By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

August and September are the peak months when golden needle flowers burst into bloom, their golden-yellow hues blanketing nearby slopes and distant valleys, creating one of Taiwan’s most dazzling summer landscapes. In addition to the famous sixty Stone Mountain and Chikuo Mountain in Hualien, flower enthusiasts can also head to Nantou’s Tou She Huo Basin to admire the “dancing golden needle flower sea”!

Nantou’s Tou She Huo Basin golden needle flowers are at their most vibrant during the seventh lunar month through the Mid-Autumn Festival each year. Though not as vast as the golden fields in eastern Taiwan, the two-hectare sea of golden blooms surrounded by green mountains offers a uniquely charming view. Additionally, because the Tou She community was once a lake basin, after the waters dried up, they left behind soft peat soil. When stepped on, you can feel the earth pulsing subtly beneath your feet, making the golden needle flowers planted above seem to dance along, hence earning them the poetic nickname “dancing golden needle flowers” — a delightful sight.

This year, the Tou She golden needle flowers are in excellent condition, and thanks to the protective surrounding basin, they were unaffected by typhoons. The best viewing period lasts from now until the end of September. Admission is NT$100, and besides enjoying the flowers, visitors will receive 150 grams of freshly picked golden needles. Eco-guided tours are also available, so make the most of the season and come admire the blossoms.