Firefly season is here! Firefly viewing spots recommendations + photography tips.

Firefly season is here! Do you know where are good places to see fireflies? Recently, Taipei has some spots to visit! You can even reach them directly by public transportation. This article lists 7 must-visit destinations for watching fireflies, telling you about the local experiences and photography tips! The peak season for fireflies is around April to May, but it varies depending on the region and temperature. Whether you can successfully see a large number of fireflies depends on the weather that day, which is actually a matter of luck! But it is recommended to go to places where the average number of fireflies is relatively high, and there are other entertainment activities, so your trip will be more fulfilling!

Seeing that the flowering period is from March to May, you'll understand why this place is recommended because you can enjoy both fireflies and tung oil flowers at the same time! "Zhuo Ye Small House" is a garden in Miaoli. The entrance fee is very cheap, the scenery is breathtaking, and the numerous wooden structures and furnishings highlight the natural beauty of the environment. There's also a vegetarian restaurant and a dyeing workshop, where you can relax for a day!

Watching fireflies in the ruins is a truly magical experience. Pingxi's Shidi Grand Pit is located opposite the Jingtong Train Station, about a 5-minute walk away. During the day, you can explore the old street and release sky lanterns in Pingxi, and at night, head to Shidi Grand Pit to watch fireflies. Since there are fewer people during normal times, fireflies will be more active! Photo source: Northeast Coast and Yilan Environmental Protection Administration

The Dongshi Forest Farm in Taichung is incredibly beautiful, with romantic features like the Forget-Me-Not Pond and Maple Leaf Path, plus a shiitake mushroom farm where you can experience picking them. It's already a great place for tourism, but it's even more recommended during firefly season! There's a 1.5km round-trip Firefly Viewing Trail. Although the official peak of fireflies has passed this year, it's not over yet. Hurry and get going!

This place is called "Yinghe Railway", a very popular spot for photography enthusiasts. Located on the railway of Alishan, it can only be reached by the Alishan narrow gauge railway, so there are relatively fewer people. Taking pictures from the railway towards the tunnel is super beautiful! Alishan also has many leisurely itineraries, such as Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Fenqihu, and Sunrise Platform, you can play for 1 to 3 days without any problem!

Before firefly viewing, you can still take photos in the sky mirror. It is recommended to choose a package tour with pick-up and drop-off service, so you don't have to worry about inconvenient or dangerous transportation after the firefly viewing at night, and you can also have your beautiful photos taken!

Amphawa Market is also a well-known firefly watching spot, and it's quite comfortable to stroll around. Compared to other markets, Amphawa has fewer tourists, so there isn't too much exaggeration of commercialism, and the prices are a bit lower. Of course, the food is still delicious! At night, boats will sail forward to less crowded areas, and that's when fireflies become very obvious!

Although nowadays smartphones can take beautiful photos, due to the inability to use flashlights, you need to master some small techniques: 1. **Use professional photography apps:** When shooting in extremely dark environments, it's best to find some auxiliary photography apps like Slow shutter Cam, NightCap, etc., which offer more shooting controls and adjustment options such as exposure, focus, and ISO. 2. **Use a tripod or stabilizer:** Because fireflies' light is dim and flickering, longer exposure times are required for shooting. Using a tripod or other stabilizer can avoid blurry images caused by handheld shooting. 3. **Lower the brightness and turn off the flash:** When shooting fireflies, set your phone's brightness to the lowest and turn off the flashlight. This avoids disturbing the behavior of fireflies and maintains the darkness of the environment. 4. **Use long exposure mode:** Long exposure mode can be used to capture the faint light of fireflies, increasing the chances of a successful shot. 5. **Choose the appropriate focus:** Adjust your phone's focal length and focus settings according to the distance of the fireflies and the scene. Focus on the surrounding trees or other background objects near the fireflies, then expose to capture the firefly light. 6. **Shoot the landscape in advance:** If you only want to capture the light, the previous steps are sufficient. But if you want to capture some background, such as railway tracks, people, or environment, you need to shoot them before dark! Then use layering, and I recommend using snapseed for this app.

Although watching fireflies at night is beautiful, don't forget to respect and protect these unique creatures. Here are some things to keep in mind when observing fireflies!

1. Respect the ecosystem: Avoid damaging plants, trees, or the habitats of other living things.
2. Avoid using bright lights and flashlights: The light emitted by fireflies is how they communicate and find mates. Using bright lights or flashlights can disrupt their behavior and life cycle! Please avoid using your phone, camera, or any other device with bright lights or flash to photograph fireflies.
3. Keep quiet and low-key: Fireflies are typically active at night. To avoid disturbing them, please remain silent and low-key, avoiding loud noises, tapping objects, or making other sounds.
4. Follow the instructions of tour guides or local authorities: If you are participating in a firefly viewing tour, be sure to follow the instructions of your guide or local authorities.
5. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants: If you're worried about being bitten by mosquitoes, try not to use insect repellent as it may harm or scare away fireflies. Wearing long sleeves and pants is a better way to protect yourself!

This concludes our firefly viewing guide. While capturing beautiful photos takes practice, the experience of witnessing the twinkling lights firsthand will undoubtedly be unforgettable!