Bulowan Recreation Area

Bulowan is a settlement where the Atayal aboriginal tribe originally lived. The area is surrounded by mountains, and during festive occasions, the powerful singing of the tribespeople resonates among the valleys. Two or three hundred years ago, the Atayal tribe decided to relocate, and some tribespeople left their original homes in upstream Chuoshui River and crossed over the Central Mountain Range to settle by the Liwu River and Mukwa River in Hualien. Bulowan was the settlement which the aboriginals of Taroko had built near the Liwu River. The settlement was divided into the upper and lower Bulowan, and was led by two ruling clans. It was not until the Taroko Gorge Incident in 1914, and the Wushe Incident in 1930, that the Taroko aboriginals were forced by the Japanese to move out of the gorge and into flatland areas. Bulowan, which is 370 meters above sea level, has a temperature that remains at an average of 21.5 degreed Celsius all year long.

Bulowan is a double-layered river steppe, with Mt Ta standing on its south, and the Liwu River flowing on its north. It has abundant natural biological resources, which include varieties of tropical monsoon rainforest plants and many animal species. The place is ideal for conducting natural observation activities.

The Bulowan Administration Station in Taroko Gorge National Park spent years cultivating the Formosan Wild Lily. Now a sea of wild lilies bloom each year, from March to May. The lily fields near the Bulowan Tourist Center are a beautiful sight, which continually amazes and attracts visitors.

Bulowan is divided into upper and lower platform areas, and the most singular sight in the scenic walkway is the upper platform area. When the hanging tendrils of the banyan trees come into contact with the earth, it automatically curls around objects, creating the curious scene of vines embracing stones.

The Atayal Cutural Center is a specially designed tourist area in Bulowan. It has an administration center, an Atayal culture exhibition area, a multimedia presentation center, and a circular theater. In the exhibition area, there are elderly Atayals demonstrating how they weave cloth and rushes in the traditional method. There are also 20 or so bamboo huts built in the Atayal style, where visitors may stay overnight.