Taiwan Firefly Spotting Guide 台灣賞螢火蟲指南

Liyu Lake is a scenic lake in Hualien. Here you can paddle across the lake, or take a scenic bike ride around the shore. There are also many food options here. It is like the Sun Moon Lake of eastern Taiwan…(read more)You can book a paddle boat, SUP, or kayak experience at Liyu Lake and more on Klook here and KKday here. 

Chinan National Forest Recreation Area 池南國家森林遊樂區

Chinan National Forest Recreation Area is a natural wonderland in central Hualien where you can see fireflies in the spring.

Danong Dafu Forest Area 大農大富平地森林園區

Another place you can see fireflies in Hualien is the Danong Dafu Forest Area.

Taiwan Firefly Spotting Map:

Check out the map below to see our full list of Firefly spotting areas:

Basic Firely Spotting Tips:

• Don’t catch or harm fireflies
• Stay on designated trails
• Don’t use lights or flashes
• If you need a light, use a red filter
• Do not pollute the environment
• Wear long sleeves and bring mosquito repellent
• Wear hiking boots or shoes that grip well

How do I take photos of Fireflies?

Fireflies fly slowly and light on and off. The best way to capture them is by filming or using a camera with manual exposure time.

• In-focus fireflies appear as small light dots or fine streaks; out-of-focus ones form larger dots and trails.
• High ISO (800–3200): Shorter exposure, easier to capture light, but more noise.
• Low ISO: Requires longer exposure, produces dimmer light points.
• Bright environments: Reveal more detail, but dim firefly lights.
• Dark environments: Less detail, more image noise.
• Moderate lighting is ideal for balance.
• Wide-angle lenses: Capture streak-like trails.
• Standard to medium telephoto lenses: Better for capturing light dots.
• Focusing at infinity: Large dots nearby, small dots in the distance.
• Focusing on fireflies’ flight path: More small dots appear in the foreground.
• Fireflies cover a wide range: Wide aperture = shallow focus.
• Expert tip: Adjust focus distance during long exposure to capture richer trails.

Firefly activities in Taiwan:

Most campsites in Taiwan will have a Facebook Page. You can send messages to them on Facebook and reserve a spot in advance. Usually, this means you need to have Chinese skills or be able to use a translator.

Our Experience Spotting Fireflies in Taiwan

I have seen the most fireflies where I live, near my house in Nangang. There are fireflies everywhere in the mountains and hills here from about April to June. I never really tried to capture them on film until now for this blog.

The hardest part about capturing fireflies is getting just the right amount of light. Too much light and the fireflies will not stand out. Too little light and the whole image is too dark. Also, getting the right focus is hard in low light, and you also want to keep the shutter open long enough for some interesting shapes.

Here is an interesting path that a firefly took.

Another crazy firefly flight formation.

I found that going deeper into the forest, where there is less light, gave me a more optimal balance of light and firefly sparks.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to stay tuned for more of our guides on Taiwan to come!

For more seasonal activities in Taiwan throught the year, check out our Taiwan festival guide here.

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​