Kavulungan Park: Taitung’s Gateway to Austronesian Culture and Mythology

Golden Valley of Our Memories

The Kavulungan Cultural Heritage Education Park is rooted in the oral history of the Paiwan community in the Golden Valley. It is the realization of a long-held dream by tribal chief Shih Hsiung-wei. After years of success in business abroad, he returned to reconnect with his roots and revive traditional Paiwan life. “The greatest reward,” he shared, “has been witnessing our language and traditional architecture come back to life piece by piece during the reconstruction process.” Over the years, Chief Shih has purchased back ancestral sacred lands and rebuilt the homeland brick by brick, preserving Indigenous cultural assets and rekindling the memory and wisdom of the Paiwan people.

Traditional Architecture as a Vessel for Wisdom

In May 2025, the Kavulungan Austronesian Cultural Exchange Park was completed in Rulakes (Liqiu) Tribal Village in Jinfeng Township. The Taitung County Government collaborated with Chief Shih to construct three traditional Paiwan buildings: a male priest’s house, a female shaman’s house, and a grain preservation center. These buildings not only symbolize cultural continuity but also embody Indigenous sustainable wisdom. From material selection to structural design, every detail is infused with the ancestral knowledge of the Paiwan people, turning the site into a living classroom for cultural learning.

Taitung County Magistrate April Yao stated, “Through the opening of this park, we aim to foster international Austronesian cultural exchange. The county government is fully committed to making Taitung a part of the Austronesian community.” Tribal leader Hsieh Tung-hua of Rulakes also expressed, “This park is flourishing and will help carry our beautiful culture forward.” The park not only preserves traditions but also bridges the past and the future, injecting new momentum into the development of Indigenous culture in Taitung.

(Photo credit: Taitung County Government)

An International Hub for Austronesian Cultural Exchange

Even before the park’s completion, the Taitung County Government proactively signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shih Hsiung-wei to jointly promote cultural revitalization and the vision of Austronesian international cultural exchange. The Kavulungan Cultural Heritage Education Park has since been positioned as a key base for driving international Austronesian cultural exchange in Taitung. The government noted that the park is already a vital center for cultural education and will continue to play a central role in making Taitung a hub of Austronesian exchange.

Future plans include strengthening cooperation in culture, economy, and tourism with Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. The park will also serve as a major venue to showcase traditional Indigenous wisdom during the Taitung Expo.

Tribal Co-Management: A Sustainable Path for Land and Culture

(Photo credit: Taitung County Government)

This “slow economy” model enables Indigenous communities to retain cultural agency while sustaining land use on their own terms. The Taitung County Indigenous Peoples Office noted that with the richness of Paiwan culture as a foundation, the park is expected to become a hub for cultural transmission, international sustainable eco-tourism, and industry exchange. The establishment of the Kavulungan Cultural Heritage Education Park makes it a vital bridge linking Austronesian cultures and helps establish Taiwan’s unique position on the global Austronesian cultural stage.

Learn more about and experience Austronesian culture.