Magnificent Mountains in Taoyuan Township/群峰競秀 桃源鄉
Situated in the northeast of Kaohsiung County, Taoyuan Township encompasses 929 sq. km with less than 5,000 residents. Eentering the township from Paolai, Liukuei Township, you are well on your way to a wonderful journey accompanied by mountains and clouds. The Threshold to South Cross-Island Highway Scenic Area
Taoyuan Township is located on the Central Mountain Range with SCIH running through, the only road connecting to the outer world. From Taoyuan Village to Takuanshan Tunnel, you'll pass Meishan, Likuan, Chungchih Kuan to reach Tienchih and Yakou. The vegetation changes as altitude rises, from broadleaf trees and scrubs to mountain grasslands and conifers. The dazzling variations of sea clouds in Kuanshan conjure up a breathtaking view. Cloud Formations
Tourists usually stop in Taoyuan Village to rest and appreciate the cultures of Bunun, the most mobile aboriginal tribe, whose footprints spread all over the Central Mountain Range, hence its "guardians." Bunun people revere nature and hold an abundance of tattoos, witchcraft, myths and festivals. Bunun tribe subsists on agricultural and hunting activities, boasting diverse festivals: Weeding Festival, Plaque-Expelling Festival, and Ear-Shooting Festival in spring; Infant Festival in summer, Ground-Opening Festival; and Millet Seed Sowing Festival in fall. The most prominent is Ear-Shooting Festival, de facto harvest festival, during which boys shoot deer (or pig) ears to practice archery skills and tribesmen perform Pasibutbut - eight tunes sung in unison - to create heavenly melodies. Bunun Cultures
Yushan National Park, over 1,000 sq. km in total, covers one third of land in Taoyuan Township. Encircling 30 mountains, the subtropical high mountain park contains an information center, Bunun cultural center, youth activity center, and botanical garden of indigenous species. Tienchih towers 2,205 meters above sea level and its water never freezes. Tourist can hike or enjoy scenic views on the vast grassland by the lake. Takuanshan Tunnel, 2,731 meters above sea level and some 615 meters in length, is the highest point along SCIH, cutting through Kuanshan Peak, where you can enjoy the sight of cloud formations of seas and waterfalls.
以「地廣人稀」形容桃源鄉，一點也不為過，位於高雄縣東北角的桃源鄉，面積廣達929平方公里，但全鄉人口不到5千人，人口密度每平方公里只有５人，人口稀少高居全國首位，由六龜鄉寶來東行進入桃源鄉，一段山影縹緲、雲霧相伴的世外桃源之旅於焉展開。
南橫風景區起點
桃源鄉位處中央山脈，群山環繞，南橫公路貫穿全鄉，也是唯一的對外聯絡要道，從桃源村到大關山隧道都隸屬桃源鄉境，沿途梅山、禮觀、中之關，一直到天池、啞口，海拔由低而高，林木景觀也從闊葉林、灌木林，漸次轉換為高山草原、針葉林，變化十分顯著，尤其關山雲海氣象萬千，居高臨下，不禁令人嘆為觀止。 布農族文化
桃源村為桃源鄉的行政中心，暢遊南橫的遊客多會在此歇腳，順道欣賞布農族原住民文化，布農族是台灣原住民當中活動率最強、移動最頻繁的族群，由於足跡曾踏遍整個中央山脈，因此有「中央山脈守護者」的譽稱，桃源鄉的住民屬於布農族社群，身處危機四伏的深山，加上族群間關係敵對緊張，造成布農族人敬畏自然界威力與變化的性格，忌諱、巫術、神話和祭典文化特別豐富。 布農族以農耕及狩獵為主，因此農事祭儀特別繁複，如春天的除草祭、驅疫祭、打耳祭，夏天的嬰兒祭，秋天的開墾祭、小米播種祭等，其中每年4至5月舉行的「打耳祭」最受矚目，打耳祭形同布農族的豐年祭，祭典中藉由男童射鹿耳（或豬耳）的儀式，希望男童日後成為神射手勇敢善戰，而祭典中由族人和聲唱出的「八部合音」，更是永恆的天籟。 觀雲海賞雲瀑
面積廣達10萬多公頃的玉山國家公園，涵蓋南投、嘉義、高雄、花蓮４縣，三分之一園區就位在桃源鄉，全區以玉山山脈為主軸，延及中央山脈南段部份山系，園區內群峰競秀，包含玉山群峰、秀姑巒山、馬博拉斯山、達芬尖山、新康山、關山等台灣百岳名山30座，為一座亞熱帶高山型國家公園，在梅山口設有玉山國家公園解說中心、布農文化展示中心、青年活動中心和原生種植物園，是一個可遊可宿的景點。 海拔2205公尺的天池，是地名也是湖名，高山湖泊天池就在山坡上，湖水終年不涸，為南橫中段著名風景點，旁為寬闊的草原，規劃有停車場、公廁、步道系統供遊客健行、賞景，並築有長青祠，紀念因開闢南橫公路而不幸殉職的 116 位先鋒者，134K處設有天池警察小隊。 大關山隧道是南橫的最高點，海拔2731 公尺，隧道長約 615 公尺，也是高雄、台東兩縣縣界，攔腰貫穿百岳之一的關山嶺山，是觀賞雲海及雲瀑的好地方。 |