Firefly Season, Neiwan

With over 60 documented species, Taiwan harbours one of the highest concentrations of firefly diversity in East Asia — and Neiwan in Hsinchu County is the island's most celebrated venue for synchronous displays. At least eight firefly species flash simultaneously in Neiwan's riverside bamboo and broadleaf forests each April, with peak-night counts along the Old Street riverside trail exceeding 5,000 individuals per 100-metre transect, according to Hsinchu County ecological survey records — outperforming the #2 site in firefly density by 20%. Guided night walks cost NT$300–500 per person and use exclusively red-light torches, preserving the darkness that keeps bioluminescent courtship signals visible across 30-metre distances. The active season spans roughly 3–5 weeks between late March and early May; mid-April delivers the broadest species diversity. Taiwan's Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency enforces strict light-pollution controls in designated display zones, prohibiting vehicle headlights and commercial lighting within 200 metres of core habitat. Reserve Neiwan accommodation by early February — peak-night rooms fill weeks in advance.