By MOOK Scenic Spots Christopher | Compiled & Reported
Although April and May, when spring transitions into summer, are the active seasons for fireflies, the Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park in Guangfu Township, Hualien County, sees its firefly season from March to April each year, kicking off the island-wide firefly-viewing season. Hualien is rich in ecological resources, with important firefly-watching spots such as Liyu Pond in Shoufeng Township and Fuyuan Butterfly Valley in Ruisui Township. The low-altitude Dafong-Dafu park, developed at a low density, has maintained its environment very well and has in recent years become an emerging secret spot for firefly viewing.
The Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park glows with fireflies every night from March to April (Image source / Forestry Bureau)
The Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park glows with fireflies every night from March to April (Image source / Forestry Bureau)
The Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park glows with fireflies every night from March to April (Image source / Forestry Bureau)
The Dafong-Dafu park and nine surrounding tribes and communities organize firefly-viewing activities on their own. The event runs from March 18 to April 16, 2017 (106 in Taiwan’s calendar), with online pre-registration and on-site payment. It is suitable for visitors of all ages and will be led by local experts to explore the secret spots of magical glowing lights. Since its opening in 2011 (100 in Taiwan’s calendar), the low-altitude Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park has been developed at a low density, and its ecological resources have gradually become richer. During the day, you can commonly spot the Taiwan blue magpie, a rare endemic subspecies of bird, and enjoy cycling along the country’s longest forest bicycle trail.
The Magical Tunnel of the Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park (Image source / Hualien-Taitung National Scenic Area Administration)
Dafong-Dafu Plain Forest Park – Black-Winged Obscure Firefly (Image source / Forestry Bureau)
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