Dafen, Hualien, Mountain settlement in Zhuoxi Township, Taiwan.
Dafen is a mountain settlement in Zhuoxi, Hualien County, situated inside Yushan National Park at around 1,320 meters (4,330 feet) above sea level. The land around it is covered by dense forest, with steep slopes and ridgelines of the Central Range forming the backdrop on all sides.
The mountain corridors around Dafen were used by indigenous groups for generations to cross the island's central spine. The Batongguan Trail, which runs nearby, is one of the oldest known routes linking communities on opposite sides of Taiwan.
The Bunun, one of Taiwan's indigenous peoples, have long made this mountain area their home, and their presence shapes how the settlement looks and feels today. Walking through the area, visitors notice how daily life remains tied to the surrounding forests and the streams that run nearby.
Access to hiking trails in the protected zones of the national park requires a permit, which can be arranged through the Nan-an Visitor Center. It is worth checking current conditions before heading out, as access rules may change depending on the season or ongoing land management work.
The Laklak Stream, which flows through the area, changes its character noticeably as it descends from the higher ground. Near Dafen it runs as a narrow, rocky creek, but lower down it opens into a wide, flat channel that looks almost like a different river entirely.
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