By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin
With the 2012 Pacific Arts Festival scheduled from September 8 to September 15, Taitung County Government has also organized five in-depth one-day tribal experience tours, including “Exclusive Encounters with the Paiwan and Puyuma” and “Azure Skies and Seas: Visiting the Amis.” These tours will take visitors to indigenous villages to experience handmade weaving and cross-stitching, admire the architectural art of ancestral spirit houses, and tour ancient fortresses and ceremonial sites. The itinerary will also include a visit to the Wulu Tribe, the only community in the Japanese colonial era that never surrendered to Taitung Prefecture. The tours will run from September 7 to September 16, with a total of 25 sessions, each accommodating 40 people. The cost per person is between NT$399 and NT$499.
Visit the homeland of Avatar and take part in tree-climbing experiences at Luan Mountain. (Photo provided by Taitung County Government)
The five routes include the “Paiwan and Puyuma Exclusive Experience,” which will take participants to the Sapulju Tribe (composed of four major sub-tribes and eight clans) and the Katingu Tribe, both significant Paiwan and Puyuma communities. Sapulju is considered a forbidden hunting ground, meaning “lonely, desolate land,” where visitors will also engage in a cross-stitch cultural experience. The “Azure Skies and Seas: Visiting the Amis” route not only offers views of the Pacific Ocean from Donghe Bridge but also includes bamboo raft experiences and tastings of signature dishes from the Dullauan Tribe of the Amis.
The “Happy Journey with the Rukai and Amis” will involve participation in indigenous ceremonies, visits to the Shishan Tribe to learn about Amis traditional culture, and hands-on experiences in weaving or DIY activities. The “Guardians of the Central Mountain Range” will take travelers to the Wulu Tribe, the only community in the Japanese colonial era that never surrendered to Taitung Prefecture, and a stroll across the Tianlong Suspension Bridge, which spans the Wulu Canyon and hangs over 80 meters above the gorge. The “Visiting the Homeland of Avatar” route features a trip to a forest museum, a chance to see the “walking trees,” passing through the “Gate of Heaven’s Door,” and learning about the ancestral spirit houses of the Bunun people.
These five diverse itineraries offer rich experiences, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in indigenous culture. (Photo provided by Taitung County Government)
This tribal journey emphasizes an in-depth cultural experience. Taitung is home to seven major indigenous groups—the Amis, Paiwan, Rukai, Bunun, Puyuma, Yami (Tao), and Kavalan—each with a wealth of human history, traditional rituals, and crafts that are truly captivating. For more activity details, visit the official website at hopemonkey.tw/2012bustrip.
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