Fall in love with summer at Siraya National Scenic Area and the Purple Crow Butterfly Fire King Festival

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

Starting in mid-June, universities and colleges across the country gradually enter their summer vacation period, while all high schools and below also begin a two-month long summer break in July. Taking advantage of this time, the Siraya National Scenic Area Administration will hold the “Romantic Siraya – Summer Love” series of events from early June to the end of August, successively launching activities such as a photography competition, a butterfly amusement park, and the Fire King Festival. Among these, the photography competition, which is now accepting entries, offers a total prize pool of up to NT$120,000. Participants in the butterfly park challenge games also have the chance to win a limited-edition “Siraya Enjoy Card,” which provides discounts at various shops within the scenic area.

The “Elegant Lotus & Delicate Butterfly Photography Competition,” now open for entries, focuses on photographing lotus flowers in Baihe and butterflies in Red Leaf Park, Guanziling. As long as you submit a single photo taken between June and August this year along with the entry form by August 31 to the designated location, your entry will be complete. The first prize in this photography competition is NT$30,000, with a total prize pool of up to NT$120,000.

The “Butterfly Amusement Park” will take place over four consecutive weekend holidays starting July 14 at Red Leaf Park in Guanziling, Baihe District. During the event period, free shuttle bus services will be provided, and in collaboration with the Taiwan Purple Crow Butterfly Conservation Association, ecological guided tours and butterfly tagging will be conducted in the park. There will also be challenge games, treasure hunts with prizes, and a series of performance activities. Participants in the challenge games may also have the chance to win a limited-edition “Siraya Enjoy Card,” which not only functions as a USB drive but also offers discounts at participating shops within the scenic area.

Guanziling, known as one of Taiwan’s four major hot spring areas alongside Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Sihchongxi in Pingtung County, boasts the world’s rare mud hot springs—fine in texture and rich in underground rock layer mud and minerals—a must-experience attraction in the region. On August 11, the local area will also hold the “Fire King Festival” at Baoquan Bridge Hot Spring Park in Guanziling, Baihe District. The Fire King is the guardian deity of Guanziling’s hot springs. The Fire King Festival is not only a major event for Guanziling but also the first-of-its-kind festival in Taiwan. On the day of the event, there will be ox-cart pulling, a parade of ghosts and monsters carnival, and the public is encouraged to dress up creatively in various Fire King costumes to join the festive street celebrations.