Calla Lily Festival at Zhuzihu Introduction
The calla lily originates from South Africa and is referred to as "Zantedeschia" due to its spathe that resembles an inverted horseshoe and its growth habit similar to a lotus in water. Currently, the area of calla lily fields in Zhuzihu covers about 13 hectares, accounting for over 80% of Taiwan's calla lily production. The blooming season for calla lilies is from January to May each year, with the peak blooming period occurring in March and April. The calla lilies in Zhuzihu predominantly feature white blooms, with the elegant white spathe known as the "spathe" not being the actual flower; instead, the small inconspicuous flowers bloom densely on the central yellow inflorescence, organized in a neat arrangement of male and female flowers. During the calla lily season, on holidays (including weekends), traffic guidance measures are implemented to allow clockwise one-way traffic towards the direction of Haiyu Avenue from the west of Huytian Bridge in Zhuzihu; the one-way control extends to the intersection with Mount Zhongzheng. Additionally, the section from Huytian Bridge to Donghu Road operates as two-way traffic, while the Dinghu section allows only one-way traffic and prohibits U-turns, guiding visitors towards the newly constructed stone road leading to Yangjin Highway. The traffic control in Zhuzihu is in effect on holidays from 9 AM to 6 PM, with adjustments based on actual traffic volume. Because of the limited road width in Zhuzihu, it is advised for visitors to use public transportation, such as the MRT or buses. Relevant public transportation information can be found on the Taipei City Department of Transportation website. Six calla lily trails await your exploration. If you want to stretch your legs, the Taipei City Public Works Department recommends six riverside trails in Zhuzihu. To admire vast calla lily fields, the magnificent scenery of Xiao You Keng, graceful egrets, and small terraced fields, you can visit the "Dinghu Circular Trail" in the Dinghu area, which is easy to walk and suitable for all ages, taking about 20 minutes. If you are interested in early agricultural waterwheels and ecological ponds, you can head to the "Calla Lily Circular Trail" in the Xiaohu area, which also takes about 20 minutes to walk. For waterfall watching and enjoying small hills and terrace views, the "Literature Trail" in the Shuiwei area is quite suitable, with a walking time of only about 10 minutes. To climb high and gaze at the sloped calla lily terraces, it is recommended to visit the "Lake Bottom Circular Trail," which takes about 15 minutes to walk. As for the longest "Zhuzihu Circular Trail," it starts from Huytian Bridge, passing through Donghu, Dinghu, Shuiwei, and Xiaohu, with a walking time of about 50 minutes along the beautiful scenery of Zhuzihu. Additionally, there is the "Yulian Path," taking about 15 minutes to walk. From March to May, you can see calla lilies, from April to June, you can appreciate love flowers, and from May to August, there are hydrangeas, with different surprises in each season. It is advised for people hiking up to enjoy the flowers during the calla lily season holidays (including the Children’s Day holiday) to utilize public transportation to reach the area. Detailed activity and traffic information can be found on the Zhuzihu Calla Lily Season website. (Text: Beitou District Farmers' Association)
