Puli Butterfly Valley is a seasonal butterfly-watching site in the Wugonglun hills of Puli Township, Nantou County, where migrating purple crow butterflies gather each spring along Taiwan's butterfly corridor. From the 1960s into the mid-1970s, Puli was a hub of Taiwan's butterfly-specimen export industry — with close to 47 processing shops in town handling more than 20 million butterflies a year — helping earn Taiwan the nickname 'Kingdom of Butterflies' and leaving behind a rich local butterfly culture.
From the 1960s into the mid-1970s — Taiwan's peak era for the butterfly-specimen trade — Puli alone had about 47 processing shops, handling more than 20 million butterflies a year sent in from across the island; Taiwan's total specimen-export value once topped US$30 million, making it the world's leading supplier and earning it the nickname 'Kingdom of Butterflies.' Purple crow butterflies overwinter mainly around Maolin in Kaohsiung and pass through the Puli basin during their spring migration north.
Highlights of Puli Butterfly Valley
Taiwan's purple crow butterflies overwinter each autumn and winter in places like Maolin in Kaohsiung, then migrate northward along the butterfly corridor as temperatures rise in spring. The Puli basin is a key waypoint on that migration route. The hills of Wugonglun, with their sheltered terrain and abundant plant resources, form a valley where butterflies briefly congregate. During migration season (roughly April to May), clear mornings are when observation density is highest — tens of thousands of butterflies in flight is a genuine natural spectacle.
Puli's connection with butterflies goes beyond modern nature observation. After Taiwan's restoration, from the postwar years into the 1970s, Puli was the world's largest center for butterfly specimen exports. Butterfly craft products were marketed to Europe and the United States, driving the local economy. That era has passed, but the deep bond between Puli and butterflies remains an important part of local cultural identity.
Making the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there and time needed
- Wugonglun is on the outskirts of Puli Township. You can reach it by car or scooter. The butterfly valley is a natural environment with no fixed entrance fee — you explore the hill paths yourself.
- The migration season (April – May) is the primary time to visit; butterfly numbers are much lower in other months. Clear mornings have the best light and most active butterflies; expect almost none on rainy days.
Nearby connections
- Puli town center can be combined with Guangxing Paper Mill, Puli Tobacco and Wine Factory, Paper Dome, and other attractions for a full-day cultural and nature itinerary around Puli.
- Head north to Huisun Forest, or south to Yuchi Township and on to Sun Moon Lake. Puli is a transit hub for most Nantou itineraries.
Source: compiled from context data; some information supplemented from public sources. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see Puli Butterfly Valley?
Late April through May is peak season for the purple crow butterflies' northward migration, with butterfly activity highest on clear mornings.
What is Puli's connection to the butterfly trade?
From the 1960s into the mid-1970s Puli was Taiwan's hub for butterfly-specimen exports, with close to 47 processing shops in town at its peak.
Is there an entrance fee for Puli Butterfly Valley?
No — the valley is a natural area with no fixed paid entrance; visitors explore the Wugonglun hillside trails on their own.
Sources
- 埔里蝴蝶產業史 — 新故鄉文教基金會，埔里蝴蝶加工店家數與外銷數量統計
- 捕蝶產業曾外銷9億！台灣「蝴蝶王國」為何沒落？ — udn倡議家，台灣蝴蝶標本外銷總值與全球市場地位
- 蜈蚣崙風行 1960 年代的蝴蝶經濟 — 國家文化記憶庫，蜈蚣崙地區蝴蝶產業歷史