Butterflies in Flight: A Lazy Guide to 20 Butterfly-Watching Spots in New Taipei

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

Taiwan is known as the "Butterfly Kingdom," with about 400 species of butterflies thriving in its relatively small land area. Butterflies can be seen dancing through the air all year round. The New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau has specially compiled the "New Taipei Butterfly-Watching Lazy Guide," providing 20 butterfly-watching spots in New Taipei, allowing everyone to enjoy the beautiful sight of butterflies in flight together!

There are approximately 400 species of butterflies nationwide, and more than one-third of these can be found within New Taipei City. Whether you're in the urban area or the suburbs, butterfly sightings are common. As we stroll through parks, we might spot Common Jezebel butterflies swiftly flying at high altitudes, Swallowtail butterflies gracefully fluttering among flowers, or Tiny Grass Blues rising and settling on the ground.

The following are 20 butterfly-watching spots in New Taipei City:

 

Number	Location				Common Butterfly Species	Public Transport	Driving Directions
1	Hsichih Dawu Mountain				Sapporo Purple Lacewing, Black-edged Tiger, Dark-veined Timber, Red-margin Yellow, Purple-spotted, Stone-wall, Large Dark-spotted Skipper, White-spot Skipper, Jade-belt Skipper, Dark Mimic, Yellow-cost, Blue Triangle, Small Purple, and Pale-spotted Blue Triangle	1. Train: Take the Taiwan Railways Administration’s Western Line or North-Link Line to Hsichih Station, then transfer to a taxi to reach Dawu Mountain Scenic Area. 2. Bus: Take Taipei Joint Bus Service routes 51, 311, 605, or Fuho Bus (Banqiao–JiBase Line) to Hsichih Station, then transfer to a taxi to reach Dawu Mountain Scenic Area.	Exit the highway at the Hsichih Interchange, then turn into Xiufeng Road or Qinqin Road from in front of Hsichih Station to reach Dawu Mountain Scenic Area.
2	Shiding Huangdi Temple				Great Mormon, Yungtze Yellow Spot, Little Spotted Blue Triangle, Broad-branded Swallowtail, Red-striped Swallowtail, Taiwanese Painted Lady, Purple-edged	1. Shin Shin Bus Beidian Line: Can be boarded at Public Insurance Building (Qingdao West Road side), Zhongshan South Road, Roosevelt Road, Gongguan, Jingmei, Muzha, Shenkeng, etc., and go directly to Huangdi Temple Station after crossing Jiuliao Pu Bridge. Walk 1.3 km to reach the trailhead; for the return trip, if you’re returning to Xiaocukeng, board at the same location. If you descend to Yongding Elementary School, you must take the Taipei Bus Pingxi Line. 2. Taipei Bus Pingxi Line: Mainly departs from Muzha Ma Mingtan (also departs from Shulin and Banqiao), passing through Shenkeng, Shuangxi Kou, Wenshan Coal Mine, then get off at Yongding Elementary School. Walk 100 meters forward to the right where you’ll see a Yuntai Mountain archway, follow this industrial road uphill for 2.2 km to reach the trailhead (Liu Bowen Temple); for the return trip, if you’re returning to Liu Bowen Temple, you must descend to Yongding Elementary School to board. If you go down to Xiaocukeng, you must take the Shin Shin Bus.	1. From Jingmei, take County Highway 106 to Shuangxi Kou, then turn onto County Highway 106B (Shiding–Pinglin) to Jiuliao Pu Bridge (there is a temple called “Yuzhitang” at the bridgehead), turn left over the bridge, then follow the Xiaocukeng industrial road straight uphill to the parking lot of “Huangdi Temple Scenic Area.” 2. From Jingmei, take County Highway 106 to Shuangxi Kou, then continue along County Highway 106 (toward Pingxi) via Wenshan Coal Mine to Yongding Elementary School, walk 100 meters forward and turn right onto the industrial road. Along the way, there are many temples, including the more famous Daluo Jinxian Mansion and Liu Bowen Temple. You can park your car under Liu Bowen Temple.
3	Pingxi Cimufeng and Xiaozishan Hiking Trail			Taiwanese Yellow, Little Yellow Three-line, Purple-spotted, Okinawa Small Blue, Ryukyu Blue, Common Wood, Dark-veined Wood, Little Spotted Blue Triangle, Pale-spotted Blue Triangle, Three-star Double-tailed Swift, Taiwanese Single-band		1. Train: Take a train to Pingxi Station from Qidu, Ruifang, or Houfang Railway Stations 2. Bus: (1) Take Taipei Bus 795 from Muzha Metro Station to Pingxi Station. (2) Take Keelung Bus from Ruifang Station to Pingxi Station	1. Take National Highway 3 to National Highway 5, exit at Shiding Interchange, turn left onto County Highway 106 → Pingxi. 2. Exit at Badu Interchange on National Freeway 1 → Provincial Highway 2B → County Highway 106 → Pingxi 3. Rui-Ba Highway (Provincial Highway 2D) → turn onto County Highway 106 at Ruifang Industrial Park → Pingxi. 4. Xizhi → Xiping Highway (County Road 31) → Pingxi.
4	Ruifang Jiufen and Jinguashi			Bluebanded Swallowtail, Common Windmill, Formosan Three-lined Crow, Black-edged Leopard, Red-spotted Jezebel, Formosan Cabbage White, Black-margined Yellow, Miyake’s Double-tailed Crow		Take a Keelung Bus to Ruifang, then transfer to a Keelung Bus bound for Jiufen or Jinguashuai, or take a Fuhew Bus to Jinguashi.	1. Take National Freeway 1 northbound, enter Freeway 65 at Dahu System, exit at Ruifang Interchange, then head toward Jiufen and Jinguashi. 2. Take National Freeway 1, exit at Nuannuan Interchange, connect to Rui-Ba Highway to Ruifang, follow signs to reach the destination.
5	Diaoshan Ancient Trail			Monarch, Formosan Cabbage White, Taiwanese Painted Lady, Bluebanded Swallowtail, Scarlet Peacock, Spotted Blue, Great Mormon, Ryukyu Blue		Take a train to Mudan Station, at Zhengguang No.1 Bridge, take the left fork to Qinyun Temple, then continue right along the Mudan River Road to reach the trailhead at No. 34-1, 13th Floor Residence.	Take National Freeway 1, exit at Badu Interchange, connect to Freeway 62, exit at Ruifang Interchange, turn right after exiting, then turn left onto Provincial Highway 2D, cross Ruifang Bridge, go straight toward Jiufen, turn right after Ruigan Overpass, follow County Road 37 (Ruihou Highway), then turn onto County Highway 102 to reach the Diaoshan Ancient Trail trailhead.
6	Bitanjiao, Longdong Bay Cliff Trail			Black Butterfly, Taiwan Swallowtail, Bluebanded Swallowtail, Large White, Formosan Spotted Judy, Dark-veined Tiger, Taiwan Lacewing, Pale Grass Blue		1. From Taichung Bus North Station, every two hours starting from 06:20, get off at Longdong Bay, then walk in for 10 minutes. 2. Take TRA to Keelung, transfer to Kuo-Kuang Bus or Keelung Bus to Longdong Bay Station / Longdong South Station. 3. Yilan → Kuo-Kuang Bus (Yilan–Su’ao/Coastal Highway Line) → Longdong Bay Station 4. Keelung → Kuo-Kuang Bus / Keelung Bus → Longdong Bay Station 5. Ruifang → Kuo-Kuang Bus (Taiwan Tourist Golden Fulong Line) → Longdong Bay Station.	Take National Freeway 1 (National Freeway 1) northbound, after passing Wudu Interchange, connect to Freeway 62 (Wanruo Expressway), drive all the way (toward Ruibin direction), until the end of Freeway 62 where it connects to Provincial Highway 2 (Coastal Highway), take the right turn and drive until after passing Longdong Tunnel, then turn left at the fork to enter the Longdong Bay Cliff Trail – Xilingyan Temple entrance parking lot.
7	Guanyin Mountain		Spotted Black Vein, Small Bluebanded Swallowtail, Great Mormon, Formosan Painted Lady, Spot Judies, Common Grass Yellow, Chestnut Bob, Dark-veined Tiger, Common Archduke			Take the Metro Luzhou Line → Luzhou Station → Exit 1 → take Orange 20 Bus → (on holidays) get off at Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center; or get off at Lingyun Temple → walk about 20 minutes to the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center.	1. National Freeway 1 (southbound or northbound) → Wugu Interchange → Freeway 64 (toward Bali) → Guanyin Mountain Interchange → Section 3 of Lingyun Road → Guanyin Mountain. 2. Taipei → Shilin → Dadu Road → Guandu Bridge → toward Wugu → Section 4 of Chengtai Road (County Road 103) → Lingyun Road (Township Road 53-1) → Guanyin Mountain.
8	Shiba Fenkeng Creek Water Source Area (Youth Park)		Crow Butterfly, Great Mormon, Smaller Woodland, Pulau Red Hesperiid, Dark Punch, Black Butterfly, Formosan Yellow, Taiwan Lacewing			1. Get off at Danfeng Station of Taipei Bus, walk toward Shiba Fenkeng Creek. 2. Take the free Xinzhuang City Bus, get off at Tianxiang Street intersection, then walk to the destination.	Drive: Take Provincial Highway 1 (Zhongshan Road Section 3) heading toward Guishan, turn right onto Shoushan Road to North District Road 118 toward Linkou, and follow the Shiba Fenkeng Stream for about 5 minutes to reach the destination.
9	Yuantong Temple		Great Mormon, Common Crow, Great Mormon (another species), Common Mormon (striped form), Blue Spotted Crow, Dark Brown Spot, Striped Spot, Crimson Rose, Hypolimnas bolina, Appias indra, Hypolycaena kina, Hypolycaena erylus, Blue Tiger group, Euploea group, Mycalesis group			1. Routes: 201 (Kulun St. - Yuantong Temple), 242 (Little South Gate - Yuantong Temple), 243 (Chongqing S. Rd. - Yuantong Temple), 275 (Taipei Main Station - Yuantong Temple); walk about 1.5 km to reach the destination. 2. MRT Zhongyang Line [Jing’an Station] – take Orange 2 shuttle bus.  Note: It takes at least 20 minutes to walk from the Yuantong Temple bus stop to the main hall square.	From Jingshing Road, head north toward National Freeway No. 2, turn left onto Yuantong Road to the end, pass the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, and go straight up the mountain road to reach the destination.
10	Sanxia Kui Mountain		Common Tree Brown, Bamboo Red Forester, Taichung Red Forester, Common Jay, Great Eggfly, Common Dart, Common Crow (yellow form), Purple Crow			Take Taipei Bus 812 (Banqiao–Sanxia Line), get off at “Zhongyuan Elementary School Stop,” and enter via the alley on the right of Datong Road Section 240.	Take County Highway 3 to North District Road 85 to Zhongyuan Elementary School, then turn right onto Datong Road and enter via the alley on the right of Section 240.
11	Man Yue Yuan Forest Recreation Area		Common Mormon, Blue Spotted Crow, Great Mormon, Common Crow, Common Jezebel, Brownish Black Little Fox			Take Taipei Bus from Sanxia to Man Yue Yuan, get off and walk 30 minutes along the Ruizi Creek Ecological Trail (Taipei Bus Sanxia Station contact: 02-26711914).	National Freeway 3 → Sanying Interchange → County Road 110 → Sanxia → Provincial Highway 3 → Dapu → left fork to Provincial Highway 7B → Coujiao → Chajiao → Yǒumùlǐ direction → Lelegu → Man Yue Yuan Forest Recreation Area
12	Galaxy Cave	Ryukyu Purple Widow, Dark Glassy Tiger, Stone Wall butterfly, Narrow-winged Forester, Ryukyu Three-ring, Taiwanese Wave Crow, Puli Glassy Tiger, Yellow-banded Three-ring				1. Xin Dian Bus (Green 12 Pinglin–Xindian MRT Line), get off at “Galaxy Cave Stop” on Beiyi Road. 2. Xin Dian Bus 647 or Green 5, get off at the terminal “Zhongsheng Bridge.” Walk about 10 minutes up Beiyi Road, make a big turn facing Galaxy Road, then walk about 25 minutes to the Galaxy Cave trailhead.	National Freeway 3 Xindian Interchange → Beixin Road Xindian MRT Station → Section 2, Beiyi Road No. 458 → Galaxy Road → Galaxy Cave trailhead.
13	Xiao Cukeng	Maple Butterfly, Taiwanese Blackspot, Cabbage White, Blackspot Forester				Take Xin Dian Bus Wulai Line to Xiao Cukeng Station, walk to Yongxing Road toward Zhitan Elementary School.	Take New Wulai Road to Xiao Cukeng, turn into Yongxing Road toward Zhitan Elementary School.
14	Wulai Jiajiuliao Trail	Great Mormon, Great Mormon (another species), Small Blue Spotted, Ryukyu Blue Spotted, Crimson Rose, Stone Wall butterfly, Small Three-ring, Taiwanese Yellow, Taiwanese Cabbage White				Take Xin Dian Bus Wulai Line, get off at Jiajiuliao Station.	Head from Taipei toward Wulai, park at the Wulai Old Street parking lot, walk back past the red arch bridge, turn right to reach the destination.
15	Neidong Forest Recreation Area, Fushan	Blue-banded Peacock, Spot Swordtail, Broad Blue-banded Peacock, Ascension Swallowtail, Ringed Map, Scarlet Tip, Stone Wall Butterfly, Esaki’s Map, Yellow-spotted Peacock				Take the Xindian Bus bound for Wulai to Wulai Station, then walk from the Wulai Checkpoint to Xinxian District. Xindian Bus: (02)2666-0678	1. National Freeway 3 → Xindian Interchange → Provincial Highway 9 → Xindian → Wulai → Xinxian District → Neidong 2. National Freeway 3 → Xindian Interchange → Provincial Highway 9 → Xindian → Wulai → Xinxian District → Fushan
16	Four] Water	Black Butterfly, Taiwanese Spotted Gull, Great Mormon, Blue-banded Peacock, Blue Glassy Tiger, Ryukyu Purple Crow, Tailless White-striped Peacock				Take the Xindian Bus Wulai Line and get off at Feitsui Reservoir Station. Enter Guishan Road via the path on the left next to the Taipower Training Center, and you’ll reach the site upon seeing the Wan-nien Bridge.	Along the Xin-Wu Highway, after passing the Feitsui Reservoir entrance, take the first turn — the small road on the left is Guishan Road. The turn is located near the Taipower Training Center; enter Guishan Road to arrive.
17	Erge Mountain, Bipod Ridge	Stone Wall Butterfly, Taiwanese Pied Pierrot, One-striped Patrol, Ringed Map, Blue-spotted Crow, Stephens’ Purple Crow, Blue-spotted Crow, Taiwanese Wave Pierrot, Spotted Peacock				1. Take the Xindian Bus Pinglin–Taipei Line and get off at Laoliao Station, then walk to the destination. 2. Enter from Shenkeng, transfer to bus 660 or 666 at MRT Muzha Station, and go to Shenkeng High Road Hiking Entrance.	Follow the Beiyi Road to Xiaogertou, and follow the signs pointing toward Bipod Mountain.
18	Datun Creek Ancient Trail	Taiwanese Wave Pierrot, Yellow-spotted Peacock, Blue-spotted Crow, Formosan Small Pierrot, Taiwanese Wave Snake-eye, Red Pierrot, Formosan Small Pierrot, Taiwanese Three-lined Crow, Dark-morph Flat, Taiwanese One-striped Skipper				1. Take the MRT to Tamsui Station, transfer to bus 866, 875, 876, or 877, get off at Beixinzhuang Station, walk about 400 meters toward Sanzhi, then cross the Guizai Mountain Bridge. After a few dozen steps, look for an 8-story red tile building with a gray base, and take the small path next to it uphill. 2. Take the MRT to Tamsui Station, transfer to bus 875, pass Xinghua Police Station / the 0 km fork of Balaka Highway, then get off at [Beixinzhuang Station]. Walk forward, turn right at the Sanbanqiao Archway, and continue along the industrial road where signs are provided.	National Freeway 1 → Exit at Wugu Interchange, head toward Taishan/Newzhuang → Keep left, exit at Wugu Interchange (Wugu/Bali), head toward Section 2 of New 5th Road / County Road 107A → Section 3 of Chengtai Road / County Road 107 → Section 3 of Chengtai Road / County Road 103 → Guandu Bridge (Tamsui/Taipei) / Provincial Highway 15 → Minquan Road / Provincial Highway 2B → Beixin Road / Section 1 of Beixin Road / County Road 101 → Destination
19	Shimen Jing Mountain Waterfall	One-striped Patrol, Yellow Three-lined Crow, Stone Wall Butterfly, Taiwanese Painted Lady, Blue-spotted Peacock, Taiwanese Wave Snake-eye, Blue-spotted Crow, Purple-crowned Crow				Take the Tamsui Bus or Taiwan Motor Transport bus bound for Jinshan, Shimen, or Keelung from Tamsui, get off at Laomei Station, walk to Laomei Elementary School, and transfer to Shimen Township’s community bus to arrive.	Take Provincial Highway 2 along the coastal road, turn into County Road 17 north next to Laomei Elementary School, and continue for about 4.6 km to reach the trailhead of Qing Mountain Waterfall.
20	Jinshan Shitoushan Park	Blue-spotted Peacock, Large White Butterfly, Blue-banded Peacock, Ryukyu Blue Peacock, Purple-crowned Crow, Stephens’ Purple Crow, Pale-spotted Blue Peacock, Stone Wall Butterfly, Cabbage White, Dark-veined Birch Moth				1. Take the Tamsui or Keelung bus from in front of Tamsui MRT Station or next to Keelung Railway Station, and get off at the “Post Office” stop in Jinshan. 2. Take the Royal Bus from Taipei’s Gongbao Building on Park Road (bound for Jinshan), and get off at the “Post Office” stop in Jinshan. 3. Take the Kuo-Kuang Bus from Taipei Main Station (bound for Jinqing Center), and get off at the “Jinqing” stop. 4. For those getting off at the “Post Office” stop in Jinshan, walk along Minsheng Road toward Huanggang Road for about 15 minutes to arrive.	1. National Freeway 3 (Jinji Interchange) → Provincial Highway 2 → Wanli → Jinshan → Provincial Highway 2 (turn right at 42.5 km) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow signs to arrive. 2. National Freeway 1 (Wugu Interchange) → Expressway 64 → Bali/Wugu (toward Tamsui) → Guandu Bridge → Zhuwei → Tamsui Mangrove → Provincial Highway 2 → Sanzhi → Shimen → Jinshan → Provincial Highway 2 (turn left at 42.5 km) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow signs to arrive. 3. Taipei → Yangjin Highway (Provincial Highway 2A) → Turn right onto Provincial Highway 2 (turn left at the 42.5 km mark) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow the signs to reach the destination. 4. Taipei → Shilin → Guandu → Zhuwei → Hongshulin → Provincial Highway 2 → Sanzhi → Shimen → Jinshan → Provincial Highway 2 (turn left at the 42.5 km mark) → Zhongxing Road → Huanggang Road → Follow the signs to reach the destination.