Zhuzi Lake Calla Lily Festival Introduction
The calla lily originates from South Africa. Its spathe resembles an inverted horseshoe when it blooms, and the plant grows in water like a lotus, hence it is called "Calla Lily." Currently, the total production area of the calla lily flower fields in Zhuzihu is approximately 13 hectares, accounting for over 80% of Taiwan's calla lily production; the flowering period is from January to May each year, with the peak period from March to April. The calla lilies in Zhuzihu are primarily white, featuring the elegantly shaped white "spathe," which is not the flower itself. The yellow spadix in the center is surrounded by many inconspicuous small flowers, organized and separated by sex. During the calla lily season, on holidays (including weekends), traffic management measures are implemented in the Zhuzihu area, with clockwise one-way traffic directed from the west of Hutian Bridge along Calla Lily Avenue towards the junction with Zhongzheng Mountain; furthermore, bidirectional traffic is allowed on the east of Hutian Bridge, while the Dinghu section is one-way with a prohibition on U-turns, guiding traffic to exit via the newly paved stone road towards Yangjin Highway. The traffic management in the Zhuzihu area is enforced on holidays from 9 AM to 6 PM, and will be adjusted flexibly based on actual traffic flow. Due to the limited width of the roads in Zhuzihu, it is recommended that visitors make use of public transportation systems, such as the MRT and buses. Relevant public transportation information can be found on the Taipei City Transportation Bureau website. There are six calla lily trails for visitors to explore the varying scenery. If you want to get some exercise, the Civil Engineering Department of Taipei City recommends the six riverside trails in Zhuzihu. You can go to the "Dinghu Circular Trail" in the Dinghu area to enjoy vast calla lily flower fields, the impressive scenery of Xiaoyoukeng, and to observe egrets and small terraces; this trail is easy to walk and suitable for all ages, taking about 20 minutes. If you are interested in early farmers' waterwheels and ecological pools, you can visit the "Calla Lily Circular Trail" in the Xiahukou area, which also takes about 20 minutes to walk. If you want to enjoy waterfalls, play with stones, and appreciate small hills and terraced landscapes, the "Literary Trail" in the Shuiwei area is quite suitable, taking only about 10 minutes to walk. For a higher vantage point to view the calla lily terraced fields, it is recommended to go to the "Lake Bottom Circular Trail," which takes about 15 minutes to walk. As for the longest "Zhuzihu Circular Trail," it enters from Hutian Bridge through Donghu, Dinghu, Shuiwei, and Xiahukou, taking about 50 minutes to walk, and along the way, you can enjoy the pleasant scenery of Zhuzihu. Additionally, there is the "Yulian Path," which takes about 15 minutes to walk. From March to May, you can see calla lilies, from April to June, admire love flowers, and from May to August, enjoy hydrangeas, with different surprises in different seasons. Visitors going up the mountain to enjoy the flowers are reminded that traffic management will be implemented in the Zhuzihu surrounding area during holidays (including the Children's Day long weekend) during the calla lily season, and it is recommended to use public transportation to go up the mountain. For detailed activity and traffic information, please check the Zhuzihu Calla Lily Season website. (Text: Beitou District Farmers' Association)
