Post through the courtesy of The China Post by searching at the Google.com:Wulai ---one of northern Taiwan's most popular tourist destinations
By William C. Pao The China Post
Wulai is located in the mountains about 25 kilometers south of Taipei City. For centuries the mountain township was a settlement of the Atayal aboriginal tribe, one of the 12 aboriginal tribes of Taiwan. Today it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Taiwan. Restaurants, recreational parks, aboriginal souvenir shops and hot spring resorts in the area draw large crowds of local and overseas tourists every day, especially during weekends.
Historical records and tribal folklore suggest that the Atayal began to migrate northward from their ancestral home of Pinsebukan -- roughly today's Renai Township, Nantou County -- after it became overcrowded. They began to settle in what is Wulai today -- a large area along Nanshih River in northern Taiwan -- during the reign of Emperor Dao Guang of the Cing Dynasty, in the first half of the 1800s.
At one point the Atayal migrated further north to what is today Sindian City, Taipei County. They retreated to the Wulai and Jhongjhih areas after an increasing number of the Han mainland Chinese occupied Sindian. The Atayal since then established nine related tribes in Wulai.
During the Japanese occupation, Wulai was designated as an aboriginal village under Taipei County and was divided into five sub-tribes -- Wulai, Tongbi, Nasiao, Ayu and Limaoan -- each headed by a tribal head. In 1946, the year after Taiwan restoration, Wulai was officially designated a township, with an area of 321 square kilometers, under Taipei County, and was divided into five villages -- Wulai, Sinsian, Jhongjhih, Siaoyi and Fushan -- which have remained till this day. The Township Office of Wulai was also established.
Tourist and scenic spots in Greater Wulai include Neidong (Inner Cave) Recreation Park and Wuchongsi Fall, both in Sinsian Village. Yet Wulai Village is definitely the best-known tourist attraction at Wulai. During weekends, Highway 9A leading up to Wulai Village sees heavy traffic volume, with crowds of local and international visitors -- notably from Japan -- packing the streets of the village.
Taking a walk along the Old Street of the village is a must for first-time visitors to Wulai. It is pretty much a narrow alleyway full of gift shops, food vendors and hot spring hotels. Atayal-themed souvenir stores selling items such as clothes, crafts, decorations and woodcarving objects are frequented by multitudes of shoppers looking for something to take home to remember their visits to Wulai. Renowned traditional Taiwanese and Atayal foods and snacks -- including stir-fried rice noodles, meatball soup and "muaji," or sticky rice dumplings -- can be found at food vendors and restaurants, where visitors may take a break from all the walking they have done and grab a bite to eat.
Wulai is also home to plenty of hot springs. In fact, the name "Wulai" was derived from the Atayal word of "Urai," which means hot spring. The place has become a major destination for hot spring lovers in Taiwan, with dozens of large and small hot spring facilities offering visitors a place to stay overnight or take one-hour hot spring baths.
The Old Street leads to Lansheng Bridge over the Nanshih River. After crossing the bridge one will come to a flight of stairs that lead to one of the most famous Wulai attractions -- the Wulai tramway, a 1.6-kilometer rail linking Lansheng Bridge and the Wulai waterfall. The trams are light vehicles that were once manually operated. They were used to carry timber and occasionally to transport tourists. Thanks to booming tourism, the trams officially began to carry passengers in 1963. Today, Wulai trams are among the dwindling few of such vehicles left in Taiwan.
For those who wish to walk to the waterfall, they may do so on a hiking trail that runs parallel to the railway.
The platform in front of the Yun Sian Park sky tram station is one of the two best spots for viewing the Wulai waterfall. The other spot is inside the sky tram. Restaurants, souvenir shops and many Atayal statues are in the sky tram station area. One of the best-known statues is that of an Atayal warrior, reminding visitors of the fighting spirit of the tribe. Visitors looking for a great hiking experience in the mountains must visit the mountain resort of Yun Sian.
Wulai is about 17 kilometers south of Sindian. Those interested in visiting Wulai should take Route 9A, which branches off from Route 9, the Taipei-Yilan Highway. The winding road running in the mountains will take visitors all the way up to Wulai Village. Several bus companies operate routes to Wulai. The Taiwan Tour Bus program operated by the Tourism Bureau has a Wulai line that leaves from Songshan Airport, Taipei Railway Station and major hotels in Taipei.
[2004/11/11]
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