Sun Moon Lake is not just a scenic landmark but also an important arena where the Thao indigenous people and Han Chinese immigrants have blended their cultures. The cultural villages here carry four centuries of ethnic migration history, from the traditional Thao tribe in Ita Thao to the Hakka settlement in Dehua Village—each village has its own cultural DNA.
Living Fossils of Thao Culture
Ita Thao is the most complete Thao cultural settlement and the most representative indigenous cultural village in the Sun Moon Lake area. This is not a fabricated cultural village built for tourism, but a real tribe where generations of people have lived. With only approximately 800 people, the Thao are Taiwan's smallest indigenous group, with about 300 residing in Ita Thao—the core of Thao culture. The Thao Cultural Museum in the tribe showcases traditional fishing and hunting culture, particularly the "four-handed net" fishing technique and canoe-making craftsmanship. In recent years, due to the decrease in Chinese tourists, the tribe has shifted toward in-depth cultural experiences, offering Thao language lessons and traditional craft workshops, which has actually strengthened cultural preservation.
Recommended Cultural Villages
Ita Thao Tribe is the must-visit destination. The main street of the tribe, Kebalan Old Street, retains traditional Thao architectural styles, with wooden stilt houses built along the lake. The Thao Cultural Museum houses valuable ancestral spirit baskets and traditional costumes, with tribe members performing the pounding sound demonstrations. The White Deer legend here is central to the Thao migration story; elders often tell tribal history in front of the White Deer sculpture in the tribe square. The "Chasing Deer Market" in the village sells authentic Thao handmade crafts—not mainland-made tourist souvenirs.
Dehua Village (Sun Moon Village) showcases the profound heritage of Hakka immigrant culture. This settlement was established during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong period and was the first stop for Han Chinese immigrants in Sun Moon Lake. The former site of the Ita Thao Elementary School now serves as a cultural exhibition center, documenting the interactions between Hakka people and the Thao. The traditional three-compartment courtyard buildings in Dehua Village are well-preserved, with the Li Residence and Chen Residence designated as county-level historic sites. The village's Earth God temple combines Hakka and Thao祭祀 elements, serving as a concrete symbol of ethnic integration.
Toushe Cultural Village is famous for "dancing soil"—it is Taiwan's only living basin. The Toushe Grandma's Loofah Industrial Cooperative preserves traditional agricultural culture, where visitors can experience harvesting loofah on the bouncy land. The village retains a complete rural settlement layout, with the Sanyuan Temple as the信仰 center; the annual Mazu procession during the third lunar month is a major village event.
Xiangshan Creative Village represents a new model for modern cultural villages. The area around the Xiangshan Administrative Center gathers numerous creative studios, mainly lake-view cafes and handmade craft workshops. Many returning youth and new residents have been attracted here, forming a new cultural community. The Paper Dome New Hometown Learning Park creates an international cultural exchange platform using a paper church relocated from Kobe.
Shuishe Tribe is a model for balanced development between tourism and cultural preservation. Originally a Thao settlement, it became a focus of tourism development during the Japanese colonial period. Now the tribe and tourism operators jointly manage the area, maintaining traditional culture while developing quality tourism. The "Miniature Museum" in the tribe displays scaled Thao cultural scenes, offering the best introduction to understanding the Thao way of life.
Practical Information
Transportation: Take National Highway 6 to Puli, then switch to Provincial Highway 21, or board Nantou Bus Route 6670 to reach various villages. Ita Thao has a dedicated parking lot, NT$50 per visit on weekends. Dehua Village and Toushe are better visited by car, as public transportation is less convenient.
Admission Fees: All villages are free to visit; Thao Cultural Museum ticket is NT$50; village guide services range from NT$200-500. Paper Dome requires advance booking, with an admission fee of NT$100.
Operating Hours: Ita Thao tribe is open all day; the cultural museum is open 9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays). Toushe loofah experiences require advance booking; Dehua Village historic sites are not open for interior visits on weekdays.
Travel Tips
Please respect local culture when visiting indigenous tribes; take a brief pause at the entrance before entering the tribe as a sign of respect. The Thao people deeply cherish their language and culture—learning a few simple Thao greetings will make interactions warmer. "Makor" means thank you. The best time to experience the Toushe living basin is between 8-10 AM, when the soil has the best bounce. Each village has local snacks, but operating hours are not fixed—it's recommended to inquire in advance. Due to cross-strait relations, mainland tourist groups have decreased in recent years, making now the perfect time for in-depth experiences at various cultural villages. Avoiding the crowds allows you to truly feel the rhythm of tribal life.
