Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Drinking Together with the Joint Cup of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

The Gaoshan ethnic group (高山族) is the official designation on mainland China for the indigenous Austronesian-speaking peoples of Taiwan, representing the earliest inhabitants of Taiwan. According to the 2020 census, the mainland population is 3,479, while in Taiwan (2025) it is approximately 540,000.

Internally, the Gaoshan encompass 16 tribal groups: Amis (阿美族), Paiwan (排湾族), Atayal (泰雅族), Bunun (布农族), Puyuma (卑南族), Rukai (鲁凯族), Tsou (邹族), Saisiyat (赛夏族), Tao / Yami (达悟族 / 雅美族), Thao (邵族), Kavalan / Kamalan (噶玛兰族), Ketagalan (凯达格兰族), Seediq (赛德克族), Lalaurua (拉阿鲁哇族), Kanakanavu (卡那卡那富族), and Bazehai (巴则海族).

Their languages belong to the Austronesian family, Indonesian branch; there is no native writing system, and Chinese characters are used for communication.

Cultural highlights include: Harvest Festival (丰年祭), folk songs and dances, wood and stone carvings, weaving, stone-slab houses, and ancestor worship, making them the only representation of Austronesian culture in mainland China.

Population Distribution

Mainland China (2020 Census)

• Henan Province (河南省): 2,600, 74.7% of mainland Gaoshan; concentrated in Taiwan Village (台湾村) of Zhangcun Town (张村镇, Dengzhou 邓州市) – Shangying, Xiaying, Jianbingying Villages.
• Fujian Province (福建省): 417, 12%; concentrated in Hua’an County (华安县, Zhangzhou 漳州) – Songkeng Village (送坑村) and six other villages; also scattered in Xiamen (厦门), Fuzhou (福州).
• Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区): 120, 3.4%; scattered in Nanning (南宁), Liuzhou (柳州), Guilin (桂林).
• Beijing (北京市): 85, 2.4%; scattered in urban districts.
• Other provinces: 257, scattered in Guangdong (广东), Zhejiang (浙江), Shanghai (上海), Jiangsu (江苏), Sichuan (四川).

Mainland Core Counties / Townships

• Dengzhou (邓州市, Henan Nanyang 南阳): 2,600; largest mainland Gaoshan settlement, Taiwan Village.
• Hua’an County (华安县, Zhangzhou 漳州): 139, 0.05%; Songkeng Village, only Gaoshan ethnic village on the mainland.
• Zhangcun Town (张村镇, Dengzhou): 2,600, 8%; Shangying, Xiaying, Jianbingying Villages – all core Gaoshan villages.
• Xiandu Town (仙都镇, Hua’an): 139, 0.6%; Songkeng Village, Dadi Village, Shihou Village, and four others.

Taiwan (Overview)

• Concentrated in central mountains, East Rift Valley, and Orchid Island (兰屿).
• Five major tribes: Amis (台东、花莲), Paiwan (屏东、台东), Atayal (新北、桃园、新竹), Bunun (南投、花莲), Tao/Yami (兰屿).
• Over 30 mountainous townships host the 16 tribal groups.

Folk Culture

Traditional Clothing

• Colorful, richly embroidered, ornate decorations; tribal differences pronounced.

Women: Sleeveless tunic / short front-overlap jacket + pleated skirt, adorned with embroidery, beads, shells, teeth; flower crowns or feather hats; silver, bronze, floral garlands.

Men: Sleeveless vest / short front-overlap jacket + wide pants / loincloth, head wraps with feathers, knives, bows, shell necklaces; ceremonial attire for Harvest Festival is lavish.

Traditional Houses

• Stone-slab houses (排湾族、鲁凯族): Stone walls and roofs, square structure with one door, fire pit inside; winter warm, summer cool.
• Wood / Bamboo houses (阿美族、泰雅族): Timber pillars, bamboo walls, thatched roofs, stilted design; ventilated, prevents snakes and insects.
• Semi-underground houses (达悟族): Half-buried, thatched roof, typhoon-resistant; unique to Orchid Island.

Marriage Customs

• Monogamy, same-tribe allowed, close relatives forbidden; free love prevalent.
• Proposal: Groom brings rice wine, glutinous cakes, hunted animals; divination determines engagement.
• Engagement: Silver jewelry, cloth, farming tools; engagement feast with rice wine, love songs.
• Wedding: Village square celebration; singing, dancing, bamboo pole dance, hand-holding dance; bride joins groom’s family; bride kidnapping, door-blocking, crossing fire pit, and dance rituals are traditional.

Etiquette & Taboos

• Guests offered rice wine, glutinous cake, roasted wild boar; guests sit at main seat; do not step on thresholds or ancestral altars.
• Forbidden: Cutting sacred trees, making noise in sacrificial areas, stepping on totems or statues.
• During Harvest Festival & ancestor rituals: No quarrels, no killing except sacrificial animals; women avoid some ceremonies; no pointing with toes, crossing fire pits, whistling indoors, or directly naming ancestors.

Religion & Beliefs

• Animism: Worship of ancestor spirits, mountain gods, river gods, sun gods, grain gods, hunting gods; nature and ancestors are one.
• Ancestor Worship: Core belief; celebrated in Harvest Festival, Five-Year Festival, and sowing rituals.
• Totem Worship: Core symbols include Hundred-Step Snake (Paiwan 百步蛇), wild boar (Bunun), eagle (Atayal), flying fish (Tao) – representing ancestors and tribal protection.
• Christianity & Buddhism: Introduced via Han and Western influence; blended with indigenous beliefs in some tribes.

Traditional Festivals

1. Harvest Festival (丰年祭, most important & widespread)
   • Lunar July–August; 3–7 days.
   • Core: Thank ancestors, celebrate harvest, pray for peace, tribal reunion.
   • Activities: Ancestor welcoming, grain god offerings, hand-holding dance, bamboo pole dance, top-spinning contests, archery, rice wine feasts, roasted wild boar.
2. Five-Year Festival (五年祭, Paiwan, National Intangible Heritage)
   • Every five years, lunar October; 10 days.
   • Core: Ancestor worship, pray for tribal prosperity, divination.
   • Activities: Bamboo pole ball stabbing, singing, dancing, rice wine, rites, coming-of-age ceremony.
3. Sowing Festival (播种祭, Atayal/Bunun)
   • Lunar March, pre-sowing; 1–3 days.
   • Core: Worship grain gods, pray for crops, ward off evil.
   • Activities: Animal bone divination, sacrifices, songs, ritual taboos.
4. Flying Fish Festival (飞鱼祭, Tao/Yami)
   • Lunar March–June, flying fish season; 1–2 days.
   • Core: Worship sea gods, pray for flying fish abundance, gratitude.
   • Activities: Sea rites, flying fish feasts, songs, ritual taboos.
5. Ancestor Rituals (祖灵祭)
   • Multiple times annually (lunar Jan, July, Oct).
   • Core: Commemorate ancestors, pray for well-being.
   • Activities: Offerings of wine and meat, songs, ritual recitations, circumambulation prayers.

Cultural Arts

Song & Dance

• Hand-Holding Dance (拉手舞, National Intangible Heritage): Collective circle dance, symbolizing unity & blessing; essential during Harvest Festival.
• Bamboo Pole Dance: Two people manipulate bamboo poles while dancers leap through; wards off evil, celebrates harvest.
• Mortar Dance (杵舞): Women pound rice with wooden pestles; rhythmic, graceful, symbolizes harvest.
• Folk Songs: Multi-part, unaccompanied, high-pitched, melodic; tell history, love, agricultural life.

Carving

• Wood & Stone (Paiwan/Rukai, National Intangible Heritage): Snake, ancestor, hunting scenes; stone-slab house decorations feature ancestral motifs and geometric patterns.

Weaving

• Rattan/Bamboo weaving (Amis/Atayal, provincial intangible heritage): Baskets, hats, backpacks; functional, geometric designs.
• Textile Weaving: Hemp & cotton, embroidery, batik, tribal patterns; core for clothing and wall hangings.

Top-Spinning Culture (陀螺文化)

• Top spinning (National Intangible Heritage): Wooden tops spun at high speed; festive competitions; preserved in Songkeng Village (送坑村, Hua’an, Fujian).

Traditional Cuisine

• Staples: Glutinous rice, millet, sweet potato, taro.
• Ingredients: Wild vegetables, hunted game, seafood; rice wine as key beverage.
• Signature Dishes: Roasted wild boar, bamboo rice, glutinous cakes, mochi, preserved meat, dried fish, wild greens, grilled flying fish (Tao/Yami).
• Snacks: Glutinous rice, millet porridge, sweet potato cakes, taro cakes, bamboo tube rice, fried yam slices.
• Drinks: Home-brewed rice wine (strong), millet wine, mountain spring water, ginger tea (Atayal).

Cultural Tourism Highlights

Mainland Museums & Cultural Centers

• Gaoshan Ethnic Museum (中华民族园, Beijing, 4A): Mainland’s only dedicated museum; 1:1 reproductions of stone, wood, bamboo houses; costumes, carvings, weaving, instruments, intangible heritage; scheduled song & dance performances.
• Hua’an Gaoshan Culture Center (Fujian Zhangzhou): Exhibits history, costumes, intangible heritage, dance & handcraft experiences; hand-holding dance & top-spinning workshops; supports Songkeng Village.
• Taiwan Village Cultural Exhibition Hall (Dengzhou, Henan): History of Taiwan Village, migration stories, Gaoshan artifacts, ancestral totems.

Core Tourist Areas

• Songkeng Village (送坑村, Hua’an, Fujian): Only mainland Gaoshan ethnic village; stone-slab, bamboo, stilted houses, performance stage, snake totem square; hand-holding dance, top-spinning, bamboo rice experiences.
• Taiwan Village (Dengzhou, Henan): Mainland’s largest Gaoshan settlement; Shangying, Xiaying, Jianbingying Villages; Ming-Qing architecture, ancestral tombs, stone totems; active preservation of language, costumes, songs, dances.
• Hua’an Tulou Cluster (Fujian): World Heritage; linked with Songkeng Village for dual experience of Hakka earth buildings + ethnic culture.

Taiwan Key Sites (Brief)

• Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park (屏东玛家乡): Largest park; 1:1 reproductions of traditional buildings; dance shows, handicrafts.
• Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (九族文化村, Nantou 日月潭): Theme park with nine tribes, museum, traditional village, performances.
• Puyuma Cultural Park (卑南文化公园, Taitung 台东): Prehistoric site; stone coffins, pottery, jade artifacts; Puyuma heritage.

Travel Guide & Tips

Best Visiting Time

• July–August: Harvest Festival; best for experience of dance, rice wine, top-spinning.
• October–November: Harvest season; pleasant weather, cultural hikes.
• March–April: Sowing rituals, folk songs & dances, ancient religious culture.

Classic 3-Day Deep Itinerary

Option A – Fujian Hua’an (Gaoshan + Tulou)

• Day 1: Arrive Hua’an → Songkeng Village (folk dance, top spinning, bamboo rice) → overnight at local guesthouse.
• Day 2: Songkeng Village → Tulou cluster (Eryi Lou, Nanyang Lou) → Gaoshan Culture Center (craft experiences) → stay Hua’an.
• Day 3: Hua’an → Guanshe Village (She + Gaoshan dance) → return.

Option B – Henan Dengzhou (Taiwan Village + Central Plains)

• Day 1: Arrive Dengzhou → Zhangcun Town Taiwan Village (Shangying, Xiaying, Jianbingying; ancient homes, tombs, totems) → overnight guesthouse.
• Day 2: Taiwan Village → Dengzhou ancient city (Huazhou Academy, Fusheng Temple Tower) → rice wine & dance experience → overnight Dengzhou city.
• Day 3: Dengzhou → Nanyang Wuhou Temple → return.

Cultural Experience

• Intangible heritage workshops: rattan/bamboo weaving, textile weaving, embroidery, wood carving (snake totem), bamboo rice, rice wine brewing.
• Dance & music: hand-holding dance, bamboo pole dance, mortar dance, folk singing.
• Festival participation: Harvest Festival, top-spinning contests, Five-Year Festival observation, sowing rituals.
• Cultural study: Stone-slab houses, ancestor worship explanations, tribal language, totem research.
• Cuisine experience: Roasted wild boar, bamboo rice, glutinous mochi, home-brewed rice wine, wild greens feast.

Travel Tips

• Religious etiquette: Dress modestly (cover shoulders/knees); do not touch statues or totems; avoid noise & unauthorized photography.
• Respect customs: Ask before photographing villagers; enter homes only when invited; do not step on totems or sacred trees; women avoid some ancestor rituals.
• Clothing: Mountain climate; light jacket spring/fall, sun protection summer, warm layers winter; non-slip shoes for village walks; long pants/skirts for sacred areas.
• Food safety: Cuisine is salty & savory; rice wine strong; sensitive stomachs should drink moderately; wild vegetables must be checked.
• Environment: Protect ancient buildings, totems, forests; do not litter, pick wild plants, or feed wildlife; follow “do not damage homes or farmland” principle.