Dreamy Stars: "Fireflies" Lull You to Sleep – 9 Top Camping Sites Across Taiwan to See Fireflies

▲ Fireflies twinkle during the Firefly Season at Youmu Elementary School. (Photo / Screenshot fromYoumu Elementary Schoolofficial Facebook page)

Reporter Li Zi-yi / Comprehensive Report

In the warm spring months of April and May, alongside vibrant blooms, adorable little creatures also quietly emerge. Fireflies light up the night across Taiwan. Want to sleep under the stars with fireflies? ETtoday EBC News Cloud has compiled a list of 9 great camping areas where you can see fireflies, letting you spend a night in the mountains and be neighbors with these “fire gold aunts.”

Youmu Elementary School
Address: No. 131, Youmu Village, Sanxia District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26720067

You don’t have to go far to see fireflies—New Taipei City has a stunning campsite where you can enjoy their twinkling lights. Located at the foot of Frog Mountain in Sanxia, Youmu Elementary School is a forest school, right across from the Dapu Stream. Camping here in summer lets you play in the water, and on clear nights you can even see a sky full of stars. During the firefly season in April and May, you can spot fireflies behind the classrooms. It’s extremely popular during these months, so without a reservation, you might miss out. Power and water sources aren’t close to the grassy camping area—if you need electricity, there are outlets on the speaker’s platform, and it’s recommended to pitch your tent in front of it.

▲ Beidelauman Campground. (Photo / Screenshot fromThe Storytelling Beidelaumanofficial Facebook page)

Beidelauman Campground
Address: Xinle Village, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County
Phone: 0937-156720

Located in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu, the Beidelauman Campground maintains excellent ecological surroundings. Here, birdsong and insect chirps are just the basics—look up and you might even spot an eagle soaring, or if you’re lucky, a Formosan clouded leopard. That’s how natural the environment is. During the firefly season, the campground comes alive with the twinkling glow of fireflies, truly enchanting. And during cherry blossom season, hundreds of pink cherry blossoms bloom, creating a super romantic scene.

▲ Serenity and Forgetfulness. (Photo / Screenshot fromSerenity and Forgetfulness Camping Areaofficial Facebook page)

Serenity and Forgetfulness
Address: No. 107-2, Matuai, Yixing Village, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County
Phone: 0932-090382

No need to go to Hakodate—Serenity and Forgetfulness in Hsinchu offers a million-dollar night view. With twinkling fireflies, a starry summer night sky, and lush green lawns, the Serenity and Forgetfulness Camping Area in Hsinchu boasts beautiful scenery. At night, walk up a small slope for about 5 minutes, and you’ll be rewarded with what’s known as the “million-dollar night view.”

Bagun Farm
Address: No. 311-2, Wufeng Township, Hsinchu County

The annual grand event of the Bai Lan Tribe, the “Firefly Season,” is held either at Bagun Farm or Floating Clouds Forest. Since Bagun Farm is located within the tribal area, visitors can also experience indigenous activities such as pounding rice and making traditional drinks. Just 300 meters above sea level, Bagun Farm boasts a large site, and in the fog, you can see vast sea-of-clouds vistas—the area’s proudest attraction. Additionally, during the firefly season, the night sky is dotted with glowing lights, creating a dreamlike, fairytale-like atmosphere.

▲ Xishui Mountain Camping Area. (Photo / Screenshot fromXishui Mountain Camping AreaFan page)

Xishui Mountain
Address: Shishuifang, Qing’an Village, Tai’an Township, Miaoli City
Phone: 0988-780-218

With essential camping views of blue skies, white clouds, and starry nights, plus seasonal limited-time offerings such as tung blossom and fireflies, this is the absolutely stunning scenery at the Miaoli Xishui Mountain Camping Area. At an altitude of 900 meters, the Xishui Mountain campsite is divided into three levels. There is plenty of grassy space for kids to roll around freely, and you can enjoy tea while gazing at Yaopo Mountain — the scenery is quite picturesque. On a lucky day, you might even catch a sea of clouds, adding even more charm to the Xishui Mountain campsite.

▲ Fireflies. (Photo / Reposted fromDongshi Forest Farm Recreation Area)

Dongshi Forest Farm
Address: No. 6-1, Shilin Street, Dongshi District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-25872191

Even if you don’t camp, you’ve probably heard of this popular firefly-viewing spot — Dongshi Forest Farm. Known as the most beautiful forest garden in central Taiwan, during April and May 2015, the number of fireflies here reportedly reached as high as 100,000, which is quite astonishing. Dongshi Forest Farm also offers free guided night tours for firefly viewing, led by professional guides.

▲ Donghu Camping Area. (Photo / Reposted fromDonghu Camping AreaOfficial Website)

Qilin Pond Camping Area
Address: Kuobi Lane, Yonglong Village, Lugu Township, Nantou County
Phone: 049-2751309 (Bosiyuan), 0920-899060 (Donghu)

There are two popular camping spots by Qilin Pond in Lugu Township, Nantou — Bosiyuan and Donghu. The most well-known feature in this area is the approximately 500-meter “firefly-watching trail,” where you can see fireflies along both sides of the stream. The trail is paved with tiles and is very easy to walk on. Heading up toward the mountain top, you can also get a full view of Qilin Pond.

▲ Shanshui Yougu Camping Site. (Photo / Reposted fromShanshui Yougu Camping SiteFan Page)

Shanshui Yougu Camping Site
Address: No. 143, Bapiao Road, Paoxi Village, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County
Phone: 03-9287438

Located in Jiaoxi, Yilan, the Shanshui Yougu Camping Site boasts a tranquil environment and is a small but beautiful campsite. Last April and May, many fireflies appeared near the campsite, much to the delight of campers. Additionally, about 100 meters from the campsite is a small waterfall, making the summer experience even more refreshing.