One of Taiwan’s least populated areas, Maolin District lies south of the Central Mountain Range between Tainan City and Taitung County. It is renowned for its natural wonders and Indigenous villages where ancient traditions hold strong. Maolin District is home to the Rukai people, who believe clouded leopards and hundred pace snakes to be the spiritual embodiment of their ancestors.
Things to do in Maolin District
Nestled in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range is the Maolin National Scenic Area, which encompasses rugged landscapes, hot springs and picturesque cascades. Visit between November and March to witness a wildlife spectacle as thousands of purple crow butterflies arrive for the winter months. Don’t miss the Meiyagu Falls, which tumbles down a sheer cliff face.
Maolin District is home to one of the oldest Indigenous settlements in Taiwan, the village of Duona, which was established by the Rukai people. Here, you’ll find a large collection of slate houses, with the buildings designed to be warm in winter and cool in summer. You can shop for traditional handicrafts or witness a sacrificial head platform on the Warrior’s Trail.
For magnificent views across Maolin District and the Zhuokou River, climb to the Shetoushan Viewpoint, which is a guardian mountain for the Rukai people. Its name translates as “snakehead” and is associated with a local folk legend about a family of hundred pacer snakes hunting for food. Nearby is the impressive Douna Suspension Bridge, which is notable for the eagle art installation at one end.
Getting around Maolin District
Maolin District is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Asia. Tainan City is just under two hours away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Maolin District and exploring the region’s natural attractions.