The Hidden Hakka Arcadia — Liudui (Second Print)

Authors: Huang, Rui-fang, Zeng, Kun-yu, and Zeng, Zhao-xiong
Publication Date: July 2007
Liugdui, an undiscovered place on any map, yet lives vividly in the hearts of Hakka people in southern Taiwan, and also it is a historical legend and a living story that has been passed down along the Pingtung Plain by the Kaoping River for over three centuries.
Liugdui is not in the name of the administrative districts but rather a symbol of unity and shared identity, representing the collective strength of Hakka communities in southern Taiwan. Liugdui refers to the Six Divisions, namely the Front Dui, Rear Dui, Left Dui, Right Dui, Central Dui, and Vanguard Dui, each representing one of the six historical divisions that together formed the Liugdui Hakka community. They correspond respectively to today’s Linluo and Changzhi (Front Dui); Neipu (Rear Dui); Jiadong and Xinpi (Left Dui); Meinong, Gaoshu, Jiaxian, Shanlin, and Liugui (Right Dui); Zhutan (Central Dui); and Wanluan (Vanguard Dui). In modern times, Liugdui has come to signify not only a Hakka homeland but also a shared cultural community that embraces all the peoples who live within it.
What makes it so special? the main reason visitors should come is that
In Meinong, one can leisurely ride a bicycle through a tranquil townscape imbued with rustic charm. In Jiadong, visitors can admire the grandeur of the Hsiao Family Residence and the Tai-ji Liang-yi Pond—the only surviving example of its kind in Taiwan—before the Yang Clan Ancestral Hall. In Neipu, one finds the Changli Temple, dedicated to Han Yu (768–824), the only shrine in Taiwan honoring the great Tang Confucian scholar. And in Wanluan, no visit is complete without savoring the region’s famed Wanluan Pork Knuckles, known for their chewy texture and rich flavor.
This is the first comprehensive cultural travel guide to Liugdui, presenting the beauty of southern Taiwan’s Hakka world through rich historical and ethnographic insight. The book also includes a supplementary booklet, Themed Journeys through Liugdui, highlighting local cuisine, heritage, and attractions through a series of curated travel themes.