East Rift Valley National Scenic Area

A 40-minute drive from downtown Taitung, there is a magnificent forest in mountainous Dulan, south of the Costal Range in eastern Taiwan. It is the most well-conserved mid and low altitude mixed species forest (Taiwan Phoebe and Banyan) in Taiwan.

In the forest, some indigenous people established a tribe called Luanshan some years ago. These people used to live in Neibenlu (1,000-1,200 meters above the sea level), but was forced to relocate to this site during the Japanese Rule. The Bununs called Lushan “Sazasa,” meaning “a place where sugar canes grow tall, animals jump about, and people live well.”

Today, the residents have all moved away, but the tribal site remains. Thus it was turned into an open-air forest museum with no fences, buildings or electricity at all, so that the surrounding forest may be kept. This makes museum look like a scene from the film Avatar.

Museum director Aliman and his tribal friends have been systematically protecting the forests, especially the precious giant Banyan trees. They hold environment protection and culture reconstruction educational activities, cross-tribal events, tribal stays, outdoor spiritual workshops and ecological tours, so as to connect more with the public and bring their attention to forest conservation.

Over the last few years, the museum has become a favorite of both domestic and international visitors coming to the East Rift Valley. It was also selected to be a scene of CZ12: Chinese Zodiac, a film starring internationally renowned actor Jackie Chan in 2011.

Come and feel its beauty!

Reservations must be made.
There are no road signs leading to the museum, and traffic is controlled. Please call director Aliman at 0911-154806 ,
register on the website http://www.forestculturemuseum.com.tw/
or reserve through sazasa2003@yahoo.com.tw.