The Tao people (also known as Yami) are celebrated for their masterfully crafted cinedkeran boats. A traditional cinedkeran is assembled from 21 to 27 wooden planks, with geometric carvings on the hull. Each year before the flying fish season, the Mavanuo ceremony is held — the most important ocean cultural ritual of the Tao people. Communities such as Yuren and Langdao on Orchid Island still preserve the complete boat-building and fishing traditions.
Highlights of Cinedkeran Boat Culture
Orchid Island lies in the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Taitung County and is the traditional territory of the Tao people (officially referred to as Yami). Six communities are distributed around the island's perimeter. The cinedkeran (tatala) is the core of Tao ocean culture, hand-crafted from natural woods such as Taiwan mastic (longan wood). Large cinedkeran can seat 8 to 10 people; the boat-building craft is passed down orally from master to apprentice, and a large vessel can take months to complete.
Each year around March to April, before the flying fish season, individual communities hold the Mavanuo ceremony. Tribal members dress in traditional loincloths and ceremonial hats, launch the decorated cinedkeran into the water, and chant ritual songs along the shore to invite the flying fish to come. Flying fish are a crucial protein source for the Tao, and there are strict traditional rules governing how they are caught, processed, and eaten. When visiting Orchid Island, please observe Tao customs: do not enter the boat house (boat shelter) without invitation, do not touch or photograph the cinedkeran without permission, and respect the privacy and traditional territory of tribal members. To reach Orchid Island you must take a ferry or small plane; check official sources for schedules, monitor weather-related disruptions, and always confirm conditions before traveling.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there & time
- From Fugang Fishing Harbor in Taitung, take a ferry (about 2 to 2.5 hours) or a small plane from Taitung Airport (about 25 minutes). Check ferry company or Da'an Airlines websites for schedules and tickets; services may be suspended in bad weather. It is strongly advisable to build flexibility into your travel days.
- Accommodation and dining options on Orchid Island are limited. During the peak season (July to August), book rooms one to two months or more in advance — plan early.
Nearby connections
- The Orchid Island Tianchi Lake hike requires a full day; it can be scheduled separately from cinedkeran culture visits, or the two can be combined in a 2–3 day island loop itinerary.
- The nuclear waste storage facility issue is an important contemporary political concern for Orchid Island; understanding the background helps visitors gain a more complete picture of the challenges facing the Tao people.
Sources: Council of Indigenous Peoples, Tao cultural materials; Orchid Island Tribal Cultural Foundation. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.