Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Sàixiàzú Mínsú Wénwù Guǎn; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun)
This lake-side museum is dedic-
ated to the Saisiyat and their intriguing Festival of the Short People (Sàixiàzú Ǎlíngjì, the
Pas-ta'ai Ritual). The Saisiyat ('the true people'), with just over 5000 members, are one
of the smallest aboriginal groups in Taiwan and every three years they hold their festival
in honour of the Ta'ai, a mythical pygmy race.
According to legend, the Ta'ai and Saisiyat once lived in peace, but after the Ta'ai
began molesting Saisiyat women they were killed off. Famine resulted and the festival
arose as a way of appeasing the vengeful spirits who were clearly at the root of the disas-
ter. The festival is held beside the museum at Xiang Tian Hu (Xiàngtiān Hú), a small
lake nearly always shrouded in mist.
The festival is held on a full moon around the 15th day of the 10th lunar month every
two years, with a particularly large event held every 10 years. The next regular festival
will be held in 2014, with the big one to be held in 2016.
Buses to the lake and museum leave from the visitor centre.
Luchang Village
VILLAGE
(Lù Chǎng)
If you continue along Township Rd 21 past the turn-off for Xiangtan Lake,
you'll run up a deep rugged canyon and eventually to the high-altitude Luchang Village.
It's stunningly beautiful up here and and a few kilometres further up the road is the trail-
head to the 2220m-high
Jiali Mountain
(Jiālǐ Shān). Note that there is no bus to
Luchang.
Sleeping & Eating
There are dozens of pleasant B&Bs scattered around Nanzhuang, most charging around
NT$2000 to NT$3000 a night for a double. There's also a campground off Township Rd
21 in Donghe Village. The Tourism Shuttle Bus stops directly across from here (Donghe
Suspension Bridge stop). Nearby Shitoushan is also a good option.
For meals, head to Osmanthus Lane in Nanzhuang Village or to one of dozens of obvi-
ous restaurants off the main roads, which usually have set meals of four to five dishes for
two people for NT$400 to NT$500. Locally raised trout is popular, as are Hakka staples
such as mountain chicken (tǔ jī), fried tofu and
kejia xiaochao
(stir-fried strips of pork,
squid, veggies and tofu). Most places have picture menus.
Pu Yuan Villa
GUESTHOUSE $$$
(Nánjiāng Pú Yuán;
0939-851 652;
www.037825925.com.tw
;
d incl breakfast from NT$2000;
)
Just outside town is this cosy two-storey guesthouse with large rooms and a garden set-
