Wulu Fort Introduction
Following the winding Southern Cross-Island Highway to Wulu Tribe, we follow the signs and take a small path leading to the hidden Wulu Artillery Fort nestled in the mountains. The two ancient cannons, over a century old, are situated at a high vantage point, offering a panoramic view of the expansive Wulu Tribe, the Wulu Gorge, and the distant undulating Central Mountain Range. With an excellent view and weathered cannon bodies, they bear witness to a turbulent history filled with blood and tears during the Anti-Japanese resistance. During the Japanese occupation, efforts were made to manage and confiscate firearms and ammunition from the scattered Bunun tribe in the mountainous areas, leading to intense conflicts, with the Wulu Anti-Japanese Incident being the most representative. In 1927, the Japanese opened the ancient path from Xinwu to Wulu, transporting Russian cannons captured from the Russo-Japanese War and constructed the Wulu Artillery Fort at a commanding height to suppress the rebellious Bunun people. At that time, artillery forts were also established in nearby locales such as Saku (Darun) and Matiekulu (Motian). After World War II ended and Japan unconditionally surrendered, the artillery forts in the other two locations no longer exist, leaving only these two century-old cannons behind Wulu Elementary School, silently narrating the history of the Bunun people's fight to defend their homeland against Japanese rule amid the beautiful scenery.
