Tucson Village Introduction
According to historical records, the Tusan Village is one of the few Paiwan tribal villages that has never been ruled by the Puyuma people and is also among the few that still preserve the complete tradition of the Five-Year Festival. The Five-Year Festival of the Paiwan people is said to be a covenant between humans and gods, held every five years. The last Five-Year Festival was held in 2008, making it easy to calculate the future dates. Interested friends might want to keep an eye out for the rare Tusan Five-Year Festival. Tusan Village is renowned as the hometown of hairy crabs, with many stone decorations of hairy crabs adorning the cliffs along the roads. Between March and April each year, the hairy crabs, which are large and delicious, are celebrated with a crab festival organized by the local township office. Visitors coming to Tusan during this period can indulge in the freshest and tastiest hairy crabs. The crab festival not only allows for the enjoyment of fresh hairy crabs but also promotes the spirit of sustainable ecology. The Paiwan people usually capture only hairy crabs of a certain size, releasing the smaller ones back to maintain ecological sustainability. Although the crab festival is currently on hold due to the conservation of hairy crabs, the most attractive aspect of Tusan is the strong atmosphere of Paiwan culture that permeates the entire village. The walls along the village streets are covered with traditional Paiwan patterns, and many doors can be seen adorned with Paiwan wooden carvings. With a guided tour by villagers, visitors can learn that every sculpture, building, and even the plants in the village have their own stories. After exploring Tusan Village, visitors can take a stroll on the nearby Tusan Scenic Bridge. According to the recollections of older villagers, during the millet harvest, the villagers would gather at the bridgehead to sing Paiwan songs, giving thanks for the blessings of heaven. Young men and women often met on the bridge to share their feelings, hence the romantic name "Lover's Bridge." After being weathered over half a century, the old bridge built in 1938 became unusable, prompting the construction of a new suspension bridge, completed in July 2011. The new bridge incorporates Paiwan totems into its design, with its red structure standing out against the lush green mountains. There are a few dining establishments in Tusan Village, but accommodations are limited. It is recommended to head towards Jinfeng or Dawu District for more options. The Jinfeng area is also a well-known hot spring region in Taitung, with many guesthouses offering hot spring facilities available for choice.
