Huang Die Cui Gu Introduction
The Huang Die Cui Valley is rich in ecological resources, featuring many ironwood trees suitable for the breeding of yellow butterflies, which attracts the caterpillars of the Pale Sage Butterfly that feed on the ironwood. This phenomenon creates a marvelous sight of tens of thousands of yellow butterflies fluttering about, resembling countless stars—truly spectacular. The Huang Die Cui Valley is documented to host 110 species of butterflies, with the Pale Sage Butterfly and the Plain Tiger Butterfly previously holding the record for the highest butterfly density in the world. Initially, the Meinong Reservoir was planned to meet the water demands of the Greater Kaohsiung metropolitan area, but local residents raised concerns about the potential destruction of precious natural ecology and cultural assets due to the nearby tropical experimental forest and Huang Die Cui Valley. They formed the "Meinong Love Hometown Association" and combined efforts with local ecological conservation groups to launch a series of protests. After years of advocacy, the initial anti-reservoir movement has evolved into a water resource conservation movement. Since 1995, the "Meinong Yellow Butterfly Festival" has been held annually in the Huang Die Cui Valley within the reserved area of the Meinong Reservoir to promote environmental education.
