Zhuzihu Introduction
Bamboo Lake is located in the core area of Yangmingshan National Park, at an elevation of about 650-670 meters. To the north lies Xiaoguanyin Mountain, to the east is Qixing Mountain, to the west is Mt. Datun, and to the south it opens up to a stunning view overlooking the Taipei Basin. It was originally a "dammed lake" formed by volcanic eruptions 350,000 years ago. Due to erosion, openings were created, causing the lake water to gradually drain and form a depression. Traditionally, it has been divided into three enclosed areas: East Lake, Upper Lake, and Lower Lake. East Lake refers to the area around Hutiang Elementary School, which is the original point of the name Bamboo Lake; Upper Lake refers to a small basin of about 20 hectares located above East Lake, accessed by crossing the Hutiang Bridge and taking the right industrial road; Lower Lake refers to the basin around Haiyu Avenue, through which the Bamboo Lake Stream flows, and is named Lower Lake due to its relatively lower elevation compared to East Lake. The name Bamboo Lake derives from the fact that it was originally a dammed lake formed by volcanic lava flow. As the lake water gradually drained, a wetland emerged. Over a thousand years ago, the Pingpu people (Kavalan) began to settle and cultivate the area. When Han people first arrived two hundred years ago to cultivate the land, they saw the muddy land abounding with bamboo groves, and thus named it Bamboo Lake (where "lake" in Min Nan refers to a muddy area). Another local ancient legend describes the early proliferation of arrow bamboo forests in the mountainous basin. The mountain winds blowing down would sway the arrow bamboo, resembling ripples in the lake, hence the name Bamboo Lake. Bamboo Lake Calla Lily Season The calla lily is originally from South Africa, and its spathe blooms like an inverted horseshoe, while the plant resembles a lotus growing in water, hence it is called "horseshoe lily." Currently, the total production area of calla lily fields in Bamboo Lake is about 13 hectares, accounting for over 80% of Taiwan's calla lily yield. The calla lily blooming season runs from January to May each year, with peak blooms occurring in March and April. The calla lilies in Bamboo Lake are predominantly white, with the elegant white spathe known as the "Buddha's fire spathe," which is not the flower itself. The central yellow inflorescence is densely packed with many inconspicuous small flowers, with separated male and female parts, organized in a neat manner. As it approaches late May, the romantic white calla lily sea gradually comes to an end, followed closely by the blooming of purple-blue hydrangeas during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The hydrangeas planted in the Bamboo Lake area consist of around 7 to 8 varieties with diverse colors, including pure white, pink with red edges, light pink, purple-red, light blue, and blue. They are distributed across the farms in both large and medium flower types, showcasing vibrant colors and rich layers that enhance the ever-changing charm of hydrangeas, making them quite suitable for photography.
