Located near the southern tip of Taiwan is Mudan Township, a mountainous community that is home to the indigenous Paiwan people. Marked by an immense dam and dotted with hot springs, it’s also the site of a battlefield that played a pivotal role in Taiwanese history.
Things to do in Mudan Township
Framed by Bojugu Mountain is the Dongyuan Wetland, which provides an important habitat for several rare and endangered species. It was created on the site of an abandoned rice farm following the construction of the Mudan Dam and is now a designated conservation area. If you’re lucky, you may get to spot crested serpent eagles, ospreys and spotted scops owls.
For sweeping views across Mudan Township, follow the 45-minute hiking trail that leads to the Shinmen Historical Battlefield, which was the site of the Mudan Incident in 1871. It takes its name from the gate-like entrance created by the Shimen and Wuzhongxi mountains. The site comprises an old military building and a memorial honouring the Ryukyu Kingdom sailors who were killed here, which led to the annexation of the Ryukyu Islands by Japan.
Mudan Township is also home to the Gaoshi Shrine, a former Shinto house of worship that was established in 1939 under Japanese rule. Following a typhoon, it was rebuilt in 2015 and now stands as a memorial to the Paiwan people who lost their lives during World War II. Step through the white torii that marks the entrance to the shrine, which is constructed from hinoki cypress wood.
Getting around Mudan Township
Mudan Township is a 40-minute drive from Hengchun and around two hours from Kaohsiung City. Kaohsiung International Airport is also two hours away and has flights to destinations across Asia. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to and around Mudan Township.