Registration for "2021 Liyu Lake Fireflies Festival" starts on March 11th!
This year's "2021 Liyu Lake Fireflies Festival" organized by The East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration of Tourism Bureau, MOTC (hereafter referred to as the "Administration) will be held from April 2nd to May 8th, every Friday and Saturday, at Liyu Lake Scenic Area. Hualien County Liyu Lake Scenic Area has clean unpolluted water and an environment suitable for firefly habitat. And with its blessed natural climate, it has bred fireflies which shuttle through the forest with green light, resembling the "Earth's Milky Way". During the short adult stage of fireflies, light is used as the signal for courtship and mating. It uses a unique light emitting frequency as signal to attract the opposite sex. Hence, during the nights of April and May, Liyu Lake is filled with romantic ambience. According to Chen-Ling Kuo, Director of the Administration, this year's firefly viewing event is free. The Administration's professional volunteer guides will lead the public under the starry sky to observe fireflies at a near distance, experience the charm of Liyu Lake Scenic Area's ecology during the night, and enjoy the quiet moments with family and friends, in the company of the fireflies. This year's firefly viewing event collaborates with Taiwan Tourist Shuttle's Rift Valley Route in launching the "Firefly Viewing Shuttle Service", which will depart from Hualien Railway Station every Saturday beginning April 2nd. The public can purchase the firefly viewing shuttle combo ticket online and easily arrive at the event venue. Visitors can also redeem the ticket for a souvenir at the firefly viewing venue. The souvenirs include practical and limited-edition East Rift Valley placemats and magnets, as well as Hualien's "Yuli Youkan" and "Rakoto record biscuit" (souvenirs subject to availability at the venue). Though it is an outdoor event, the Administration has set up relevant preventive measures to ensure the safety of visitors due to the Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens (COVID-19). The measures include real-contact registration system for the firefly viewing event, access control during the event, measuring of forehead temperature and hand sanitization by staff before entering the firefly viewing area, and wearing of mask. The Administration hopes to give the visitors a safe, pleasant, memorable and knowledgeable ecological journey. Visitors heading to the fireflies watching event are reminded to follow the guidance of the volunteers and staff, not to carry umbrellas or wear high-heels or sandals to ensure personal safety, and to cover their torchlights with "red cellophane paper" to reduce light pollution, so as not to affect the ecological activities of the fireflies. "2021 Liyu Lake Fireflies Festival" is held every Friday and Saturday from April 2nd to May 8th. Guided tours will be conducted at 7 pm and 8 pm, with a maximum of 300 people per session. Registration for the week will close on Wednesday at 12 am. Schools, societies and the public are welcome to register for the event.
