The "Ludong Cultural Corridor" connects 60 attractions & now offers free guided tours

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive report

Where else to go in Ludong besides the night market? To help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the lives of local residents in earlier times and to preserve customs and stories that are gradually being forgotten by modern society, the Ludong Township Office has specially linked 60 attractions within its jurisdiction to create a "Ludong Cultural Corridor." Alongside the official opening of the Zhazaiyuan Cultural Park on October 18, free guided tours are now available and open for reservation.

▲ The Zhazaiyuan Cultural Park, which will open on October 18, was once a key site for camphor oil production and also one of the inspection stations for timber from the Taipingshan area. (Photo / Provided by Ludong Township Office)

Li Jun-xian, an official handling the project at the Ludong Township Office, said that many visitors come to Ludong mainly for the night market and local snacks, but in fact, Ludong’s diverse historical architecture and cultural features are also worth exploring as part of a travel itinerary.

Take the currently trial-operating Zhazaiyuan Cultural Park as an example. In the early days, apart from serving as an inspection station for the Taipingshan forestry industry, during the Japanese colonial period, it was also a key site for producing camphor oil, which had strategic value. The Governor-General's Office set up the Luodong Branch of the Taiwan Camphor Bureau here and developed a park near the office building to cultivate camphor saplings. Gradually, “Zhazaiyuan” became a historical place name in the area. The park not only narrates the historical development of Ludong’s early industries but also displays handicrafts made by local elders. Visitors can also try their hands at DIY to create their own unique souvenirs.

The cultural corridor, which links dozens of historical and cultural attractions around the town, will take visitors on a journey to deeply understand the life culture of the early settlers, as well as customs, historical stories, and lifestyle habits that are gradually fading away. The town has also installed 29 attraction information signs to assist with guided tours.

Li Jun-xian specifically pointed out that there is no fixed route for the guided tours; they are completely “customized” based on the amount of time visitors can spend, and they are entirely free. However, group reservations are currently only accepted for groups of 20 or more. Visitors can make reservations via the Ludong Cultural Corridor website or by calling the reservation hotline: 03-9514800.