The Calla Lily Season at Zhuzihu Lake Has Begun – Get the Scoop on Transportation and Must-Visit Attractions

The Zhuzihu area is located in the central part of Yangmingshan National Park and has historically been divided into three enclosed regions—Donghu, Dinghu, and Xiahu. Near the entrance to Zhuzihu from the Yangjin Highway is “Donghu”; after crossing a small bridge, the road splits, with the right path leading all the way north to “Dinghu,” and the left path leading to “Xiahu.” During the late Qing Dynasty, Zhuzihu was used for rice cultivation. In the 1960s, the Zhuzihu Original Seed Farm was shut down and replaced with high-altitude vegetable farming. A decade or so ago, the area switched to growing flowers such as calla lilies.

 

Huang Liyuan, head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office, said that the upper reaches of Zhuzihu feature steep and fast-flowing streams, which in the past often suffered from flash floods causing severe erosion. The office used near-natural engineering methods to restore the streams and transformed existing agricultural pathways into five riverside trails: the “Dinghu Loop Trail,” “Calla Lily Loop Trail,” “Literary Trail,” “Hudi Loop Trail,” and “Zhuzihu Loop Trail.” These trails connect the five areas of Zhuzihu—Dinghu, Xiahu, Hudi, Donghu, and Shuiwei—with walking times ranging from 10 to 50 minutes each, offering diverse scenery.

The Geotechnical Engineering Office recommends that those wanting to admire vast fields of calla lilies, the majestic views of Xiaoyoukeng, egrets, and small terraced fields should visit the Dinghu Loop Trail in the Dinghu area, which winds along the stream. The path is gentle and suitable for all ages, with a walking time of about 20 minutes. For those interested in old waterwheels left by early farmers, ecological ponds, and circular splash play areas, the Calla Lily Loop Trail in the Xiahu area is a good choice, also with a 20-minute walk. Those wanting to listen to babbling waterfalls, play among rocks, explore small hills and terraced mountain slopes can head to the Literary Trail in the Shuiwei area, which takes just 10 minutes. To get a bird’s-eye view of hillside calla lily fields, the Hudi Loop Trail is ideal, requiring a 15-minute walk. The longest trail is the Zhuzihu Loop Trail, which begins at Hutian Bridge and connects Donghu, Dinghu, Shuiwei, and Xiahu into one continuous looped mountain and road trail, taking about 50 minutes to walk and allowing visitors to fully enjoy the charming scenery of Zhuzihu.