The Lili River Ecological Trail is a hiking route along the Lili River in Chunri Township, Pingtung, where the water runs clear with Varicorhinus barbatulus darting among the gravel shallows and the secondary forest on both banks remains well preserved. The trail's end lies near the Old Jijia Tribe, situated at an elevation of 570 meters with nearly 50 intact stone-slab houses — the most completely preserved Paiwan stone-slab house settlement remaining in Taiwan, registered as a Pingtung County settlement-type cultural heritage site in 2010.
The Old Jijia Tribe (tjuvecekadan) near the trail's end sits at an elevation of 570 meters, in a valley at the foot of Kaviyangan (Mount Shikejian), a sacred mountain of the Paiwan people. The settlement once had about 75 stone-slab houses at its peak and retains nearly 50 intact houses today, making it the most completely preserved indigenous stone-slab house settlement remaining in Taiwan. Residents were forcibly relocated to a site along the Lili River in 1958, and after a 1972 typhoon (Typhoon Litai) damaged that settlement, they relocated again to today's Jijia Village beside Lili Elementary School — leaving Old Jijia abandoned for more than 40 years. It was registered as a Pingtung County settlement-type cultural heritage site in 2010 and listed among Taiwan's World Heritage potential sites in 2013.
Highlights of the Chunri Lili River Ecological Trail
The Lili River belongs to the Laonong River system; the valley terrain within Chunri Township is relatively pristine. The representative fish species is the Varicorhinus barbatulus (Taiwan stone barbel), which requires clear, cool-temperature streams to survive — its presence is itself an indicator of healthy water quality. The Paiwan Jijia Tribe of Chunri Township is situated in the upper valley, and the stone-slab house settlement layout remains recognizable today.
Trail conditions vary by season and maintenance; some sections require wading across the stream, so appropriate footwear is essential. The Jijia stone-slab house settlement is a cultural heritage site. Please contact the tribe before visiting to confirm whether it is open, follow tribal etiquette, and do not enter dwellings or touch building components without permission.
How to Make the Most of It
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Entirely by private vehicle. Take Provincial Highway 1 to County Road 185 into Chunri Township. On mountain roads, watch for road width and falling rocks.
- No direct public transport. Plan your own vehicle; confirm road conditions and trail access status before departure.
- Start in the morning and allow ample time to explore both the trail and the tribe; descend before dusk.
Nearby Connections
- The Gulou Tribe of Laiyi Township is not far from Chunri; plan a southern Pingtung Paiwan settlement circuit.
- The coastal scenery of Fangshan Zhongxiao Bridge is to the south — combine a mountain trail with a coastal highway for a cross-terrain half-day route.
Sources: Chunri Township Office; Pingtung County Government trail information; facts provided by context. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is special about the Jijia Tribe near the trail's end?
The nearby Old Jijia Tribe sits at 570 meters elevation and retains nearly 50 intact stone-slab houses, making it the most completely preserved Paiwan stone-slab house settlement remaining in Taiwan.
Why was Old Jijia Tribe abandoned?
Residents were forcibly relocated to a site along the Lili River in 1958, and after a 1972 typhoon damaged that settlement, they moved again to today's Jijia Village, leaving Old Jijia abandoned for more than 40 years.
Does Old Jijia Tribe have official heritage status?
Yes, it was registered as a Pingtung County settlement-type cultural heritage site in 2010 and listed among Taiwan's World Heritage potential sites in 2013.
Sources
- 老七佳部落 - 維基百科 — 海拔、石板屋數量、1958與1972年遷村沿革、文化資產登錄年份
- 排灣族及魯凱族石板屋聚落 - 臺灣世界遺產潛力點 - 文化資產局 — 世界遺產潛力點官方認定資料