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  4. Tales of the Mudan Incident: A New Perspective on the Hengchun Region, and a Journey through History and Culture

Tales of the Mudan Incident: A New Perspective on the Hengchun Region, and a Journey through History and Culture

This year is the 146th anniversary of the Mudan Incident. Kenting National Park Headquarters has planned a journey through history and culture in the form of the “Tales of the Mudan Incident”, which is an outing activity based on the historical Mudan Incident. The planned route is closely related to the history of Taiwan as it connects various historical sites around the area. The goal of the event is to enhance the public's knowledge on the history of the area through an interesting local guided tour.

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“Tales of the Mudan Incident” event picture.

According to historical records, on November 8, 1871, the Ryukyuan ship “Yambaru” was shipwrecked near Bayao Bay on the east coast of Taiwan. Sixty-six people came ashore and entered the indigenous tribal area of Kuskus (now the Gaoshi Village of Mudan Township) by mistake, resulting in 54 of them being killed. The remaining 12 survivors were rescued by the Hakka settlement, Poliac, and sent back to Ryukyu by the Qing government. Three years later, in 1874, Japan sent troops on a punitive expedition to Taiwan.

Today, we can see that the Mudan Incident resulted in two historical events. Firstly, it forced the Qing government to adjust its policy on how it ruled Taiwan. Secondly, Japan used it as a dry run for future southward advances. China and Japan signed the Treaty of Beijing, and China recognized Japan’s deployment of troops to Taiwan as a “righteous act to protect the people”, and paid reparations along with approximately 500,000 taels in construction costs for the Japanese army in Longkiau.

In retrospect, it is clear that the Mudan Incident encompassed exchanges and conflicts between different cultures, and bears strong historical significance regarding the changes in the Qing government’s attitude towards Taiwan. Hengchun Old Town has a history of over a hundred years and is also home to the best preserved ancient city wall in Taiwan.

On the day of the activity, participants will depart from Hengchun Old Town and visit the Tomb of the Fifty-Four Ryukyuan Subjects of Great Japan, Shimen Historic Battlefield, Guishan, and the Mudan Incident Memorial Monument.

Even if you can’t join this activity on that day, you can still plan subsequent trips to experience this historic event, and discover new historical perspectives for your travels.

 Fifty-Four Ryukyuan Subjects of Great Japan

Located in Tongpu Village, Checheng Township, Pingtung County, this is the tomb where the 54 Ryukyuan victims of the Bayao Bay Incident were buried, serving as a place of mourning for their descendants.

 Shimen Historic Battlefield

Shimen is the access point to Mudan Township, located on the eastern side of Checheng Township and Sichong River. It lies between the cliffs of the 370-meter-high Mount Shimu and the 450-meter-high Mount Wuchongsi. During the Mudan Incident, this is where the indigenous people defended their homes against the Japanese troops, suffering heavy casualties.

 Guishan

Located north of the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Checheng Township, Pintung County, the terrain of Guishan is mainly formed of coral reefs and rocks, with an elevation of about 72 meters. It is a small hill on the coast overlooking the Sichong River and Baoli River, and it was the location of the start of the Mudan Incident. After the Japanese invaded Taiwan from Sheliao, they used Guishan as a base camp, therefore, this location is of great historical significance.

 Mudan Incident Memorial Monument

When the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium was built in 1996, a monument was set up to describe and commemorate the Mudan incident.

Hengchun Old Town North gate.
Hengchun Old Town North gate.
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Shimen Historic Battlefield.
“Tales of the Mudan Incident” event five pictures. >alt-Tales of the Mudan Incident: A New Perspective on the Hengchun Region, and a Journey through History and Culture-3alt-issue7
“Tales of the Mudan Incident”event pictures.

Updated：


Kenting

Kenting

Accommodation in Kenting   (Last Updated: 2020-11-19 /Published: 2009-08-12 )

Please read articles in our website for more information about accommodation in Kenting National Park.


HotelTelFaxAddress
Chateau beach resort886-7-2010088886-7-2010077No.451, Kending Rd., Hengchun Township, Pingtung County 946, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Yoho Spa ＆Resorts886-8-8869999886-8-8869998No.27-8, Wna-Li Road , Heag Chun Chen, PinTung
Kenting House886-8-8861371 ~ 5886-8-8861377No.101,Gong Yuan Road, Kenting Village, Hengchun Town, Pingtung Hsieng, 946, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Caesar Park Hotel & Resorts886-8-8861888886-2-28613885No.6 Kenting Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung Hsieng, 94644, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Howard Hotel‧Resorts‧Suites886-8-8862323886-8-8862359No2, Kenting Road, Hengchun Town, Pingtung Hsien,Taiwan 946, R.O.C.
The Swan lake Resort Hotel SPA886-8-8891234886-8-8898800No.500, Nanwan Rd., Hengchun Township, Pingtung County 946, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Kenting Chantilly Beach Resort886-8-8861203886-8-8861205No.451,Kenting Road, Hengchun Town, Pingung Hsieng, Taiwan 946, R.O.C.


Travel Guide (Last Updated: 2018-09-18/Published: 2009-08-12)

Half-day Trip

Forest and Seashore Tour

1. Visitor Center → 2. Kenting Forest Recreation Area﹙or Sheding Nature Park﹚→ 3. Chuanfan Rock → 4. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 5. Longpan Park → 6. Fongchueisha → 7. Jialeshuei → Returning home on the Provincial Highway (takes around four and half hours)

half day trip
Driving Trip

1. Visitor Center → 2. Cingwashih (Frog Rock) and Chuanfan Rock → 3. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 4. Longpan Park → 5. Eluanbi Lighthouse → 6. South Bay→ 7. Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition → 8. Longluan Lake Nature Center → 9. Maobitou Park → Returning home on the West Coastal Highway (takes around 4 and half hours)

driving trip
West Coast Trip

1. Visitor Center → 2. South Bay → 3. Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition → 4. Longluan Lake Nature Center → 5. Houbihu Yacht Harbor → 6. Maobitou Park → 7. Guanshan → Returning home on the West Coastal Highway (takes around 4 and half hours)

west coast trip

One day Trip

※ Numbers marked in blue belong to the morning schedule; numbers marked in black belong to the afternoon schedule. ※

Forest Trip

1. Visitor Center → 2.Forest Recreation Area → Lunch → 3. Sheding Nature Park → 4. Chuanfan Rock → 5. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 6. Eluanbi Park → 7. Fongchueisha → Returning home on the Provincial Highway (takes around 7 and half hours)

forest trip
Forest and Coast Trip

1. Visitor Center → 2.Forest Recreation Area or Sheding Nature Park → Lunch → 3. Chuanfan Rock → 4. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 5. Eluanbi Park → 6. South Bay → 7. Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition → 8. Longluan Lake Nature Center → 9. Maobitou Park → Returning home on the West Coastal Highway (takes around 7 and half hours)

forest and coast trip
Driving Trip

1. Visitor Center → 2. South Bay → 3. Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition → 4. Longluan Lake Nature Center → 5. Houbihu Yacht Harbor → lunch → 6. Maobitou Park → 7. Cingwashih (Frog Rock) → 8.Chuanfan Rock → 9. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 10. Eluanbi Lighthouse → 11. Longpan Park → 12. Fongchueisha → Returning home on the Provincial Highway (takes around 7 and half hours)

driving trip

Two day Trip

※ Numbers marked in black belong to the Day 1 schedule; numbers marked in blue belong to the Day 2 schedule ※

Day 1: 1. Visitor Center → 2. Forest Recreation Area → Lunch → 3. Sheding Nature Park → 4. Chuanfan Rock→ 5. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 6. Eluanbi Park → 7. Fongchueisha → Lodging. Night activities: Star-watching at the Longpan Park（or high tours at the Chuhuo Natural Fire Special Scenic Area, Eluanbi Lighthouse and Kenting Road）

Day 2: 1. South Bay → 2. Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition → 3. Longluan Lake Nature Center → 4.Houbihu Yacht Harbor →Lunch → 5. Maobitou Park → 6. National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium → Returning home

2day trip

Tree day Trip

※ Numbers marked in blue belong to the Day 1 schedule; numbers marked in blue belong to the Day 2 schedule; numbers marked in red belong to the Day 1 schedule ※

Day 1: 1.Visitor Center → 2. Forest Recreation Area → Lunch → 3. Sheding Nature Park → 4. Youth activity Center and Cingwashih Trail → 5. Little Bay Beach → Lodging. Night activities: Star-watching at the Longpan Park

Day 2: 1. Chuanfan Rock → 2. Sadao Seashell Sand Exhibition Hall → 3. Eluanbi Park → 4. Longpan Park → 5. Fongchueisha → Lunch → 6. Hengchun Ancient City → 7. National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium → Lodgin. Night activities: Night tours at the ChuhNatural Fire Special Scenic Area, Eluanbi Lighthouse, and Kenting Road）

Day 3: 1. Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition. → 2. Longluan Lake Nature Center → 3. Houbihu Yacht Harbor → Lunch → 4. Maobitou Park → 5.Playing water at Baisha → 6.Sightseeing at Guanshan → 7.Senic spots at west coastal area → Returning home

Theme Trip

Bird-watching Trip
Eagle-observation Trip in September and in October: Sheding Nature Park (observing the migration of Chinese Sparrow Hawk and Gray-faced Buzzard Eagle) →Visitor Center (watching birds ’ films and exhibition → Southern bank of the Longluan Lake (observing the egret group) → Longluan Lake Nature Center (viewing birds ’ exhibitions) →Manjhou Lide Bridge(observing eagles ’ movement)
Water Bird Trip from November to February: Visitor Center (watching birds ’ films and exhibitions) → Southern bank of the Longluan Lake (observing the egret group) → Longluan Lake Nature Center (viewing bird exhibitions and observing water birds)
Plant Trip
Visitor Center (watching plants ’ films and exhibitions) → Sheding Nature Park (observing Kenting uplifted coral-reef forest) → Siangjiao Bay strand forest (observing strand forest) → Eluanbi Park (observing seashore plants) → Longpan Grassland﹝grassland plants﹞ → Fongchueisha (dune plants)
Cultural Trip
Visitor Center (watching cultural films and exhibitions) → Botan Tribe (Mudan Tribe) Incident Monument in Houwan → Hengchun Ancient City → Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition → Eluanbi Lighthouse


Visitor Safety (Last Updated: 2018-09-20/Published: 2009-08-12)

Notices to visitors

Formosan sika deer
 
  1. No selling or displaying animals, plants, and their specimens that are regulated by Naitonal Park Law or other relevant laws.
  2. No quarrying, selling and displaying stalagmites, stalactites, fossils, shell sands, coral reefs, or other unique rocks and their specimens and processed products.
  3. No vendor stalls or selling in prohibited areas within the National Park’s recreation areas.
  4. No pasturing except in the limited use areas or except in the areas 20 meters away from main roads.
  5. No transportation containers, trailers, vendor stands or other similar constructions that destroy the landscapes in the national park heavily.
  6. No beach motoring, sand skiing or riding, riding on all-terrain vehicle, driving all-terrain utility vehicles like Land Rovers.
  7. No climbing on Mt. Dajian, Cingwashih, and Chuanfan Rock in the park.
  8. No setting off fireworks in the national park (except for the local endemic customs and religious rituals during Chinese New Year’s Eve, and the first day to the fifth day of the lunar new year, Lantern Festival, Tomb Sweeping Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Summer Ghost Festival, and Moon Festival).
  9. No barbecuing and no trespassing the guard rails in the Chuhuo Natural Fire Special Scenic Area in the national park.
  10. No casting any ray of light, flying sky lanterns in the national park. No camping, barbecuing, making up campfire outside of the campgrounds in the recreation areas.

(Post from Restrictions within the Premises of Kenting National Park)


Park Contacts (Last Updated: 2020-11-20/Published: 2009-08-12)

Information of Visitor Center

Mt. Nanren
 
LocationOpening HoursContact Information
Kenting National Park Headquarters8:40am~4:50pmTel:886-8-8861321
Fax: 886-8-8861432
Exhibition Room of Sheding Park8:00am~5:00pmTel:886-8-8861821
Shadao8:00am~5:00pmTel: 886-8-8851204
South Bay Recreation AreaOct. to Jan.:
8:00am~5:30pm
Mar., Apr., Aug., Sep.:
8:00am~6:00pm
May, Jun., Jul.:
8:00am~6:30pm		Tel: 886-8-8892894
Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition8:00am~5:00pmTel: 886-8-8866520
Longluan Lake8:30am~5:00pmTel: 886-8-8891456
HoubihuVisitor Center8:00am~5:00pmTel: 886-8-886-7041~2
Eluanbi ParkDaylight Saving Time / Summer Time (April 1 to October 31),
6:30am to 6:30pm
Winter Time (November 1 to March 31),
7:00am to 5:30pm		Tel: 886-8-8851101
Maobitou ParkDaylight Saving Time / Summer Time (April 1 to October 31),
8:30am to 6:30pm
Winter Time (November 1 to March 31),
8:00am to 5:00pm		Tel: 886-8-8867520
Tanzih BayVisitor Center8:00am~5:00pmTel: 886-8-8861321 ext:500


Map Of The Park (Last Updated: 2018-09-19/Published: 2009-08-12)

map of Kenting

Situated on Taiwan's southernmost Hengchun Peninsula, Kenting National Park faces the Pacific Ocean on the east, the Taiwan Strait on the west, and the Bashi Channel on the south. The Park covers a land area of 18,084 hectares, including the coral reef cliffs and coastal zone from Gueishan to Hongchai on the west; Maobitou, Nanwan, Eluanbi, and Kenting Forest Recreation Area south of Longluantan on the south; Jialeshuei along the Pacific ocean on the east; and Nanrenshan on the north.

The coastal area stretches across 15,185 hectares, including Nanwan and the waters within one kilometer of the shore from Gueishan, north Eluanbi, to Nanrenwan. The total area of the park is 33,269 hectares.


How To Get There (Last Updated: 2023-06-02/Published: 2009-08-12)

coral 

Transportations

  1. bus

Four bus companies provide the Kenting-Kaohsiung route:

  1. Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport Company (Kingbus)
  2. Chong Nang Bus Company
  3. Kaohsiung Bus Company
  4. Pingdong Bus Company

※ Intervals: Every 40 to 50 minutes from 12:00am (midnight) to 4:00am (mostly provided by Chong Nang Bus Company). Every 6 to 10 minutes of headway during rush hours, and every 15 to 20 minutes of headway during off-peak hours.

※ Please contact the Joint Management Operation Center: 07-2357841, or visit the website of Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport Company at KUO-KUANG MOTOR TRANSPORTATION