Taiwan News
Date: 2017/04/24
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—As the season of fireflies is in full swing between mid April and

As the firefly season is at its full bloom between mid April and the end of May, people should not miss this short window of time.

the end of May, people should not miss this short window of time to appreciate the insects that have become rarer as their habitats are shrinking due to human pollution and deforestation. People in the metropolitan Taipei area, adults and children alike, are lucky when it comes to viewing fireflies because of the explosive abundance of the glowing insects on the Hemei Mountain in the Bitan scenic area this year and the close proximity of the glowing insects’ natural habitat to a Taipei Metro station.

The Bitan Suspension Bridge

To embark on a fireflies viewing adventure, get off at the Taipei Metro Xindian Station, a destination station on the Green Line, walk across the Bitan Suspension Bridge, and after crossing over the bridge, continue walking about 50 meters to an intersection. Take the asphalt trail on the left that is leading up to the summit of the Hemei Mountain. The trailhead is also the starting point of the fireflies viewing trail, which is marked by Chinese signs, indicating the fireflies viewing route. About 200 meters up the trail, visitors, who are recommended not to use flashlight, will come to a meadow on the left where fireflies twinkle like stars in nightly skies.    [FULL  STORY]