Huashan Food and Agriculture Mini Trip: An Expert Guides You Through River Tracing and Firefly Watching
Editor's note: This article is part of the "Food and Farming Mini Travel" column, a collaboration between Parenting magazine and Newsmarket, published simultaneously in the June issue. This article introduces local activities and attractions; see the previous report here. (Photography for this article by Huang Benji; some images provided by Wu Qingzhen and Wu Dengli)
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Nearby attractions: led by an expert
What is fun to do in Gukeng and Huashan? Asking chairman Wu Dengli is sure to give you the right answer. In recent years he has worked hard to promote community ecotourism, and he has long since turned his own private spots into guided itineraries. Just call ahead to get in touch and you can join the activities, and with an expert alongside you, have a great time!
(A small tip before reading: please remember to call and ask on a "non-holiday", and note that, because of a shortage of manpower, only "group guests" can currently be received, so please remember to get in touch first!)
1. Kejiao Creek river tracing
The Taiwan barbet (Megalaima nuchalis) on the branches keeps singing, and the waters of Kejiao Creek murmur along. Although both the upper and lower reaches have undergone channel improvement works, with stacked-stone dams built in the riverbed, through the efforts of Chen Qingzhen, Wu Dengli and others, this section in Huashan Village successfully held back the pace of development and preserved Kejiao Creek in its natural, original state. From May to October every year, river tracing itineraries of within two hours can be arranged, and even in the dry season in winter you can learn about the natural ecology of the creek bed, such as fossils, fish, crabs and so on.
2. Firefly watching in early summer
Originally, because of road construction, the installation of streetlights, the concreting of streams, and the spraying of pesticides and herbicides, the firefly habitat in Huashan Community was damaged. In recent years the community has begun to restore the fireflies, not only stopping the use of chemical agents but also reducing nighttime lighting, and the number of fireflies has increased year after year. Huashan Community has become a well-known firefly-watching spot in the county. Although the firefly-watching season is set from April to mid-May, Wu Dengli reveals that in fact fireflies can be seen in Taiwan in all four seasons, with only differences in their numbers. Although the firefly-watching season has passed, those interested in fireflies can still try their luck.
(Every year at the start of winter, the Huashan Community Development Association holds a Gratitude to Heaven Ceremony, in which students scatter flowers as an offering to thank the heavens for favorable weather over the past year, which allowed tourism and leisure development to proceed smoothly, and also to declare that the natural environment, which has been disturbed by tourism activities over the past year, should be given respite and care, and through the activity to connect the community's bonds and remind residents and visitors to continue maintaining a friendly environment.)
Transportation information:
a. Driving yourself:
1. National Freeway No. 1: Heading north, exit at Dalin Interchange, follow County Road 162 toward Meishan Township, then connect to Provincial Highway 3 to Gukeng Township, about fifteen kilometers, about a twenty-minute drive.
Heading south, exit at Dounan Interchange, head east on Route 158, turn onto Provincial Highway 1 toward Dounan Township urban area, and continue to Gukeng Township, about a twenty-minute drive.
2. National Freeway No. 3: Heading north, exit at Meishan Interchange, follow County Road 162 to Meishan Township, connect to Provincial Highway 3 to Gukeng Township. At Yongguang Village turn onto the outer ring road and connect to County Road 210 up to Huashan, about fifteen kilometers in total, about a twenty-minute drive.
Heading south, at Gukeng System Interchange turn onto Yunlin County East-West Expressway No. 78, exit at Douliu Gukeng Interchange, connect to Provincial Highway 3, and heading south you enter Gukeng.
b. Going by bus:
1. Taixi Bus from Douliu (rear train station) to Meishan (Donghe Line), eight trips a day, earliest departure 08:30, latest 18:30.
2. Taixi Bus from Douliu (rear train station) to Meishan (Lunfeng Line), five trips a day, earliest departure 07:45, latest 15:40
3. Dounan (rear train station) to Huashan, seven trips a day, earliest departure 07:10, latest 17:35
4. Douliu to Kulingjiao, five trips a day: earliest 06:50, latest 16:50
Further reading