Laulai Guesthouse in Hualien works in with neighboring weaving, sculpture, and tattoo workshops to offer a comprehensive view of local tribal culture. (Jimmy Lin)

Are you curious about indigenous cultures? How does one go about truly experiencing one of these exotic cultures?

Hualien's Laulai Guesthouse is not just another bed and breakfast. The establishment's owners hope to encourage guests to linger in the area to experience firsthand the Truku people's customs and culture.

Composed of five wooden cabins surrounding a wooden pavilion, Laulai is situated amidst the tribal village in Hsiulin Township, only five minutes from Taroko National Park.

The Laulai Country Garden Guesthouse is run by a mother and daughter team surnamed Kao of the Truku people (part of the Sedeq branch of the Atayal tribe). Their home, built some 20 years ago, is located in the middle of the village. They began adding cabins and operating their bed and breakfast back in 2004. Kao Yu-chen, who previously worked in the loan department of a bank in Taipei, was asked by her mother to return to Hualien to help out a year ago.

Young people have different views when it comes to operating a guesthouse.

"You can't run one of these establishments alone. You have to involve the entire tribe." Upon returning to her village, Kao Yu-chen immediately set about doing the coordinating work. "If you want to bring out what is special about this area, you need the surrounding culture and environment to work in coordination with the B&B."

Persuaded by an enthusiastic Kao Yu-chen, the Taiwanese Aborigines Tattoo Culture Association, directed by local photographer Kimi Sambal (Chinese name Tien Kuei-shih), the Tulan Workshop, which produces Aboriginal art, the Yeh Cheng-jen Stone Carving Workshop, and the Tachili Tribal Restaurant, which specializes in Aboriginal delicacies, mobilized and came together to present a complete picture of Aboriginal culture for visitors to view in Hsiulin Township.