Mountainside Wonderland: Chashan Indigenous Village

Located in the far south of Alishan Township in Chiayi County, Cayamavana (Chashan) Village is known for its many hufu (traditional pavilions). These pavilions are where the villagers share the spoils of hunting trips and also share happiness; they are the most distinctive feature of the village. In Cayamavana, not only can visitors experience the sharing culture of the Tsou tribe, they can also have cultural experiences such as archery, pounding rice cake, and blowing a bird whistle, as well as enjoy an indigenous-style feast made by the village women using local ingredients.

Chashan is inhabited by three ethnic groups, namely members of the Tsou and the Bunun indigenous tribes and Han Chinese. The spirit of the hufu sharing culture allows them to coexist in harmony. The Tsou call the village cayamavana, meaning “plain on the mountainside.” Thanks to the implementation of the Tourism Environment Building Plan by the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration the public environment and businesses of the village have been improved and optimized in recent years, adding further character to this mountainside wonderland.

Led by a local guide, a tour of the village begins with a visit to hufus and an art corridor. The young and lively guide will explain how to identity a hufu owner by its decorations – shell patterns means the owner is from the Tsou tribe, diamond patterns means Bunun, and bamboo hats means Han Chinese. Hufu aren’t just meeting places, they are also where animals caught on hunting trips and crops are shared. Residents often hang fruit on their hufu for sharing; after taking some don’t forget to say “aveoveoyu” (a greeting meaning “thank you” and “I’m happy” in the Tsou language). As well as learning how to make peach bird whistles DIY style, visitors can also experience making a welcome cannon from a bamboo tube, dance with the indigenous residents, pound rice cake, and shoot a bow. Of course, trying originalflavor rice wine should also not be missed!

The names of Cayamavana Feast dishes are interesting and reflect the humor of indigenous people. For example Mountainside – South Village – Plain is a yellow papaya salad and green vegetable fern covered with red dragon fruit salad that symbolizes the harmonious coexistence of the Tsou, Bunun, and Han of Chashan Village. After eating, Tsou style rice balls of the kind carried as a bento “lunchbox” when hunting or working in the fields can be made DIY style by visitors. Steamed rice, pork, and Japanese salted fish are wrapped in banana leaves, tied with string, and can then be attached to the waist before heading to the banana plantation for a farming experience.

The banana plantation is in Yabiyana Village. Before helping to clean up the plantation under the guidance of the owner, visitors must don the correct attire and pick up the tools. After the farming experience, roast bananas can be enjoyed. The bananas are served on banana leaf; to reduce the impact on the environment, after the bananas are devoured the leaves are discarded in the plantation to naturally decompose and provide nutrients for the soil.