Tuzang Village Introduction
According to historical records, the Tusan Village is one of the few Paiwan villages that has never been ruled by the Puyuma tribe and is also one of the few that still retains the complete traditional five-year ceremony. The Paiwan five-year ceremony is said to be a covenant between humans and gods, held once every five years. The last five-year ceremony took place in 2008, making it easy to calculate future dates for the event. Interested friends can keep an eye out for the rare Tusan five-year ceremony. Tusan Village is acclaimed as the hometown of hairy crabs, and you can see many stone decorations of hairy crabs on the roadside cliffs. In March and April each year, large and delicious hairy crabs are in season, and the local township office holds a Hairy Crab Festival. Visitors can indulge in the freshest and tastiest hairy crabs during this time. The Hairy Crab Festival not only features fresh hairy crabs but also promotes the spirit of sustainable ecology, as the Paiwan people usually only catch hairy crabs above a certain size, returning smaller ones to maintain ecological sustainability. Though the Hairy Crab Festival is currently temporarily suspended for the purpose of crab rehabilitation, Tusan's most attractive feature is actually the strong Paiwan atmosphere permeating the entire village. The village streets are lined with walls covered in traditional Paiwan patterns, and many households display Paiwan wooden carving decorations. With the guidance of village members, visitors can discover stories behind the sculptures, architecture, and even every blade of grass in the village. After exploring Tusan Village, visitors can take a stroll on the nearby Tusan Scenic Bridge. According to memories from the older members of the village, when millet was harvested, villagers would gather at the bridge to sing Paiwan songs to thank the heavens for their blessings. Young men and women often met on the bridge to express their feelings for each other, leading to the romantic name "Lovers' Bridge." After half a century of weathering, the old bridge, built in 1938, became unusable, prompting the construction of a new suspension bridge, completed in July 2011. The new suspension bridge incorporates Paiwan totem designs, with its red structure standing out against the lush mountains and waters. There are several dining options in Tusan Village, but accommodations are limited, so it's suggested to head toward Jinlun or Dawu urban areas for more choices. The Jinlun area is also a well-known hot spring region in Taitung, with many guesthouses offering hot spring services.
