The Eye on Taiwan news media

The annual Calla Lilly Festival has kicked off at Zhuzihu or Bamboo Lake in Taipei’s Yangmingshan, offering visitors a great view of the elegant flowers along with concerts and a farmers’ market.

This year, the month-long festival — which runs till April 29 — sees participating calla lily farms taking turns hosting concerts throughout the activity period.

Visitors can enjoy a relaxing stay in the vicinity as they watch the sea of calla lilies under the afternoon sun, according to Taipei Department of Economic Development.

The department has also worked with Beitou Farmers’ Association to offer guided tours –one in the morning and one in the afternoon — on weekends and holidays during the festival period, it said.

Visitors can travel to various scenic attractions at Zhuzihu, enjoying flower-picking, great food and other activities during the tours, the department said.

The department and the Beitou association have also organized a farmers market between Wednesday (April 4) and 8 to sell local farm products and souvenirs to those interested.

A temporary post office also opens from Wednesday (April 8) to April 29, offering visitors and collectors limited editions of postcards and postal chops with the theme of the festival, the department noted.

As white calla lilies are said to be a good luck charm for wedded bliss, many brides-to-be love to have their bridal pictures taken at Zhuzhihu during the floral season which will last until the end of May.  Most calla lilies at Zhuzihu are white and their smooth, sword-like foliages stay neat and attractive all season long.

To ensure smooth traffic conditions, the Taipei City Government is implementing traffic control on major roads and avenues in the vicinity on weekends and holidays.

Besides the Calla Lilly, visitors can explore the neighboring pine and bamboo forests, view cherry trees and the local Formosan Sweetgum, as well as browse the local farms and enjoy unique treats.

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Home to Yangmingshan’s calla lilies, Zhuzihu is a quaint local farming village hidden away in the mountains. Originally a lava-dammed lake created by the surrounding volcanoes, the area’s unique geology became suitable for farming, terraced rice paddies early on, and other unique flora with time, according to the Taipei Information and Tourism Department.

Please visit the event’s website at http://www.callalily.com.tw/english.html for more information or call Beitou Farmers’ Association at 02-2892-4185, ext. 540.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

• MRT Beitou Station－Take route S9 or 129 (only travels to Zhuzihu area during Calla Lily Festival) to Zhuzihu.
• MRT Shipai Station－Take route S8 or 129 (only travels to Zhuzihu area during Calla Lily Festival) to Zhuzihu.
• Taipei Railway Station－
  1.Take route 126 Flower Festival Express to Yangmingshan Second Parking Lot and transfer to route 128, 129, S8, S9 or 131 (128 and 129 only travel to Zhuzihu area during Calla Lily Festival) to Zhuzihu.2.Take route 260 to Yangmingshan Terminal and walk to Yangmingshan Transfer Station to take route 128, 129, or 131 (128 and 129 only travel to Zhuzihu area during Calla Lily Festival) to Zhuzihu.
• MRT Jiantan Station－Take any of the following buses to Yangmingshan Second Parking Lot：109, 111, 126, and 127. Transfer to route 128, 129, S8, S9 or 131 (128 and 129 only travel to Zhuzihu area during Calla Lily Festival) to Zhuzihu. Yangmingshan Flower Clock Area/Second Parking Lot: Take 128, 129, S8, S9, or 131 (128 and 129 only travel to Zhuzihu area during Calla Lily Festival) to Zhuzihu. Public Insurance Building on Gongyuan Rd. – Take “Taipei-Jinshan Line” to Zhuzihu.
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