National Parks of Taiwan

According to the Marine National Park Headquarters (MNPH), the island of Lan-Yu, or the Orchid Island (Ponso no Tao in the local indigenous language), is a place with abundant natural resources and wonderful natural beauty, and for thousands of years has been maintained by the aboriginal Tao people through sustainable resource management and living. In addition, the Tao tribe has its own calendar and customs, as well as many taboos in their life style. The MNPH kindly reminds all tourists to respect their customs and taboos while experiencing their local culture. During the Flying Fish Festival seasons (from February to June annually), there are more restrictions and taboos than usual. Female tourists are asked to refrain from touching the hull of the balangays (native plank boat), and tourists are not allowed to board the plank boat and take photos. To avoid offending the local people, the MNPH recommends all tourists to research relevant information on local customs and travelling tips before visiting Lan-Yu. Armed with prior knowledge and explanations from tour guides, visitors will have a rich and insightful journey into Lan-Yu’s ecological and cultural scenes.

Between July and September when the festival ends, men switch to tasks such as timber gathering, orchard cultivation and clay-pot making.

From November to January of next year, the Tao prepare for the next Flying Fish festival. This is a more tranquil period for Lan-Yu; most of the inhabitants are either doing handicrafts or cultivating their fields in the mountains.

The Tao people view the processes of waiting for the flying fish, fishing (Flying Fish Festival) and ending of the festival (End Feasting) as an annual cycle. This series of scheduled events have resulted in many cultural taboos that helped to ensure the continuation of many species on the Island. The calendar derived from the flying fish is the center of the Tao culture and lifestyle; faced with the oceans and yearly flying fish booms, the balangay not only provides the Tao with tools for living, it also symbolizes social and power status. Boat launching and new home completion are viewed as symbols of success and revered greatly. Owners will present taro and pork to their guests and family members, which not only reflect their hard working and wealth, but also help raise the social status of the men of the house. Also, a boat full of taro is a symbol of fish, which represents rich harvests and wards off evil spirits.

According to the MNPH, aside from experiencing the unique balangay sailing in Lan-Yu, tourists can also enjoy marine exploration and eco-friendly educational activities in the clear, pristine surrounding waters of Lan-Yu, rich with coral and fish resources. Although the water temperatures in Lan-Yu make diving possible all year round, the MNPH reminds all divers to watch out for wind directions and tide currents. Despite the fact that Lan-Yu visiting divers often have a higher degree of technical proficiency, for safety concern the MNPH still strongly recommends visiting divers to seek guidance from experienced local divers.

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The source: Dongsha Atoll National Park