Blocking roads and hurling profanities: Lutian Green Tunnel in Taitung bans lying on roads starting June 15

▲ Taitung’s Luye Township "Lutian Green Tunnel" was once considered a hidden gem by locals. (Photo / Courtesy of Taitung County Government Tourism Website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

In addition to its renowned hot air balloons, Taitung’s Luye Township has seen its "Lutian Green Tunnel"—a scenic road flanked by tree-lined avenues—garner fame for its fresh air, beautiful scenery, and the growing popularity of cycling tours and the "lying on the road" experience, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. However, in recent years, some tourists have not only used bicycles to block the roads, disrupting traffic, but have also responded with vulgar language when asked to make way. As a result, the Lutian community has decided to ban tour operators from bringing visitors here to lie on the road starting June 15.

The 1.2-kilometer-long "Lutian Green Tunnel," formed by a row of Chinese pistache trees, was once a local hidden gem known for its stunning scenery. To offer travelers a different way to connect with nature, local tourism operators began promoting the "lying on the road" experience here several years ago and organized multiple "Thousand People Lying" events, which catapulted Lutian to overnight fame. Even former Premier Jiang Yi-huah and Taitung County Magistrate Huang Jian-ting have participated. Each year, up to 400,000 to 500,000 tourists visit, all eager to try the "lying on the road" experience.

%The "Thousand People Lying" activity, launched by the tourism industry to boost visitor numbers, often saw many tourists lying on the road (Photo / Courtesy ofHualien-Taitung Valley National Scenic Area Administration Facebook Page)

However, the massive influx of tourists has not brought economic benefits to the area but has instead become a nightmare for residents. Some locals complain that many visitors lying on the road not only disregard order but also use bicycles to block passage, disrupting traffic. Locals have had to honk to ask them to move, only to be met with vulgar retorts. Moreover, pathways blocked by these tourists have forced farmers to wait until visitors leave before they can tend to their fields, severely impacting daily life and sparking strong backlash. Some villagers have even criticized the situation, saying, "It's just like a knockoff of the 'Chen Cheng-wu Avenue'!"

In light of this, the Lutian community recently held a meeting and resolved to ban tour operators from bringing visitors to "lie on the road" starting June 15. They recommend that tourism operators offer alternative sightseeing experiences instead. The iconic "Thousand People Lying" event will soon become a thing of the past.