A Journey Through Mountains and River of Yuli

2025.11.08–09

A two-day journey through Yuli’s mountains and river unfolded into an unexpected, heartwarming encounter with Amis culture.

When the team first planned this two-day, one-night cultural journey in Yuli, we hoped to offer participants — notably foreign exchange students from the University of Fu Jen — a meaningful connection with indigenous Amis traditions. Yet as the trip unfolded, it became clear that the experience would exceed everyone’s expectations.

After the photo shooting, we started to walk into the mountain and listen the sound of nature.

Traditional Rice- Sweet Fermented Rice Workshop

The adventure began with a traditional sweet fermented rice (酒釀：Jiu Niang) workshop. Tribal elders guided the students through each step: stirring warm glutinous rice, adding yeast strains unique to different Amis communities, and understanding the quiet patience required for fermentation. The room filled with laughter, questions, and the rich scent of steamed rice.

One participant remarked, “I didn’t expect fermentation to feel so emotional — it’s like watching something quietly come alive.”

The participant is smelling the flavor of the sweet fermented rice.

Night Walk with Tribal Hunters — Learning the Forest’s Language

As night fell, the group followed local hunters into the forest. Lanterns flickered along the mountain paths as the hunters demonstrated how to set traditional traps and read the landscape the way their ancestors once did. The organizers observed the participants’ excitement — wide-eyed curiosity mixed with a touch of nervousness — transform into admiration as they learned how deeply the Amis people respect the land. Every step on the ancestral hunting trail carried stories of survival and harmony with nature.

A participant later told the team, “I never knew the forest could feel so peaceful at night. Walking with the hunters felt like entering another world.”

The tribal hunter is teaching how to set the tradional traps.

Xiuguluan River Bagua Net Fishing — Tradition in Motion

The next morning, the Xiuguluan River (秀姑巒溪) became the classroom. Under bright light and the rhythmic flow of water, the Amis instructors taught the group how to cast the traditional fishing net (八卦網). The students practiced together, splashing, laughing, and cheering each other on. The organizers saw how this physical, hands-on practice opened the door to deeper cultural understanding. Feeling the river’s current, holding the tension of the net, and experiencing the thrill of a catch allowed the participants to truly appreciate the wisdom embedded in indigenous fishing traditions.

The participants are learning to use the tradional fishing net.

More than an adventure, we witnessed genuine connection: participants sharing meals with tribal members, exchanging stories, and slowly becoming part of the community’s rhythm. By the time the train arrived to bring everyone back to Taipei, both the participants and the organizing team felt a sense of transformation — an experience shaped not only by mountains and river, but by the warmth of human exchange.

Are you ready to join this journey that weaves together Indigenous culture and nature? Feel free to contact us:

📧 Email: staryouthtw@gmail.com

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