Taoyuan Village lies in the upper reaches of the Luye River in Yanping Township, at an elevation of around 600 meters. It is one of the most concentrated Bunun communities in Taitung County. The village preserves traditional seasonal rituals including the Ear-Shooting Festival and the Harvest Festival, and indigenous language instruction continues within the community. It is a key site for deepening one's understanding of Bunun mountain culture.
Highlights of the Bunun Taoyuan Tribe
Yanping Township is the primary Bunun settlement area within Taitung County. Taoyuan Village sits in the mountain terrain of the upper Luye River, surrounded by peaks on all sides, with the village layout following the contours of the hillside. The elevation of around 600 meters gives this area a cooler climate than the lowlands. Agriculture centers on millet, dry rice, and mountain vegetables; traditional crops are still cultivated in the village fields today.
The Bunun are world-renowned for their polyphonic choral singing known as pasibutbut, the Prayer for Millet Abundance. Their cultural core revolves around agricultural and hunting rituals. The Ear-Shooting Festival (Malahtangia) is the most important annual ceremony, typically held in April, with archery rites performed to pray for a successful hunt. The community also actively promotes indigenous language preservation courses to support intergenerational cultural transmission. Please contact the village in advance before visiting, respect private land and ceremonial spaces, and do not enter ceremonial grounds without an invitation.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there & time
- From Taitung City, head north along Provincial Highway 9 to Luye, then turn onto the Yanping Township road up the mountain — the full journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Driving is recommended.
- For road conditions and traffic control during tribal ritual periods, check with the Yanping Township Office in advance and do not enter restricted areas without permission.
Nearby connections
- Luanshan Forest Museum in Yanping Township is also a Bunun cultural experience site and can be combined into the same itinerary.
- Heading back down, you can connect to Provincial Highway 9 toward the Luye Highland Hot Air Balloon Field, or continue north to the Chishang and Guanshan rift valley agricultural scenery.
Sources: Yanping Township Office; Council of Indigenous Peoples, Bunun cultural materials. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.