Danei Valley Ecological Park Introduction
"Dana'i Valley" is the name derived directly from the pronunciation of the Tsou language. It features one of Taiwan's rare clean streams, located upstream of the Zengwen River at an altitude of approximately 500 meters. The stream is 18 kilometers long, with a pleasant climate and picturesque scenery. However, up until more than a decade ago, Dana'i Valley was in a concerning state, with rampant overfishing and water pollution by locals, leading the Tsou people of Shanmei Village to take a stand to protect this vital water resource, which is considered the lifeline of their community. Dana'i Valley then went through over a decade of restoration efforts, even facing the impact of Typhoon Habagat, which caused deformations in the river and the collapse of trees and boulders. Nonetheless, the Tsou people of Shanmei mobilized the entire village to remove rocks and restore Dana'i Valley. It is only today that we can finally see a clear stream. The Dana'i Valley Ecological Park is the first ecological park in Taiwan established through private initiative, managed by the Shanmei Community Development Association. It is open for visitors and only charges a nominal fee for cleaning and maintenance. In recent years, Dana'i Valley has become a new attraction in Alishan, where traditional song and dance performances are held at the park entrance. The valley not only boasts rich natural ecology, with lush green mountains stretching and winding, but also features warm and peaceful trails, glistening streams in the valley, rugged boulders in the water, and birds and butterflies fluttering along the banks. The fish species in Dana'i Valley are abundant, including the local hardyhead, commonly known as "bitter flower," which is found in large numbers. On the other hand, for the sake of ecological balance, during the rainy season and fish breeding periods, Dana'i Valley opens up the Zengwen River for fishing enthusiasts and also provides fish fry to aquaculture operators. Due to the meticulous protection of these ecological landscapes and the careful management of tourism resources, the Tsou people of Shanmei Village have begun to experience an improvement in their livelihoods and have enhanced their community quality of life.
