A giant cross atop the mountain – a hidden gem in Wurao where you can overlook Ruisui along the Stations of the Cross

Text / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department compiled and reported     Image source / East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration

Taiwan’s tribal culture is deeply rooted in its origins. Beyond traditional art forms such as ethnic totems, religious culture is also an indispensable element for indigenous peoples. In Hegang Village, Ruisui Township, Hualien, there is a Wurao tribe where religious faith is the focal point of the community’s ideology. The Annual Harvest Festival is a grand celebration for tribal members to gather and rejoice. Within the Wurao tribe, there is even a hidden scenic spot that even locals may not know about.

Walking up the mountain trail for about 10 to 15 minutes, when you reach the pavilion at the mountaintop, you can not only enjoy a view of the riverside mountains, but also find a large cross radiating solemnity and holiness. In the lead-up to Easter, church members hold the Stations of the Cross ceremony here, and Hegan Catholic Church has long used this mountain as the route for the Way of the Cross. Recently, the newly completed trail and pavilion have also turned this place into a pilgrimage site for travelers.