Zhuzihu Flower Season 竹子湖花季

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Zhuzihu is a small valley in Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園 Yángmíng shān guójiā gōngyuán, in Beitou District of Taipei City) between Qixing Mountian and Datun Mountian. The valley is especially fertile due to the rich volcanic soil and abundant rain, and the entire area is full of recreational farms which have become popular tourist destinations. You should definitely stop by on your trip to Yangmingshan. 

Background:
Zhuzihu valley (竹子湖 Zhúzi hú) was formed from lava that flowed out from Datunshan (大屯山 Dà tún shān) and Xiaoguanyinshan (小觀音山 Xiǎo guānyīn shān). 
Due to its location as a high mountain valley, it rains easily here; annual rain accumulation is about 4500 mm. 
Before Chinese settlers came to this valley, it was simply a road from the Taipei Basin to the coast, and a hunting ground. In the early 1600s, the first Chinese settlers came to farm here in three main family groups. In 1895, a brief skrimish was fought here between the Japanese and local settlers who did not want to be part of the Japanese empire. 
The Japanese built hot springs here, experimental farms, a library, and a hiking dormitory. They began planting cabbage and rice here. 
After the ROC took over Taiwan, cabbage growing became less important, and the farmers here began planting flowers and catering to tourism instead. 
Now Zhuzihu is one of the most popular spots in Taipei to see flower gardens, mainly white and purple Arum-lilys (海芋 Hǎiyù) and Hydrangea (繡球花 Xiùqiú huā) which bloom from about February to June. 

Hours:
8 AM to 5 PM
(March 27th to June 21st, in 2020)
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When to go:
From late February to early June, when the Arum-lilys and Hydrangea are in bloom. 
(竹子湖海芋季; 竹子湖繡球花季)
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Price:
100 NT per person (can be used to purchase drinks, food, other merchandise)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to the Zhizihu Lookout. At the roundabout, stay to the left off the main highway and then keep right until you reach the valley. Car parking is limited on weekends and the number of cars allowed up the mountain is also limited. There is free scooter parking everywhere.
By Bus: From Beitou MRT Station, Take Little Bus 9 (小9) to Fengjiakou Station (風架口).
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Map:
Please see below: 

Our Journey:

I have been to Zhuzihu about a dozen times, but I didn't really know about the flower season here for a long time. Some of the photos below are during flower season and some are not.

Check out our drone footage of the area below:

Please note that if you want to fly a drone in Yangmingshan National Park you need to apply online 7 days in advance and check in at one of the service centers to get a vest. I has permission to shoot this video. 

If you do not want to waste internet on your phone, check out the 360 spherical panorama of the area below:

There is two weeks left of flower season at Zhuzihu in Yangmingshan National Park. Now that COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, tons of people are flocking here. #竹子湖 #花季 #陽明山

Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在臺灣 on Sunday, June 7, 2020

The day I went to fly, it seemed that a lot of the Arum-lilys were already out of bloom (the white flowers), and there were alot more Hydrangea, which are the big spherical purple flowers you see. 

Flower season or not, Zhuzihu is always a beautiful place, a mystic valley nestled between old volcanoes. 

At the edge of the valley is a viewing platform, so if you have a telephoto lens you can skip the 100 NT entrance fee and take pictures from there. 

View looking south from the viewing platform. 

View from the air. 

Closeup on one of the gardens. 

View of the valley when it is not flower season. 

Another out of season view of the valley. Even during non flower season, Zhuxihu still has tons of visitors. 

Another view of the valley out of season. 

View from the platform looking at Xiaoyoukeng. 

Another view of Xiaoyoukeng.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more blogs about Yangmingshan to come!

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