Rainbow Valley Introduction
Location: Situated alongside the Hongshui River in Liugui District, the area is rich in geographical resources as Highway 27甲 connects to County Road 131. It is divided into 11 valleys with diverse terrain and abundant native vegetation, primarily featuring Teak and Ironwood trees. The landscape boasts scenic mountains and waters, making it an ideal environment for insect propagation. Since Teak and Ironwood create suitable habitats for butterflies, this area can be regarded as a paradise for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The variety and number of butterflies are especially renowned in the Rainbow Butterfly Valley. Rainbow Butterfly Valley is located along the Hongshui River in Liugui Village, spanning 485 hectares divided into 11 valleys. In 1982, the Kaohsiung County Government designated the area as the "Rainbow Butterfly Valley Scenic Area." Most lands in the area are state-owned forests, primarily planted with Teak and Ironwood; nearby, the Hongshuikeng settlement has a small population mainly engaged in fruit tree and bamboo cultivation. The state-owned forest land and abandoned farmland in the region have rich and diverse native vegetation suitable for butterfly habitation and reproduction. The best time to observe the Light Yellow Butterfly population is during May-July and September-October when other butterfly species are also easily observable. Rainbow Butterfly Valley was once well-known for its abundance of various butterfly species, but due to habitat destruction, butterfly numbers have significantly decreased. Recently, due to the decline of agriculture and many abandoned farmlands, the ecological environment has gradually returned to a more natural state. In recent years, the Light Yellow Butterfly has shown phenomena of population surges, where butterflies dance gracefully during these occurrences, creating both a spectacular and beautiful sight. Through Rainbow Butterfly Valley, we can explore the secrets of the butterfly world, appreciate the wonders of nature, and understand the importance of ecological conservation while working together to maintain this beautiful butterfly home as a shared asset of the Earth. [Hongshui River and Hongshuikeng] The Hongshui River runs through the entire Rainbow Butterfly Valley, with continuous waterfalls along the way, clear water, and beautiful scenery flowing into the Hongshuikeng settlement. The dark red soil near the confluence causes the water to turn reddish-brown during rainy days, hence the name "Hongshui" River. The slope next to the stream is called "Hongshuikeng," which was once inhabited by the Pingpu people, and the slope behind the settlement was a gathering place for winter Purple Spot Butterflies. Due to habitat destruction, Purple Spot Butterflies have rarely been seen gathering here in winter over the years. [Light Yellow Butterfly] The Light Yellow Butterfly is categorized into "patternless" and "silver-patterned" types based on appearance. During the major butterfly population bursts in early summer and autumn, the initially occurring Light Yellow Butterflies are all patternless, while silver-patterned types appear in the latter half. In normal weather conditions, the total number of patternless butterflies is greater than that of patterned ones. Male Light Yellow Butterflies are often seen gathering by the stream to sip water, while females are more frequently observed flying among the treetops to lay eggs. Their larvae prefer to feed on the leaves of Ironwood, Senna, and Acacia; they have a short life cycle and strong reproductive capability, making it easy to rapidly reproduce into large populations in a short period.