The Heaven on Earth San Min Townshi /世外桃源 三民鄉
From Chi Wei exit, the end of South Second Expressway, drive along Provincial Highway 21, and you can reach the township located in the northwest of Kaohsiung County. San Min Township was perviously known as "Maya Township". Most residents belong to Pu Nung Tribe, and the second largest segment Tsou Tribe ,with Pei Wan Tribe and Han people constituting a small number. They are Christians and lead simple lives.
Oshima Sanctuary
Nan Tzu Hsien Brook is the largest river in the region. The waters are clean and fish are plentiful. It is Taiwan's first river fish sanctuary, which devotes to the protection of Oshima (Varicorhinus Alticorpus), a species unique to Taiwan. The fish season is opened every year between September and November. When the fish season opens this September, the town hall will hold an International Oshima Festival fishing contest.
Breathtaking Waterfalls
Nan Tzu Hsien Brook is abound with natural beauty with deep gorges cut out of the mountains like a dream world. You can find strange rock formations and a series of waterfalls along the route to Shi Chi Waterfall and Century Canyon. The twin Rainbow Waterfalls are another magnificent creation, streaming down about some dozen meters.
Yu Da Mountain rises to 1,270 meters on which you will find an observation platform to enjoy sunrises. Laipiniya Mountain located halfway up the mountain is renowned for its firefly season which stretches between March and May when fireflies light up the whole mountain. The region has been developed into a campsite for eco-tours.
Ear-Shooting Festival of Pu Nung Tribe
Pu Nung people hold "Ear-Shooting Festival" between April and May, during which boys shoot deer or pig ears to practice archery skills. Min Tsu Elementary School has a Pu Nung Artifacts Museum. For reservation please call (07) 6701260, and for festivals please contact Min Tsu Presbyterian Church at (07) 6701131.
由南二高高雄支線（國道10號）終點旗尾出口沿台3線再沿台21線經過五里埔、小林約25公里車程，即可抵達高雄縣西北角的三民鄉，一路上有潺潺溪流、青翠山林和老鷹相伴，加上陡直的巨岩峭壁，這趟旅程處處令人充滿了驚奇。
昔稱「瑪雅鄉」的三民鄉，原發祥於那斯拉拿（藤包山）山腳下的那都魯薩溪流（楠梓仙溪）兩側，歷經數百年的變遷擴展而分布至全境，日治期間簡併名為「瑪雅竣社」，隸屬高雄州旗山郡，台灣光復後改名為「瑪雅鄉」，民國46年再更名為「三民鄉」，轄有民族、民權、民生三個村落，鄉民大多為布農族人，鄒族次之，排灣族和平地人佔少數，鄉民大都信奉基督教，民風純樸。
高身魚固魚保護區
楠梓仙溪是三民鄉境內最大的河流，溪水源自玉山山脈塔塔加鞍部，在三民鄉境內有老人溪、那支蘭溪等11條支流，水質清澈，孕育豐富的魚類資源，其中生活在海拔一千公尺以下，攝氏15至25度低溫水域，只分布在台灣的高身魚固魚即為楠梓仙溪珍貴的國寶魚，三民鄉公所依據「野生動物保育法」實施釣魚管理制度，成為國內第一個溪流魚類保護區，每年僅9月至11月開放垂釣，其餘時間則嚴禁垂釣，今年9月開放期間，三民鄉公所將舉辦國際性「魚固魚祭」溪釣比賽。
深谷飛瀑，景觀壯麗
楠梓仙溪不僅生態資源豐富，更由於沿途河溝深凹，落差極大，形成鬼斧神工般的河谷地形，景觀壯麗幽美，猶如夢幻仙谷一般，石磯谷瀑布是發現三民鄉之美的首站，在快到小林村前約五里坡右側有路可達停車場，自河床溯溪而入瀑布，奇石到處可見，溯行約20分鐘，水路一分為二，左側可見高達78公尺的瀑布傾注而下，右側則有小而連續的瀑布群，而在進入民族村前2公里的第15號橋右側，則有一條小徑可溯行至老人南溪溪谷的「世紀大峽谷」，沿途巨石嶙峋、深潭處處。
又名「彩虹瀑布」的龍鳳瀑布，更是經典之作，高約數十公尺的兩道水柱，自山頭傾瀉而下，氣勢滂沱、雄偉壯觀，是一處適合獨處清靜的好地方，從民生二村直駛到達停車場，再步行500公尺，即可一睹其廬山真面目。
標高1270公尺的玉打山，布農族人稱為「拿樣阿紮那」，意即「像微笑的老人」，山上設有觀景台，可欣賞日出，鳥瞰楠梓仙溪美景，位於半山腰的拉比尼亞山，每年3至5月螢火蟲盛產期，整座山螢火通明，令人嘆為觀止，民族國小教務主任陳登科將這塊祖產闢為生態露營地，帶領大小朋友夜探「阿捕魯巫嗤（鬼火）」三明火、生態解說、茶鄉之旅，成為三民鄉近年來另一個生態旅遊景點。
布農族的打耳祭
在台灣的原住民，就屬布農族的祭典最多，幾乎一年到頭都有，不過最負盛名的，當屬每年4至5月的「打耳祭」，祭典中藉由男童射鹿耳或豬耳的儀式，希望為族人培訓勇敢善戰的神射手，民族國小設有「布農族文物館」，參觀民眾須事先電話預約（07）6701260，想欣賞布農族祭典的遊客，則可電洽民族基督長老教會（07）6701131，設在民生一村的鄒族祭壇，每年元旦有祭典儀式。