Maolin Purple Butterfly Ecological Park (Purple Butterfly Valley) Introduction
The Maolin Butterfly Valley Ecological Park is located in the Maolin District along Maolin Lane and serves as a venue for butterfly watching activities. Walking along the trails in the park leads to the butterfly viewing trail. "Purple Butterfly Valley" is not a geographical name; it is actually an ecological phenomenon where multiple species of butterfly congregate during winter. "Purple Butterfly Valley" is mainly found in the mid-to-low altitude mountainous areas of Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung, which are inhabited by the Paiwan and Rukai people. Every year, from October to February, over a million purple butterflies arrive at the sacred mountain of the Rukai and Paiwan people in southern Taiwan—under the warm, sheltered valleys at the foot of Dawu Mountain. The Maolin "Purple Butterfly Valley" is renowned alongside the "Monarch Butterfly Valley" in the Americas, both considered world-class natural assets, and they are currently listed as the only two large-scale "wintering butterfly valleys" in the world. Furthermore, it has been designated as a must-visit attraction with a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide for Taiwan! A suggested stay of about three hours allows visitors to wander along the butterfly viewing trail in the purple butterfly ecological park toward the Zishalishali Trail, where different species of purple butterflies and colorful butterflies can be seen.
