Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of traditional aboriginal houses and communal structures. A museum near the entrance
has exhibitions of daily, ceremonial and martial items, though there is less emphasis
these days on showing artefacts and more on videos.
Highway 24
SCENIC AREA
The last section of Highway 24 is a gorgeous winding highway that leads you deep into
the mountains. Not for the fainthearted, some parts of the road run along very steep
cliffs. Do check the road conditons before you set off, as the area is often inaccessible
when there are heavy rains. You have to register at the police station (at 26.8km mark)
before you enter the Wutai area.
This section of the road, between Sandimen and
Wutai
(Wùtái), is 18km long and the
altitude changes from 100m to above 1000m. Expect head-spinning views of the river,
valleys, waterfalls, cliffs and aboriginal villages. Wutai (after the Km39 mark) is one of
the most attractive settlements of the Rukai, with a striking
Presbyterian church
and
traditional
slate-walled houses
straddling the road.
From Wutai, you can continue the last 8km to the abandoned village of
Ali
, or head
back and make a detour to
Dewen
(Déwén), a beautiful coffee-growing village sitting
800m to 1200m above sea level. To get to Dewen, switch to County Rd 31 (northbound)
before you reach the police station (if you're going downhill). From this turn-off, it's just
a 6km drive to the village.
Sleeping & Eating
Homestays can be found in Sandimen and Wutai at around NT$1200 for a double room.
Noisy karaoke restaurants straddle Hwy 24; their speciality is barbecued pork (
kǎo shān-
zhūròu
). In Shuimen, eateries are concentrated on the section of Chenggong Rd near
Shuimen Bridge.
Rinari Village
HOMESTAY $
(Lǐnàlǐ Yǒngjiǔwū; 799 7198, 0925-043 288;
ngedre_druluan@yahoo.com.tw
;
Majia County, per
person incl breakfast NT$600)
Rinari is a resettlement of three Paiwan and Rukai villages
destroyed by Typhoon Morakot. To help villagers find new livelihoods, 40 families re-
ceived hospitality training and converted their new homes into homestays. The contact
person for this initiative is Li Jinlong. He doesn't speak English but he can get someone
to translate English emails for him. Advance bookings are a must.
All two-storey houses are brand new and look alike. Usually the hosts live on the
ground floor while guests stay on the 2nd floor. Dinner is an extra NT$350. Rooms are
basic but clean.
