East Rift Valley National Scenic Area

Taibalang Settlement is located east of Guangfu Township, and is adjacent to the Guangfu River, the Jianong River and Mataian Settlement. The settlement name of "Taibalang" means "crab" in the Ami language, and is named after the many crabs found in the nearby rivers.


Tradition has it that the ancestors of residents of Taibalang Settlement came from Fengbin Township in the Maogong Mountain area, and migrated to Taibalang under the instructions of the sky god. There still is a "Taibalang Place of Origin Memorial Stele" and a watch tower located in the mountains to the east of the Taibalang Settlement that provide a record of this settlement's ancient culture. In August of every year, during Taibalang Settlement's grand yearly sacrifice, the tribal members will assemble at the place of origin to keep watch, and hold a ritual to inform the ancestral spirits that the sacrificial ceremony is about to start.


The Ami people living in Taibalang Settlement have preserved many cultural and historical relics representative of their culture. Of these, the most distinct are the many woodcarvings. On the wooden pillars or walls of the traditional Ami homes, all kinds of totems would be carved. The totem carvings of Taibalang Settlement include their own representative totem, the crab, and many different myths and legends, as well as slices of life, including hunting, fishing, sacrificial rites, and dance activities. These primitive, rough style carvings, regardless of whether they are old historical relics or modern day products, are the most common cultural symbol of Taibalang Settlement, and can be seen in the village everywhere. In recent years, woodcarving has been promoted at Taibalang School. The children can learn traditional myths and life experiences from the village elders, and discover the stories behind these woodcarvings, most of which are displayed at the school. This creates an ideal blend of traditional and modern life.


If you wish to learn more about the traditional culture of the Ami Tribe, you can visit various displays at the Taibalang Culture Center, the Ami Tribe Cultural and Historical Relics Display, the Ladulun Cultural and Historical Relics Square, etc. All kinds of Ami relics are displayed here, including traditional farming tools, pottery, swords and spears, wine vessels, and traditional clothing. There are also bamboo arrow shafts, thatched grass and yellow rattan hides, miniature traditional thatched homes, and old wells and slab stones left by the early ancestors of the Ami people, allowing one to have a glimpse into their history and culture.