Zhuzihu Introduction
Zhuzi Lake is located in the core area of Yangmingshan National Park, at an elevation of about 650-670 meters. To the north lies Mount Xiaoguanyin, to the east is Qixing Mountain, to the west is Mount Lintoudun, and to the south it opens up to a panoramic view of the Taipei Basin. Originally, it was a "dammed lake" formed by a volcanic eruption 350,000 years ago, which gradually eroded to create a depression as the water level dropped. Historically, it has been divided into three enclosed areas: Donghu (East Lake), Dinghu (Top Lake), and Xiahu (Lower Lake). Donghu refers to the area around Hutiang Elementary School, which is the original location of the name Zhuzi Lake; Dinghu refers to a small basin of about 20 hectares on the high ground above Donghu, accessible by crossing the Hutiang Bridge and following the service road to the right; Xiahu refers to the basin around Haiyu Boulevard, through which Zhuzi Lake Stream flows, being lower than Donghu, thus named Lower Lake. The origin of the name Zhuzi Lake comes from its history as a dammed lake formed by volcanic lava, which gradually turned into a wetland as the water receded. Over a thousand years ago, the Plain Indigenous Kamalan people began to cultivate this area. When Han Chinese first arrived here two hundred years ago to settle, they found the land muddy and full of bamboo groves, thus naming it Zhuzi Lake (where "lake" in Minnan language implies muddy ground). According to an old local legend, the area was originally covered with arrow bamboo forests, and the view of the wind blowing through the bamboo forest at the mountain's peak appeared as if the lake's water was rippling, hence the name Zhuzi Lake. Zhuzi Lake Calla Lily Season: Calla lilies are native to South Africa, and their spathes, which bloom upside down, resemble horseshoes, while the plants grow like lotus flowers in the water, leading to the name "horseshoe lily." Currently, the total area of calla lily fields in Zhuzi Lake is approximately 13 hectares, accounting for over 80% of Taiwan's total calla lily production. The flowering season for calla lilies is from January to May each year, with the peak blooming period occurring in March and April. The dominant variety here is the white calla lily, whose elegant spathe, known as "Buddha flame spathe," is not the actual flower; the central yellow inflorescence bears many inconspicuous small flowers, distinctly separated by sex and well-structured. As late May approaches, the romantic white calla lily sea gradually comes to an end, followed by the blooming of purple-blue hydrangeas during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The hydrangeas planted in Zhuzi Lake consist of about 7 to 8 varieties with diverse colors, including pure white, pink with red edges, pink, purplish red, light blue, and blue. The shapes vary, with both large and medium blooms distributed throughout the farms, showcasing rich, vibrant colors and layers, making them perfect for memorable photographs.
