Wulu Fortress Introduction
Following the winding Southern Cross-Island Highway, we arrive at Wulu Village. Following the signs and along the small path, we reach the hidden Wulu Fortress nestled in the mountains. Two ancient cannons, over a hundred years old, are positioned at a vantage point where one can overlook the vast Wulu Village, Wulu Gorge, and the distant undulating Central Mountain Range. The exceptional view and the weathered cannon bodies bear witness to a tragic history of resistance against Japanese rule. During the period of Japanese rule, the Japanese forced the management and confiscation of firearms and ammunition from the scattered Bunun tribes in the mountains to centralize control, leading to intense conflicts, with the Wulu Resistance being the most representative incident. In 1927, the Japanese opened the old trail from Xinwu to Wulu, transporting Russian artillery captured during the Russo-Japanese War, and built the Wulu Fortress at a high point to suppress the rebellious Bunun. At that time, there were also fortresses in the nearby Saku (Dalu) and Maticulu (Motian) areas. After World War II ended and Japan unconditionally surrendered, the fortresses in the other two locations no longer exist, leaving only these two century-old cannons behind Wulu Elementary School. Accompanied by beautiful scenery, they silently recount the history of the Bunun's resistance to protect their homeland.
