Peleng’s Hunting Lodge Cultural & Ecological Tribe welcomes you~
- 5 hours (9:00-14:00)
- No season restriction
Taromak community is the sole Rukai settlement in Taitung County. During the annual July Harvest Festival, they will construct the tallest bamboo swing among all the tribal communities in Taiwan. Surrounded by nature and diverse ecosystems, you can follow hunters to gather and learn about various wild vegetables. Additionally, in the meals, you can actually taste the plants experienced along the journey using all five senses.
Introduction
Blessing Ceremony - Guardian Deity monument
This stone slab symbolizes Taromak's guardian deity, Daagaagaala, and the borders. In the past, each tribe was its own nation. Here, we greet the ancestral spirits, offer libations, present betel nuts, and pray for peace.
Tribal Tour
During the tribal tour, following in the footsteps of Peleng, we delve into the history of the tribe, understanding its past glory and present changes. Along the way, we pass by the Fire Memorial Pavilion, Story Wall, Chief's House, and Ancestral Shrine, witnessing the depth of humor, art, and culture in Taromak.
Cultural Square
Also known as the Youth Square, historically, boys aged 12 and above would undergo cultural rites such as battles and hunting here. Now, it's used for the community's harvest festivals and building the famous swings. In July each year, they construct the tallest bamboo swing in Taiwan, approximately eight stories high, following traditional methods by manual construction.
Hunter’s Lodge
Hunter’s Lodge is where hunters process their prey. Larger prey often require smoking for preservation and weight reduction. Here, Bago will introduce you to various edible wild vegetables, medicinal plants, thirst-quenching and hangover-curing plants, as well as fishing and hunting plants. While enjoying the forest, you can learn abundant ecological knowledge. You can also enter tree hollows over a hundred years old, feeling embraced by the trees.
Air-Raid Shelter
Due to its unique terrain, Taromak was easily defended in the past. During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese military established aircraft maintenance facilities here. There are over 30 natural air-raid shelters carved out by the military and the tribe, now perfect habitats for six native bat species in Taiwan. Let's explore these mysterious caves together, holding our breath!
Rukai traditional Cuisine
Icibi cooking, a traditional method in Taromak, involves stacking firewood on a stone slab, heating it, placing ingredients, and covering them with soil. This traps the sweet flavors of the ingredients and imparts the aroma of the firewood. Additionally, there are many home-style dishes presented using local ingredients and unique spices. You'll also find the wild vegetables seen in Xiaoliaoliao on the dining table!"
