{"id":7852,"date":"2025-10-08T17:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T09:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/?p=7852"},"modified":"2025-09-21T21:52:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T13:52:43","slug":"neipu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/en\/neipu\/","title":{"rendered":"TAIWAN 368-51 | Pingtung \u25e6 Neipu | What\u2019s the Connection Between Han Yu and Neipu?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first heard about the Han Yu Cultural Festival, an annual event held in Neipu, Pingtung, I couldn\u2019t help but wonder: What does Han Yu, a celebrated Chinese literary figure and educator, have to do with Neipu\u2014a rural township far removed in both time and place? It wasn\u2019t until I visited Neipu and saw how deeply the locals respect and uphold the festival's rituals that I began to understand\u2014and gain a newfound appreciation for\u2014this cultural celebration.<\/p>\n

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\u25e6 Pingtung Travel Guide<\/span><\/h6>\n

01\uff5cTransportation in Pingtung<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude84 Taiwan High Speed Rail<\/a>
\n\ud83d\ude97 Car Rentals - Save Up to 10%<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udea2 Xiaoliuqiu - Donggang Ferry Ticket<\/a><\/p>\n

02\uff5cPopular Attractions in Pingtung<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfab National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium Ticket<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Sleepover Experience at National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Paradise of Deer Ticket in Kenting<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Tickets for Kenting Luyu Island Capybara Ecological Park<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Shuangliu National Forest Recreation Area Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

03\uff5cThings To Do in Pingtung<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea3\ud83c\udffb Stand Up Paddleboarding Experience in Kenting<\/a>
\n\ud83e\udd3f Water Activities at Kenting South Bay<\/a>
\n\ud83e\udd3f Liuqiu Snorkeling Tour by Bear Diving in Pingtung<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfd4\ufe0f Alangyi Hostoric Trail Hiking Day Tour<\/a><\/p>\n

\u25e6 History of Neipu<\/span><\/h6>\n

Located in north-central Pingtung, Neipu is home primarily to Hakka and Hoklo (Minnan) communities, with Hakka people making up about 60% of the population and Minnan about 35%. There are also smaller groups of Paiwan, Rukai, and Makatao peoples. Due to its high Hakka population, Neipu is considered a key cultural center for Hakka people in southern Taiwan\u2014an important factor in the development of the Han Yu Cultural Festival.<\/p>\n

Historically, Neipu was once a dense forest and part of the traditional territory of the Paiwan people. When early Hakka settlers arrived to cultivate the land, they cleared plots within the forest for farming. In Hakka, these plots are called \u201cpu\u201d (\u57d4), meaning cultivated land. Since these farmlands were deep inside the woods, the area came to be known as \u201cNei-pu\u201d (\u5167\u57d4), or \u201cinner farmland.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Han Yu Cultural Festival<\/span><\/h6>\n

To understand the connection between Han Yu and Neipu, Pingtung, we have to go back to the Tang Dynasty, in the year 819 CE. Over a thousand years ago, Han Yu angered Emperor Xianzong of Tang by submitting a bold memorial titled \u201cMemorial on the Bone of the Buddha\u201d, in which he criticized the emperor\u2019s Buddhist policies. As punishment, he was demoted and exiled to Chaozhou in Guangdong, then considered a remote and undeveloped region. Despite the harsh posting, Han Yu devoted himself to improving the area\u2014developing infrastructure, promoting education, and mentoring local talent. His contributions earned him deep admiration from the people of Chaozhou, who later enshrined him in temples to honor his virtue. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, Han Yu had come to be revered as a local guardian deity in many communities. Most of Neipu\u2019s Hakka residents trace their roots to Guangdong. When their ancestors migrated across the sea to Taiwan and settled in Neipu, they brought with them the tradition of honoring Han Yu, building temples and continuing the rituals of worship from their homeland.<\/p>\n

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During the Han Yu Cultural Festival, in addition to the solemn and traditional Three Offerings Ritual, what truly captivated me were the rich melodies of the Hakka Eight Sounds and the elegant Six-Rank Dance (Liuyi Wu) performed by students from Fengtian Elementary School in Neipu.<\/p>\n

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Since its founding in 2001, the Han Yu Cultural Festival has spanned over two decades. More than a tribute to a revered figure, the event has become a living expression of Hakka heritage. The values of \u201ctilling the land under clear skies and studying on rainy days,\u201d along with a strong commitment to education and culture, have taken root as a defining part of Neipu\u2019s cultural identity.<\/p>\n

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\u25e6 Attractions in Neipu<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cChangli Temple<\/h6>\n

Located next to Neipu\u2019s Mazu Temple, Changli Temple\u2014also known as the Han Yu Temple\u2014is the only temple in Taiwan dedicated to Han Yu, the foremost of the \u201cEight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties.\u201d Built in 1803, during the 8th year of the Qing Jiaqing Emperor\u2019s reign, the shrine boasts over 200 years of history. In its early years, renowned scholars were invited to the shrine to give lectures, making it an important center of learning within the Liudui Hakka settlements. This scholarly tradition helped nurture many successful candidates in the imperial examination system, including juren and jinshi (degree holders in the Ming and Qing civil service exams).<\/p>\n

What caught my eye most when entering the shrine were the bright red wishing cards pinned to the walls. During exam season, students often visit with a copy of their exam admission slip, praying to Han Yu for wisdom and good fortune.<\/p>\n

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Changli Temple<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0400-2130\nNo. 164, Guangji Rd., Neipu Township, Pingtung<\/pre>\n
02\uff5cNeipu Mazu Temple<\/h6>\n
Also built in 1803, during the 8th year of the Qing Jiaqing Emperor\u2019s reign, the Liudui Mazu Temple is the oldest Mazu temple in the Liudui region. During the Qing Dynasty, whenever the Liudui militia mobilized, they would hold pre-battle oath ceremonies at the temple, praying to Mazu for safety in battle and a victorious return. Mazu served not only as a spiritual anchor for soldiers, but also as a central figure of worship and protection for the local people.<\/p>\n
What makes this temple especially unique is that it\u2019s physically connected to both Changli Shrine (dedicated to Han Yu) and a Guanyin Temple nestled between them. Together, the three structures form a single, unified temple complex. This rare architectural and spiritual fusion brings together Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, making it one of the few places in Taiwan where the Three Teachings coexist harmoniously under one roof.<\/p>\n
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Neipu Mazu Temple<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0400-2200\nNo. 164, Guangji Rd., Neipu Township, Pingtung<\/pre>\n
03\uff5cNeipu Old Street<\/h6>\n
Neipu Old Street, formerly known as \"Yangjiyuan,\" got its name from early settlers who, according to local elders, once fenced off the area to raise sheep. As far back as the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, this spot served as a vital transportation hub for the Neipu region. Today\u2019s Old Street centers around the intersection of Yangji Road and Dongcheng Road, with its entrance located across from the Mazu Temple parking lot.<\/p>\n
One of the street\u2019s most iconic landmarks was the Yuanshun Rice Wine Brewery on Yangji Road. Founded during the Qing Dynasty, the brewery was known for its resilience\u2014even under suppression during the Japanese colonial period, it remained famous for its red yeast rice and fermented rice products. Their signature dish, sweet rice wine soup with red bean tangyuan, made using traditional methods, was especially well-loved. Sadly, Yuanshun closed in 2019, and as someone who never got the chance to try it, I can\u2019t help but feel a tinge of regret.<\/p>\n
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Neipu Old Street<\/strong>\r\n\r\nYangji Rd., Neipu Township, Pingtung<\/pre>\n
04\uff5cLiudui Hakka Cultural Park<\/h6>\n
Officially opened in 2011, the Liudui Hakka Cultural Park is a national-level cultural center in southern Taiwan, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the everyday life and traditions of the twelve Hakka townships in the region. The park\u2019s architecture is inspired by the concept of \u201cproviding shade to the land\u201d\u2014a poetic metaphor embodied by six umbrella-shaped, village-style structures spread throughout the site. These buildings blend modern design with Hakka aesthetics, featuring symbolic elements like bamboo hats and paper umbrellas.<\/p>\n
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Among all the attractions in the park, my personal favorite is the Liang Family Tobacco Curing Building, a site rich with history and memory. Tobacco curing buildings, or \u201cyanlou\u201d, were used for drying and storing tobacco leaves. During the Japanese colonial period, the government promoted tobacco farming, leading to the construction of such facilities across various regions. The one preserved in this park\u2014the Liang Family Curing Building\u2014is a rare example of the \u201cOsaka-style\u201d yanlou, designed with a chimney-like vent directly above the main furnace for better smoke ventilation.<\/p>\n
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Through black-and-white photos of laborers at work and tools once used in tobacco trading, visitors are transported back in time\u2014offered a glimpse into the era when farming families lived closely intertwined with the rhythms of tobacco cultivation.<\/p>\n
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Liudui Hakka Cultural Park<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0900-1700, closed on Tuesday.\nNo. 588, Xinyi Rd., Neipu Township, Pingtung<\/pre>\n
\u25e6 Restaurants and Snacks in Neipu<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cFour Generations Under the Banyan Tree<\/h6>\n
In Taiwan\u2019s early agrarian society, Hakka farmers often began their day with a hearty bowl of noodles before heading to the fields\u2014fuel for a long day of labor. Born from that tradition, the Banyan Tree Noodle Shop has been serving up steaming bowls of comfort for decades. It\u2019s not just an old, well-loved eatery\u2014it\u2019s a place full of childhood memories and emotional ties for many locals.<\/p>\n
With so many menu options, I froze up trying to decide. That\u2019s when the man at the next table leaned over and said: \u201cDo you eat garlic? You do? Then you have to try the garlic dry noodles. You won\u2019t find this anywhere else!\u201d When the noodles arrived, I immediately understood what he meant. Sure, you can find garlic noodles in other places\u2014but rarely do you see such a generous mountain of fresh garlic. Once I mixed in the minced pork, garlic, and noodles, the bold aroma hit me like a wave\u2014punchy, savory, and irresistible. For garlic lovers, this dish is nothing short of pure bliss.<\/p>\n
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Four Generations Under the Banyan Tree<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0600-2100, closed on Thursday.\nNo. 78-1, Dongyang St., Neipu Township, Pingtung<\/pre>\n
\u25e6 Flying Over Taiwan<\/span><\/h6>\n