Fuyuan Forest Recreation Area

Fuyuan National Forest Recreation Area is traversed by the Fuyuan River, featuring a network of winding mountain trails. At its deepest point are the Longyin Suspension Bridge, Fuyuan Suspension Bridge, and Longyin Waterfall, offering a tranquil and secluded experience. It combines birdwatching, butterfly watching, forest bathing, and hot springs, providing visitors with a diverse range of recreational experiences. About an hour＇s drive from Hualien City, you＇ll reach Fuyuan National Forest Recreation Area, also known as "Butterfly Valley." This area was once the eastern terminus of the Qing Dynasty＇s "Guanmen Ancient Road," and now boasts large tracts of 40-year-old camphor trees, creating a beautiful and pleasant landscape. The primeval forest features representative low-altitude forest species such as *Ligusticum striatum* and *Monkey Delight*, with abundant epiphytes adding to its Avatar-like forest beauty. Located in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range, the park is rich in birdlife, making it a renowned birdwatching destination in Hualien. Notable birds include the Hualien County Bird (Willow Bird), the Five-colored Bird, the Yellow-bellied Blue-crowned Crane, the Formosan Blue Magpie, the Grey-throated Mink, and the Great Crested Vulture, which frequently soars overhead. In addition, the best time to see butterflies is during the spring and summer months (March to August), and the diverse butterfly resources have earned it the nickname "Butterfly Valley". The park＇s humid and pollution-free environment has resulted in a diverse range of fireflies in Fuyuan. The Black-winged Firefly appears from March to June and the Taiwan Mountain Firefly from October to December, making it a popular spot for firefly watching in recent years.