Firefly season is here！2016 Taiwan-wide guide to chasing magical “stars”

▲Fireflies at Meileng, Tainan. (Photo provided by Tainan Tourism Bureau, archival image)

By Reporter Lee Tzu-yi / Comprehensive report

The arrival of spring brings dancing lights in the forest, heralding the official start of firefly-watching season. Fireflies thrive only with clean water sources and shaded grass or woods, and thanks to nature’s gift, we can witness these tiny glowing dots in the dark. ETtoday EBC News Cloud has specially compiled firefly-watching information across northern, central, and southern Taiwan—come explore the twinkling “little stars” in the mountains with us！

1. Qian Die Valley Firefly Season

Date: April 16 – May 22
Registration Email: cclim.tw@gmail.com
Price: NT$250–550 per person
Address: No. 292, Section 3, Zhishan Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
Event Details:http://www.butterfly-garden.tw/product/p3850885

2. Yunxian Amusement Park

Official Website:http://www.yun-hsien.com.tw/
Address: No. 1-1, Waterfall Road, Wulai Village, Wulai District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26616009

3. Beibu Township, Hsinchu County

The viewing period lasts about 50 days, roughly from late April to late June. You can go on your own; recommended firefly-watching spots include Dahushan Forest and Beibu Cold Spring.
Best viewing time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Address: No. 28-8, Lane 3, Dahu Village, Beibu Township, Hsinchu County (Dahushan Forest); Dapingxi, Waiping Village, Beibu Township (Beibu Cold Spring)

4. Miaoli Homestay Yan Chuan

Event Dates: April 6 – May 14 (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Price: Regular ticket NT$150 per person, half-price NT$100 per person (for ages 3 and up, under 99 cm tall), free for children under 3 (all prices include guided tour)
Registration Website:http://wrs.ec-hotel.net/wep4webhotel/webhotel/0082/hotel/showProductRoomList.action?device=computer(Registration opens March 28)
Address: No. 63-1, Jingshan, Jingshan Village, Zhuolan Township, Miaoli County
Phone: 04-25921680

▲The bustling scene of past firefly seasons at Dongshi Forest Recreation Area. (Photo fromDongshi Forest Recreation Area)

5. Dongshi Forest Recreation Area

Event Dates: April 1 to May 1 (Approximately 100–200 fireflies were spotted as early as March 20)
Ticket Price: 125～250 RMB per person. From now until May 2, entry after 3 PM on weekdays enjoys a special “Starlight Ticket” price of 160 RMB.
Guided Tour Times: One session daily at 19:00 and 20:00
Official Website:http://www.tsfa.com.tw/
Address: No. 6-1, Shilin Street, Dongshi District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-25872191

6. Baxianshan Nature Education Center (Firefly Season for Kids)

Event Dates: April 23, April 24, April 30, May 1, May 7, May 8
Ticket Price: General admission 350 RMB, 200 RMB for children under 7 and seniors over 65. (No entrance fee for the park itself)
Time: 14:00 ~ 21:00, includes guided forest bathing trail tours, firefly ecology lectures, outdoor firefly viewing, and crafting beautiful postcards.
Registration Website:http://recreation.forest.gov.tw/Actions/initform.aspx?NAduno=BSS-TA0502
Address: No. 8, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Heping District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-25950299

7. Sun Moon Lake Taomi

Address: No. 44, Zhonggua Road, Puli Township, Nantou County
Official Website:http://www.taomi.tw/newslist.html
Due to colder weather this year, the situation is not very optimistic—no fireflies have been spotted so far. Therefore, this year’s event will combine frog and firefly viewing. The Taomi Community Ecotourism Service Center stated that any updates on firefly sightings will be posted on their website. Those wishing to view fireflies are advised to stay tuned.

8. Sun Moon Lake Characteristic Study Travel Center

Time: April 8 to June 11
Price: 1500 RMB per person for a 2-day 1-night itinerary
Address: No. 18, Chonggui Lane, Wudeng Village, Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Phone: (049)286-1108

9. Yuchi Township Lotus Pond Forest Community Eco-Education & Firefly Season

Time: Starting April 9
Price: Environmental conservation fee 30 RMB per person
Address: Lianhuachi, Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Phone: (049)289-7742

10. Zhushi Garden Ecological Research Center

Time: Mid-April to mid-May (fixed departures on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; departures on Mondays–Thursdays require a minimum of 10 people)
Fee: 200 RMB (includes guided tour)
Address: No. 8, Zhongshan Rd., Shuicun Village, Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Phone: (049) 285-6679
Official Website:http://www.bamboorock.com.tw/

11. Sun Moon Lake Toushe Living Basin

Date: Mid-April
Address: No. 76, Pinghe Lane, Toushe Village, Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Phone: 0928-560861 (Ms. Huang)

12. Nantou Lugu Township Firefly Season

Event Dates: April 2 – April 30
Event Time: Every Saturday and evening
Registration Website: http://www.lugu.gov.tw/OnlineApplyList.aspx(Registration opens March 15)
Price: NT$50 per person (includes guided tour)
Address: No. 128, Section 1, Zhongzheng Rd., Lugu Township, Nantou County (Lugu Township Visitor Center)
Phone: 049-2755623, 049-2755322 (Lugu Township Tourism Service Office)

13. Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area (Aowanda Nature Education Center)

Event Dates: April 25 – May 15 (May 7, 8, 14, 15 feature the Mapo Mini Tours Aowanda Firefly Night Package)
Price: Firefly season lodging includes guided firefly tours; Mapo Mini Tours NT$2,200 per person
Registration Website:http://recreation.forest.gov.tw/nc/NC_1_3.aspx?NEC_ID=awd#AWD-TA0513
Address: No. 153, Da’an Rd., Ailian Village, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County
Contact Phone: 049-2974499

14. Huisun Forest

No information on firefly-related events has been announced yet.
Official Website:http://huisun.nchu.edu.tw/home.php

▲ Rulan Villa. (Photo / Screenshot fromFirefly Home Rulan Eco VillageFacebook Page)

15. Rulan Villa

Ticket Price: NT$60 per person (no guided tour)
Time: March – June (open to public only at 19:40 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays)
Official website:http://www.ruohlan.com.tw/
Address: No. 10-1, Ruili Village, Meishan Township, Chiayi County
Phone: 0921-420176, 0988-342108

16. Xinhua National Botanical Garden

Firefly viewing dates: April 1 – May 31, 2016, every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (daily openings during the April 2–5 spring break)
Firefly viewing hours: Check-in opens at 17:00, first guided tour starts at 18:30, each session (including challenges and guided tour) lasts about 90 minutes (start time may be adjusted based on daylight conditions)
Firefly viewing fee: NT$200 per person (includes certificate, souvenir, and insurance); free for children under 3 years old (born in or after 2013, please show proof)
Registration website:http://www.shinhuaforest.com.tw/news_details.php?id=48
Address: No. 76, Koupi, Zhiyi Li, Xinhua District, Tainan City
Reservation phone: 06-5901063

▲Scenes from the firefly season at Nanguiao Rural Village in Guanziling in previous years. (Photo / Reposted fromNanguiao Rural Cultural Industry AssociationFacebook page)

17. Tainan Baihe Nanguiao Rural Fireflies

The firefly viewing dates for this year have not yet been confirmed due to weather conditions; the latest information will be announced on the Facebook page.

18. Tainan Meileng Firefly Season

Firefly viewing information has not yet been announced.

19. Kaohsiung Namaxia

One-day and two-day firefly tours: April 9–10, April 16–17, April 23–24
Guided tours: April 9, 16, 23
Locations: Nanshalu Firefly Trail, Maya Firefly Trail, Labinia Firefly Trail, Minsheng Elementary School Firefly Trail, Dakanuwa Firefly Trail
Registration: Contact the Agriculture and Tourism Section of Namaxia District Office at 07-6701001 ext. 133 (Ms. Yu) or ext. 134 (Mr. Qiu)

▲Fireflies are beautiful but also fragile, so visitors need to pay attention to a few important things.

＊Things to keep in mind before viewing fireflies

1. Keep quiet and do not make loud noises.

2. Avoid using bright lights, or use red cellophane to wrap your light source as red light causes less disturbance to fireflies.

3. Take all trash with you to avoid damaging the ecological environment.

4. Do not catch or touch the fireflies.

5. Fireflies emerge from grass or woods, and snakes are often active during firefly season. To protect the fireflies’ reproduction and ensure your safety, do not enter grassy or wooded areas.