Mudan Reservoir

Mudan Reservoir is a dam in Mudan Township, Pingtung County, that supplies water to the Hengchun Peninsula; it stands 65 meters high and 445.6 meters long, drawing mainly from the Rurong Creek and Mudan Creek tributaries of the upper Sichong River, and became operational in 1995. The surrounding area overlaps with the settlement history of the Paiwan Shimen community and the historical battlefield of the 1874 Mudan Incident, giving the site considerable cultural depth.

Mudan Reservoir's dam stands 65 meters high and 445.6 meters long; construction began in July 1988 and it became operational in May 1995, drawing primarily from the Rurong Creek and Mudan Creek tributaries of the upper Sichong River, with a catchment area of about 69.2 square kilometers.

What to see at Mudan Reservoir

The Mudan Reservoir dam spans the upper reaches of Shimen Creek, with a storage capacity of approximately 31 million cubic meters. Looking down from the dam crest, the reservoir is surrounded by green hills and the water color shifts between deep blue and emerald green depending on the weather. The reservoir management zone has displays explaining the water project and surrounding ecology, but general visitor access to the dam structure is controlled — check the current opening regulations.

Nearby, the Shimen Ancient Battlefield related to the Mudan Incident is an important site in Qing-era Taiwan history. In 1874, Japan used the killing of Ryukyuan fishermen by indigenous people as a pretext to send troops into southern Taiwan; the Paiwan people set up an ambush in the Shimen terrain and resisted. This engagement became Japan's first overseas military expedition. The battlefield has a commemorative monument, and visiting alongside Paiwan cultural history helps illuminate this complex episode involving indigenous peoples, Han Chinese, and Japanese.

How to make the most of your visit

Practical information

Source: Southern Region Water Resources Office, Cultural Heritage Bureau of the Ministry of Culture (Mudan Incident historical materials). Please respect the wishes of local residents when visiting indigenous communities. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.