun Moon Lake Scenic Area Administration held a “Firefly Habitat Clean-Up Day” on March 26. Residents of Taomi, local businesses, and students and faculty from National Chi Nan University joined forces to clean the environment along the firefly-viewing route — from Taoyuan Elementary School to the Caonui Wetland viewing area. They also removed invasive species that threaten the wetland ecosystem, such as apple snails and Leersia hexandra.

The “2015 Sun Moon Lake Taomi Firefly Season” will be held from April 3 to May 17. To maintain the quality of the firefly viewing experience and protect the ecological environment, this year will see the first-ever fully online registration system. Registration officially opened on March 26, with a daily limit of 700 visitors. To ensure smooth traffic flow and enhance the overall tourism experience, traffic control and shuttle bus services will be implemented on 17 designated holiday dates: April 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, and May 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17. The organizers have also planned pre-tour educational briefings and guided tours for firefly watchers. Each visitor will be charged a maximum fee of NT$100, while a discounted NT$50 entry ticket will be available on non-peak days. The goal is to ensure every visitor enjoys an unforgettable firefly-viewing experience this year.

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