Liwu River

The first human settlers along the Liwu River likely originated from the Shisanhang Culture in Northern Taiwan around 1,300 years ago, evidenced by fourteen ruins found near the mouth of the river. Like their northern counterparts, these people mastered smelting and used iron tools, but also mined gold.^[5] This was discovered by Spanish and Dutch forces in the 16th and 17th century, who noted that the river was named "Tackili" and named the area "Turoboan". Domingo Aguilar, a Spaniard, described that a tribe named Parrougearon (also known as Mek-qaolin) lived upstream, and three different tribes near the delta: the Pabanangh, Dadangh, and Torrobouan.^[6][7] The Dutch led several expeditions to this region in search of gold, but did not find a substantial amount.^[8]

Around 300 years ago, a group of Taroko people traveled from present-day Nantou County across the Central Mountain Range into the Liwu River valley due to overcrowding. Heading east to west, the Taroko's influence spread all the way to the Pacific, until the Truku War with the Japanese forced many of its population into the plains. The Japanese also established a path for easy access in accordance to the five years plan to governing aborigines.^[9]