Nantou County

Nantou is in the middle of Taiwan.

It is the only part of the island without a coast.

The land has many big mountains. One peak is the highest in Taiwan.

Rare animals live in the wild woods. You might see a leopard cat there.

Many people live in Nantou. Some groups are the Thao people.

Sun Moon Lake is a famous place. It is the largest lake in Taiwan. It is very beautiful to see.

Nantou is a large county in the center of Taiwan.

It is the only part of the island without a coast. The land is very mountainous. The east side has part of the Central Mountain Range. This area holds Yu Shan, the highest mountain in Taiwan.

Many different groups of people live here. The Thao people live near Sun Moon Lake. This is the largest lake in Taiwan. Other groups include the Atayal, Bunun, and Seediq. These groups have their own cultures and ways of life.

Nature and power are important to the area. Rare animals like the leopard cat live in the woods. The land also makes power from water. The Mingtan Power Plant uses Sun Moon Lake to make electricity.

Many people visit Nantou to see the lakes and mountains. This helps the local economy grow through tourism. Today, about 470,000 people call Nantou home.

Nantou is the second largest county in Taiwan.

It sits right in the central part of the island. Interestingly, it is the only county in Taiwan that does not have a coast. The land here is very mountainous. The eastern side contains parts of the Central Mountain Range. This range includes Yu Shan, which is the highest mountain in all of Taiwan.

The mountains provide a home for rare animals. You might find a leopard cat or a Taiwanese pangolin living in the woods.

Many different groups of people call this place home. The Thao people live around Sun Moon Lake. This is the largest lake in Taiwan. Other indigenous groups include the Atayal, Bunun, Seediq, and Tsou. Some groups are even classified as indigenous townships. These people have kept their own cultural practices and traditions. Their history is a big part of how the county feels today.

The history of Nantou has seen many changes. Long ago, the name came from the Hoanya word Ramtau. During the Qing rule, many indigenous groups lived here with great independence. Later, many Hoklo and Hakka people moved into the area. When Japan took control in 1895, things changed quickly. The government brought the area under full control. This was sometimes a violent process for the local people.

Industry and farming have helped the area grow over time. In the 19th century, a pottery industry grew near the Maoluo River. There were as many as 30 kilns in the region. Later, the Japanese built a railway in 1918 to move sugar. They also built the Jiji line in 1922. This line helped move goods like bananas and wood. It even helped people travel to see the beautiful lakes. Today, the area still uses its water to make electricity.

Today, Nantou is a busy and important place. About 470,000 people live in the county. A leader called a magistrate heads the local government.

Tourism is now a huge part of the local economy. People travel from far away to see the famous Sun Moon Lake. They also come to see the tall mountains and green hills.

It is a place where nature and culture meet.

Nantou County is the second largest county in Taiwan by land area.

It is located in the central part of the island. This county is unique because it is the only non-coastal county in Taiwan. The landscape is mostly mountainous and very diverse. To the east, the terrain includes parts of the Central Mountain Range. This range contains Yu Shan, which is the highest mountain in Taiwan.

These mountains provide a home for rare species like the leopard cat and the Taiwanese pangolin.

The history of the region began with indigenous groups like the Atayal, Bunun, and Tsou. The name "Nantou" comes from the Hoanya word "Ramtau." During the period of Qing rule, many indigenous groups lived here with great autonomy. They remained largely isolated from the central government. In 1677, a general named Lin Yi established a residence in what is now Zhushan. Han Chinese settlers began entering the area via the Zhuoshui and Maoluo Rivers.

This movement eventually changed the local population and land use.

Relationships between settlers and indigenous people were often difficult. In 1740, Qing authorities assigned the surname Pan to indigenous people. Contact between Han Chinese settlers and local groups often resulted in violence. In 1726, a Qing governor launched an invasion following an incident of headhunting by a Thao hunter. This invasion ended the Thao practice of headhunting. Later, in 1814, a group of over 100 Han Chinese led by Guo Bainian massacred indigenous people in the Puli basin. The territory was eventually returned to the Thao in 1816.

Japanese rule began after the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. The Japanese government brought the area under full central control. This was a difficult process that included assimilation policies. The government banned indigenous languages and cultural practices. They even banned facial tattoos, which were a sign of beauty for some women. Many indigenous people were forced to take new last names. The Japanese also declared that any land without a formal title belonged to the state. This meant much of the mountainous eastern area became government-owned land.

Industrialization changed the landscape during the Japanese period. The government saw Sun Moon Lake as a way to create hydropower. To build the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant, they relocated Thao and Chinese settlers.

By 1934, the lake was deeper because many areas were flooded. The Japanese also built a railway in 1918 to export sugar. In 1922, they finished the Jiji line to move goods and boost tourism. This line helped transport bananas, rice, camphor, and wood. Some wood from Mount Danda was even used to build a torii at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine.

Conflict also occurred during this era, such as the Musha Incident in 1930. More than 300 Seediq men attacked 12 police stations. This event led to a heavy military response from the Japanese. These historical tensions helped shape the modern ethnic identities of indigenous groups. After 1945, Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China. In 1950, Nantou County was officially established by separating from Taichung County. The town of Nantou was chosen as the county seat.

Today, Nantou County has a population of approximately 470,000 people. It is led by a magistrate who heads the local government.

The economy relies on agriculture, hydroelectric power, and a large tourism industry. Sun Moon Lake is the largest lake in Taiwan and a major destination. The Thao people still live around the lake and maintain their culture. Other groups like the Atayal and Seediq also have communities in the area. Modern education in the county reflects these indigenous cultures.

The region remains a place where natural beauty and complex history meet.