Located in central Pingtung County, Taiwan, Jhutian Township is part of the Liu Dui Hakka settlements, specifically the Zhong Dui (Central Division). It borders Linluo Township to the north, Neipu and Wanluan Townships to the east, Wandan Township to the west, and Chaozhou Town to the south. The majority of the population consists of Hakka people, making up approximately 80% of the residents. Jhutian Township lies at the center of the Pingtung Plain, with tributaries of the Donggang River and Ailiao River flowing through it. The terrain is flat, and the climate is classified as a tropical monsoon climate. Agriculture serves as the primary industry for its residents.
Jhutian Township was recognized as one of the “2019 Top Ten Hakka Towns” by Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau. The township integrates a variety of cultural and historical tourism resources, including a century-old railway station, traditional brewing industries, orchid and lemon farming, Zhongyi Pavilion, Old Master Q murals, and the Dadagang archaeological site. Through farm-to-table experiences, local restaurants utilize regional ingredients, promoting a slow-living and slow-food lifestyle. The township aims to provide visitors with an authentic and immersive experience, fostering an appreciation for Jhutian as a welcoming and sustainable community. Ultimately, Jhutian Township aspires to join the Cittaslow International network, striving towards environmental preservation, cultural heritage promotion, improved quality of life, and encouragement of local ingredient use.
Jhutian Township is located in the central region of the Pingtung Plain and is part of the Zhongdui area within the twelve Hakka townships of Liudui. The township consists of fifteen villages, of which eleven are Hakka villages and four are Minnan villages. With fertile land, abundant agricultural resources, simple and hospitable residents, and a humid climate with ample annual rainfall, Jhutian remains a predominantly rural township. It has a population of approximately 16,000, with agriculture as the primary industry. Major crops include betel nuts, lemons, and bananas, while the flower industry is best represented by Oncidium orchids.
In 2019, Jhutian Township was honored as one of Taiwan’s “Top Ten Hakka Towns” by the Tourism Bureau, and it also received the Green Environment Award under the Taiwan Town Branding Awards, commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Further recognition followed in 2020 when Jhutian won the Silver Award in the Taiwan Town Branding Awards. In 2022, Jhutian achieved the prestigious designation of an International Cittaslow (Slow City). As an agricultural township with hardworking and down-to-earth residents, Jhutian not only boasts diverse attractions but is also home to a rich culinary scene, coffee culture, traditional brewing industries, art workshops, and agricultural product processing, all thriving in a setting that embraces multicultural coexistence.
The township offers a wealth of tourism resources, including the historic Jhutian Railway Station, traditional brewing industries, orchid and lemon farming, Zhongyi Pavilion, Old Master Q murals, and Jingzi Pavilion. By promoting farm-to-table experiences, local dining establishments prioritize the use of regional ingredients, actively supporting environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Currently, Jhutian is actively planning transportation infrastructure and enhancing cultural and library facilities. By transforming the sports park into a health and shopping district, the township is also striving to improve road connectivity to develop into a satellite city. With efforts to attract young professionals back to their hometown and integrate the slow city concept, Jhutian Township is committed to becoming a livable town where “slow food, slow travel, and a good life” define the community experience.
Food of Jhutian
Lemon
More than 40 years ago, Jhutian Township introduced lemon cultivation, and today it has become one of Taiwan’s key lemon-producing regions. Currently, the lemon cultivation area exceeds 120 hectares, with approximately 90% certified under the traceability system. Thanks to its exceptional natural climate, geographical advantages, and the meticulous care of local farmers, Jhutian’s lemons are renowned for their thin skin, abundant juice, and rich aroma. These qualities have attracted the attention of major buyers, leading to contract farming agreements with production and marketing teams. Additionally, Zhutian Township has collaborated with “Kuai Kuai” to launch a new “Honey Lemon” flavor of rice-based Kuai Kuai snacks, expanding the variety of product offerings.
Ban Tiao
Flat rice noodles are a representative dish of Hakka cuisine. In northern Hakka villages, they are called “Ban Tiao,” while in southern Hakka communities, they are known as “Mian Pa Ban.” This popular local delicacy is widely enjoyed across Hakka towns, especially in Pingtung County, where each township has its own unique take on the dish. In Jhutian, several noodle shops prepare their own crispy fried shallots, which are combined with braised minced pork, chives, and bean sprouts before being topped with a rich and flavorful broth, creating a bowl of aromatic and delicious goodness.
Hakka Rice Cake Delicacies
The Hakka people collectively refer to rice-based snacks as “Ban,” which is commonly known as “Guo” in Taiwan. In Hakka culture, the making and consumption of Ban play a significant role in seasonal festivals and serve as essential offerings for ancestral worship. Different festivals and occasions feature distinct types of Ban, such as “Ciba” for weddings and funerals, “Ban Yuan” for the Lantern Festival, “Ai Cao Ban” (mugwort rice cakes) for Tomb-Sweeping Day, “Yu Ban” (taro rice cakes) for the Mid-Autumn Festival, “Tian Ban” (sweet rice cakes) for Lunar New Year’s Eve to symbolize rising prosperity, “Fa Ban” (steamed rice cakes) for wealth, and “Luo Bo Ban” (radish rice cakes) for good fortune. Each of these rice cakes carries symbolic meaning, showcasing the richness and diversity of Hakka Ban culture.
Dried Fruit
Jhutian’s locally produced lemons, bananas, and other crops can be dried into fruit snacks, making them easy to store, carry, and consume—perfect for a quick energy boost during travel or busy moments.
Soy sauce
Jhutian is home to several unique soy sauce factories, some of which have even received international awards for their products. Some soy sauce factories collaborate with local farmers to contract-grow soybeans, black beans, and wheat. This partnership not only yields high-quality crops but also reflects a deep emotional connection to the land. Under the bright sun of Pingtung, these soy sauce factories produce soy sauce of exceptional quality, truly representative of the people of Taiwan, showcasing a commitment to both the land and traditional craftsmanship.
Clothing of Jhutian
Traditional clothing
Ms. Liu Qiuchin from Yunzhu Workshop creates Hakka clothing with innovative design concepts, incorporating indigo dyeing and Hakka floral fabrics into fashion. The design of classic accessories makes Hakka clothing more fashionable and international.
Betel Nut Fan
The “Betel Nut Fan” is a fan made from betel nut leaf sheaths. In the past, farmers often collected discarded betel nut leaf sheaths and made them into fans to bring coolness while saving energy. The six-pile area (including Jhutian), where betel nut trees are widespread, actively promotes this craft. In addition to enjoying the fun of painting, it is also a practice of the environmental sustainability concept.
Pan Hua
“Pan Hua” is a unique floral arrangement used in Hakka villages in the southern Six Piles region during religious ceremonies to honor deities. Traditionally, the flowers used in Pan Hua are often sourced from Hakka folk plants, such as Ning Ding flowers, magnolias, sweet olives, tree orchids, osmanthus, round rice cake flowers (globe amaranth), and gardenia flowers (camellia). These flowers are not only commonly found in Hakka settlements or home gardens but are also representative of the Six Piles region. Pan Hua embodies the deep faith Hakka people have in their ancestors and deities, while also showcasing their wisdom in utilizing local materials and their frugal, simple cultural traits.
Housing of Jhutian
De Hotel
Originally the Lao Dexing Rice Mill, it was the first bed and breakfast in Jhutian, Pingtung. The third generation transformed the childhood memories of the grain warehouse building into a high-quality accommodation space. After three years of renovation and planning, the architectural style retains the old red brick walls, while adding numerous green plants throughout the space. This not only preserves the former glory of Jhutian’s rice industry but also achieves the beautiful concept of “environmental sustainability” through modern design ideas.
Transportation of Jhutian
Jhutian Railway Station
Jhutian Railway Station, built in 1939, is a Japanese-style wooden station located within the current Jhutian station. The station building includes a waiting room, office, signal room, tea room, night duty room, and warehouse. The station area also preserves facilities such as an oil storage room, an old well, and a bathhouse, making it an important landmark in Jhutian Township.
Xishe Station
Jhutian Xishe Station has a long history and is an important testament to the development of Taiwan’s railway system. The station area features several buildings and facilities with distinct Hakka cultural characteristics, fully showcasing the unique historical background and cultural atmosphere of the area. It is an ideal place to explore the history and culture of Jhutian Township.
Bicycle path
Some of the bike paths in Jhutian Township are built along the railway, allowing cyclists to occasionally ride alongside trains, offering a unique experience. The Jhutian bike path starts from Xishe Station and spans approximately 44 kilometers. Along the way, there are many scenic spots, with the most famous being the Jhutian Station Park (Jhutian Railway Station) and the Liu Dui Zhongyi Temple. Additionally, you can visit Meilun Old Street, De Xing Rice Mill, and other places. This route not only allows you to enjoy the quaint charm of the small town but also offers a ride through rural fields, providing an immersive experience of Hakka history and culture.
Education of Jhutian
Liu Dui Zhongyi Temple
The Zhongyi Temple is dedicated to commemorating the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect their homeland and families, and it serves as the spiritual fortress of the Hakka people in the Six Piles region. During the Zhu Yigui incident in the 60th year of the Kangxi reign (1721), the Hakka people in southern Taiwan united for self-defense, forming a defensive system by establishing fortifications around their villages. After the turmoil was quelled, the volunteer militia was disbanded, and the locations of the various camps were named “Six Piles.” Even in 1895, when Japan took control of Taiwan, the Hakka volunteer forces in the Six Piles region continued to resist fiercely. This long-lasting militia, which lasted for 174 years, wrote a heroic and tragic chapter in history.
Hakka Cultural Center
The Pingtung County Hakka Cultural Center is located behind the Zhongyi Temple and was inaugurated in November 2001. The center’s architectural structure is modeled after the unique “tulou circular house” of the Hakka homeland in northern China, making it the first building in Taiwan to feature a Chinese-style tulou design. The center houses more than 600 valuable Hakka cultural artifacts, providing a valuable resource for the study of Hakka culture and artifacts in the Six Piles region. In addition to preserving and showcasing these precious collections, the center actively promotes various Hakka cultural activities and is dedicated to preserving and promoting Hakka culture.
Taimi Library
The Taimi Education Foundation was established in 1999 to commemorate the late couple “Lin Jiantai and Liang Huimei.” The establishment of the library aims to eliminate the inherent inequalities caused by wealth disparities, ensuring that all children have equal educational opportunities. The foundation hopes that every child can find their true passion in life and lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Ichikawa Ichirou Library
Ichikawa Ichirou (1911-2001) served as the director of the Kaohsiung County Jhutian Township Field Hospital (now rebuilt as Jhutian Elementary School) in 1943. During his two years in Taiwan, he provided free medical services to the local people in Jhutian and surrounding areas, earning the gratitude of the Hakka community. When he was nearly ninety, Ichikawa donated his entire collection of Japanese books, newspapers, magazines, and one million yen to Jhutian Township. The local community successfully advocated for the conversion of an old warehouse near Jhutian Railway Station into the “Ichikawa Library.” Currently, the library houses over 10,000 volumes and is known as the southernmost Japanese library in Asia.
Entertainment of Jhutian
Inclusive park
The Jhutian Inclusive Playground features a large Hakka maze play structure, 8 meters high, with a 6.5-meter slide and a Hakka-themed paper-cut kaleidoscope. In addition, the playground includes a water play area, an inclusive sandpit, a diverse challenge swing area, and the first-ever grassy racetrack for balance bikes in Pingtung, designed for parent-child activities.
Tao Di Village Respectful Characters Pavilion
The name “Tao Di Village” (糶糴村) carries profound historical significance. In the past, Jhutian was the granary of southern Taiwan and a major hub for the trade of rice and grains in the Six Piles Hakka region. Utilizing the Longjing River’s waterway for transportation, it connected to Donggang Creek, where large ships would transfer goods to the mainland, particularly to Tangshan. As a result, a river port was established in Tao Di Village, known as “Dada Harbor.” The old site is now home to a sluice gate (the Hakka pronunciation of “Tao Di” and “Dada” is similar). Near the shore, there is a massive old banyan tree, beneath which stands a hexagonal pavilion (symbolizing the unity of heaven and earth), housing the local Land God Temple. This temple is known as the “Dada Zhuang Grain Pool Fude Zhengshen” and is believed to protect the safety of the ferry dock and ensure a prosperous and peaceful community.
Dunwu Tang
Dunwu Tang · Tea Nourishment Cultural and Creative Living Center focuses on tea, teaware, tea ceremony teaching, and various related tea experiences. It offers six major types of tea: Pu’er, Taiwan Oolong, green, white, blue, red, and black tea. The space blends Hakka, Chinese, Japanese styles, and integrates cultural and artistic elements, turning tea-drinking into a way of life and a remedy for modern people’s health and spiritual well-being.
Angel Garden
Angel Garden Leisure Farm spans a vast area, with its white church-style restaurant exuding an exotic atmosphere. Combining resources from the existing “Jhutian Dendrobium Orchid Station,” the farm uses local ingredients—lemons and vegetables—in its dishes, while the operator decorates with self-grown orchids. The farm serves as both an educational exhibition and an experiential space, centered around orchids, creating a tourist destination that enhances visitors’ understanding of the orchid industry. Guests can immerse themselves in a sea of orchids, experiencing the fragrance of flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
Lao Fu Zi Murals
Strolling through Meilun Old Street, visitors can leisurely admire the magnificent Baroque-style buildings and Hakka red-tile houses, evoking memories of the past prosperity. Meilun is home to the only officially authorized Lao Fu Zi murals in Taiwan, featuring the world’s longest and largest Lao Fu Zi mural. The second-generation comic artist of Lao Fu Zi, Professor Wang Ze, who is also a son-in-law of Meilun Village, completed the mural creations in May 2015 and February 2022. Here, visitors can take photos alongside the Lao Fu Zi mural and enjoy a rich and aromatic cup of Meilun coffee, leisurely exploring the transformed Meilun Old Street.