Tainan’s Bureau of Travel and Tourism initiated holiday traffic control measures to step up the epidemic prevention and control efforts in face of the much-anticipated firefly season in Meiling (or Plum Mountain) in Nanhsi District. The measures take effect during the three weekends between April 18 and May 3, a total of six days. All visitors to the Wulong Firefly-watching Trail must complete real-name registration. The total number of visitors is capped, and visitors are requested to enter the firefly viewing areas at different time periods to divert foot traffic.
To bring public awareness to the urgency of disease prevention and control and highlight its priority, Mayor Huang paid a special visit to Meiling in Nanhsi District. He urged visitors to practice protective measures, including wearing masks in the public, maintaining social distancing, washing hands frequently, and practicing good hygiene. Mayor Huang also paid close attention to the local tourism industry impacted by the outbreak. He recognized the long-term efforts of the local communities and city government agencies in preserving Meiling’s natural environment and forming ecological clusters, making Meiling a suitable habitat for fireflies that are highly sensitive to the environment, and therefore attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.
During the press event, Mayor Huang made plum wine using fresh picked green plums, along with Tainan city councilors Ingay Tali, Yi-Chi Chou, Chong-Cheng Yang, and Wang-Chuan Tsai. Mayor Huang encouraged everyone to fight the pandemic together. Once the outbreak is over and the regulations are lifted, we can all visit Meiling next year during the spring season for plum-picking and firefly-watching.
The past firefly seasons attracted 3,000 to 5,000 visitors during each holiday weekend.
But this year the Tainan City Government and local organizations have decided to take cautionary measures to control visitor influx and prevent coronavirus infections. Between April 18 to May 3, all visitors to the Wulong Firefly-watching Trail must abide by the Meiling Scenic Area Traffic Control Measures.
All epidemic prevention and control measures during Meiling’s Firefly Season follow strictly the guidelines by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). There is a maximum number of daily visitors allowed. To divert foot traffic, registered visitors must pre-select time slots. To practice social-distancing, the opening ceremony and shuttle bus service are both cancelled. All visitors must wear masks. There is also dedicated staff at Wulong Trail to take people’s temperature, provide alcohol sanitizer, and remind visitors about disease prevention practices. Although the firefly-watching areas are in the outdoors, visitors are urged to take responsible actions to protect their own health and that of others. Even if they cannot visit the Meiling area this year, the firefly-watching festival invites all to come next year.
Please visit the following websites for more firefly-watching information:
Meiling Scenic Area (Wulong Firefly-watching Trail) online registration: https://is.gd/JHml6O
Meiling Firefly Season Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nansifirefly
Travel Tainan website: http://www.twtainan.net/
For those taking public transportation, please take the <Green Line> of Tainan City Bus from Tainan to Yujing. Transfer to <Green 22 Line> to Nanhsi and Meiling. <Green 22 Line> runs a special holiday schedule on weekends, with more frequent bus services between Yujing, Nanhsi, and Meiling (Er-ceng-ping). The last <Green 22 Line> bus from Meiling to Yujing departs at 20:50 on weekdays and 21:20 on weekends. For those taking the bus, please keep notice of the bus schedule and bus stop location. For more detailed information, please visit the Shing-Nan Bus Company website (http://www.snbus.com.tw/) or the Tainan City Bus website (http://2384.tainan.gov.tw/).