The Millet Academy is located in Lichu Village, Jinfeng Township, in the South-Link Area of Taitung. Housed in the renovated former Liqiu Elementary School, it is run by local Paiwan farmers led by Kao Shih-chung, who returned to his hometown and heads the Jinfeng Township grain production and marketing group. Today, this old school has become a place for promoting millet culture, food education, and community experiences.
The site includes a millet story hall, a food hall, an exhibition and sales hall, a hands-on classroom, and a Paiwan cultural corridor. Here, visitors can learn how millet and Taiwan Red Quinoa grow from the field to the table and discover Paiwan traditions such as hand tattoo patterns, the Five-Year Ceremony (Maljeveq), and wedding customs. The school’s activities connect traditional farming with the community’s everyday life, offering a slow and meaningful way to experience Indigenous culture.
Experiences include guided village tours, singing traditional songs, making red quinoa mochi and millet good-luck charms, and trying archery and slingshots once used by hunters and farmers. Meals feature millet rice with local ingredients such as red quinoa and roselle, and customized meals are available for groups of four or more. All visits require advance booking. Public transportation to the village is limited, so traveling by car or scooter from Taitung City or Taimali is recommended. (Photo credit: The Millet Academy)
The Millet Academy offers guided tours in Chinese and English, introducing visitors from Taiwan and abroad to Paiwan rituals and daily life and to the important role millet and Taiwan Red Quinoa have played in the community’s history.
8:30 AM–5:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)
