A Romantic Night of Glowing Fireflies: Must-See Firefly-Watching Events

Starting every April, it’s the seasonal reunion between fireflies and people. At night, tiny lights flit and dance among the trees, creating a breathtaking and exhilarating spectacle. Currently, firefly-watching events are being held across Taiwan. Netizens eager to witness the mountains aglow with fireflies, hurry up and plan your schedule and trip now!

 

Want to head up the mountain to see “fire gold ladies”? See next page

The “2014 Thousand Butterflies Valley Firefly Season” in Nei Shuang Xi, Shilin, Taipei City, is open for nighttime firefly viewing from now until May 25. Registration for visits is now open, with individual, casual, group, and family reservations accepted on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekdays are divided into B1 slots (available for groups of 5 or more with reservation) and B2 slots (requiring a reservation for 20 or more people), with pre-registration and advance payment required. Registration information can be found on the official website of the Thousand Butterflies Valley Insect Ecology Farm.

 

The Taipei City Government’s Public Works Bureau, Department of Urban Development, has organized a free firefly eco-guided tour, which will debut on May 3 at Yangming Creek in Zhuzi Lake, Beitou. The first day of registration saw a “flash sale,” with all 40 spots quickly filled. Huang Liyuan, head of the Department of Urban Development, stated that an additional session will be added on May 4, with registration open from April 28 to April 30. All registrations are to be done online, and more information can be found on the Department of Urban Development’s official website.

This year’s “2014 Tong Xue Firefly Dance Season” at Er Ge Shan Nature Center runs from now until May 10, featuring three types of tours: a 2.5-hour Wednesday-exclusive session, a half-day Sunday-exclusive session, and a full-day Saturday-exclusive session. In addition to the highlight event, the “Er Ge Firefly Avenue,” the program also includes activities such as getting to know Er Ge and a big reveal about fireflies. The 2.5-hour Wednesday session is suitable for seniors and families with young children. Detailed information can be found on the Er Ge Shan Nature Center’s official website.

 

The Taichung City Government Agriculture Bureau is offering a one-day tour every Saturday and Sunday from now until May 4, priced at NT$990 per person and NT$100 for children under 2 years old. The tour includes visiting the lifeblood of Xinshè agriculture, the Bai Leng Zhen, DIY agricultural experiences, tasting local cuisine, and exploring hidden firefly-watching spots.

 

The itinerary includes two routes: Route 1 departs from Taichung High-Speed Rail Station and Taichung Railway Station, while Route 2 departs from Fengyuan Railway Station. Both routes gather at 12:30 PM before setting off. The itinerary includes visits to the characteristic industries of Choutengkeng Leisure Agriculture Area, followed by dinner and then a visit to the firefly-watching spot. After the activity, participants will return to the gathering point. For registration information, please contact the Xin Community Farmers’ Association Tourism Department.

 

Every April to May is when Baxian Mountain welcomes the blooming of tong hua (tung blossoms), fluttering in the wind. Tung trees begin to shed their “white snow,” covering the trails with a white carpet and heralding the firefly mating season on Baxian Mountain. As night falls, “stars” in the grass slowly rise, and their flickering lights and graceful dances are truly soothing. The Baxian Mountain Nature Education Center will hold four sessions of the “Tong Ying Season” event on April 26–27 and May 3–4, where the public can experience Baxian Mountain adorned with tung blossoms like snow and glowing with fireflies.

 

The “Tong Ying Season” event includes guided forest bathing trail tours, firefly ecology lectures, and outdoor firefly-watching on Baxian Mountain. Each session is limited to 50 participants, with a fee of NT$250 per person, covering admission, activity materials, and course fees. For detailed registration information, please check the Baxian Mountain Nature Education Center’s official website.

The Alishan National Scenic Area Administration has launched “Dancing with Fireflies” and “Trail Tales” this year. The “Firefly Stroll: Spring and Summer Firefly Viewing” events will be held on April 26, 29, and May 13. Additionally, four sessions of the “Firefly Stroll: Trail Tales” events will take place on April 27, 29, May 13, and June 7, at popular firefly gathering spots such as Guanghua Dengbenzi Recreation Area, Yuantan Nature Ecology Park, Fengshan, and Rui Li, as well as famous trails like “Youth Ridge Trail,” “Wild Ginger Flower Creek Trail,” “Fengshan Observation Deck,” and “Ya Wumas Trail.”

 

The Alishan National Scenic Area Administration stated that this year, in collaboration with the Alishan Forest Railway and local homestay operators, two 2-day, 1-night package tours have been planned for April 29 and May 13. These allow the public to experience a series of firefly-stroll activities including the Alishan Forest Railway, firefly-watching, and trails. Each session of the package tour can accommodate 160 people on the Alishan Forest Railway train, with online registration open. The cost is NT$1,999 per person, covering the round-trip fare between Chiayi and Jiaoliping on the Alishan Forest Railway, homestay accommodation, and meals for the first day (lunch and dinner) and the second day (breakfast and lunch). Free shuttle service from Jiaoliping Railway Station to the Rui Li area accommodation is provided by homestay operators. Train seats and homestay rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, please visit the Alishan National Scenic Area’s official website.