In late spring and early summer, immediately following the Alishan blooming seasons (Ruili wisteria flower season, Alishan cherry blossom season), the best time to watch fireflies is from April to June every year. After nightfall, whether by the stream, in the bamboos, or in the forest, the sparkling fireflies slowly rise in the night sky, taking visitors on a journey under the magical lights of Alishan.

Alishan firefly season is the night-time firefly watching guided tour offered collaboratively by multiple local communities and tribes (including Taixing, Ruili, Renshou, Ruifeng, Fenqihu, Shizi, Guanghua, Lijia, Leye, and Chashan). The activities include the "2021 Yingyueye Story of Fireflies” event at Yuantan Ecological Park; the “Fireflies Lighting up the Way” event at Guanghua Community, which has five ecological features (starry night sky, fireflies, white-faced flying squirrels, fluorescent mushrooms, and Taiwan shovel-jaw carp); the “Firefly Railway” event organized by Taixing Community; and the “2021 Yingyueye Story of Fireflies” event.) Lijia, Leye, and Chashan communities of the Tsou tribe also offer guided night-time firefly watching tours by appointment as well as various eco-tours incorporating local culture, industry, and ecology. For details, please refer to the activities offered by each community and tribe.

Visitors are advised to watch out for their own safety during firefly watching. Walk slowly to avoid tripping and falling. More importantly, be sure to follow the "four No’s" when watching fireflies: no noise, no catching the fireflies, no flashlight directly at the fireflies (use red cellophane to cover the flashlight so not to disturb the fireflies), and no light pollution (do not take photos of the fireflies with the flash on so not to obstruct the mating fireflies). Visitors while enjoying firefly watching are expected to contribute to protecting the environment so that the fireflies can continue to prosper here.