By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
A large number of fireflies have appeared in Old Zhuang, Nangang District, Taipei City, lighting up the night with their shimmering glow and tracing magical paths through the darkness. Zhang Ruifang, the head of Old Zhuang in Nangang District, said that fireflies are not only a focal point of nighttime attention but also greatly benefit the entire ecosystem because they feed on aquatic snails and slugs. Additionally, due to their high environmental requirements for survival, fireflies serve as excellent indicators of ecological health. To welcome the warm and gratitude-filled month of May, Old Zhuang will host a series of events including a firefly-themed ecological exhibition and a community fair, with a fair and guided tour of the firefly exhibition taking place at Old Zhuang Elementary School on May 3.
The beautiful sight of fireflies in Old Zhuang, Nangang District, Taipei City. (Photo source / Taipei City Government Public Works Bureau Earth Engineering Office, provided by Old Zhuang Head Zhang Ruifang)
Huang Liyuan, head of the Earth Engineering Office, said that the areas around Old Zhuang in Nangang District, such as the “Osmanthus Riverside Trail,” “Osmanthus Suspension Bridge Trail,” and “Demonstration Tea Factory Mountain-Loop Trail,” are rich in ecology and less frequented by outsiders. In early summer each year, especially at night, you can see large numbers of fireflies dancing across the sky—a spectacular and magical sight. Also, remember to dress warmly for the windy mountain nights, walk slowly and steadily, and take care to maintain the cleanliness of the trails and the order of firefly viewing. Using flash photography or making loud noises may scare the fireflies away.
Now is the best time to encounter fireflies in the woods. (Photo source / Taipei City Government Public Works Bureau Earth Engineering Office, provided by Old Zhuang Head Zhang Ruifang)
If you’re planning a firefly-watching trip to Old Zhuang in Nangang, take the MRT to Kunyang Station, transfer to Bus Route Xiao 5, get off at the Tea Manufacturing Demonstration Factory, and then walk to Osmanthus Pavilion to reach the trailhead. For detailed trail maps, you can refer to the free “Hiking Trail Route Map” available from the Earth Engineering Office, or download it from the Hiking Trails section on the Earth Engineering Office’s official website.
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Limited Free Firefly Tours in Zhuzihhu Sell Out Quickly – Additional 40 Slots Added by the Earth Engineering Office
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