Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park

The park covers around eighty hectares of hillside at Sandimen and holds full-scale reconstructions of traditional buildings from the recognised indigenous peoples of Taiwan, grouped by nation: Paiwan and Rukai slate houses, Amis and Puyuma structures, Tao boats and workshops. There are craft demonstrations, a museum and daily dance performances in an open-air theatre. It is state-run and interpretive rather than a living community.

What you actually see

• The building reconstructions - full-scale traditional houses grouped by people.
• The dance performances - daily shows in the open-air theatre.
• The craft workshops - weaving, carving and beadwork demonstrated on site.
• The museum - collections and interpretation covering all the recognised peoples.

When to go

October to April is the most comfortable. Performances run to a daily schedule worth checking. The park closes on Mondays.

Honest expectations

It is a state interpretive park, not a living village, and the performances are staged. The site is large and hilly with a lot of walking; a shuttle runs. Labelling is largely in Mandarin.

Nearby

Wutai is northeast up the mountain road, and Pingtung city is southwest.