Located at 1,149 meters above sea level, and surrounded by high mountains, Wushe in Nantou County is a renowned scenic spot in Taiwan. After entering the mountain area from the central Taiwan town of Puli, the traveler follows a smooth highway leading towards Wushe, which forms the heart of Jenai district. Suddenly, the road enters a narrow defile with high cliffs on either side. This is the famous Jen Chih Pass, which owes its name to an old tradition among aborigines in the area. It is said that in former times, the aborigines, tired of being cheated by people from the plains, would often go on raids into the plains area. The Jen Chih pass was regarded as an insurmountable barrier, hence its name, which means "plainsmen shall not pass."

The visitor going to Wushe during the early spring will find that the road leading into the town is lined with cherry blossoms. Other blooms found in the area are those of camellia, azalea, plum and peach.

Although it looks so serene and natural lying in the valley below, the Pi Hu or Green Lake was in fact formed by a dam built by the Taiwan Power Co. in 1959 to regulate the flow of water into Sun Moon Lake. With a height of 114 meters, and a length of 200 meters, the dam can store some 140 million cubic meters of water and generate some 40,000 kilowatts of power. In addition, thousands of fish can be found in the lake. The late President Chiang Kai-shek was so impressed by the attractive scenery in the area, that he personally gave the lake its name.

A kilometer down the road is the Chiehsou pavilion, standing atop a small hill. Built in 1958, and renovated in 1970, the pavilion has glass wall and a table and a few chairs inside. At the other end of the street are some stone arches and tablets with inscriptions to commemorate the aborigines in the area who fought against Japanese rule during the occupation of Taiwan.

When China was defeated by Japan in its war over Korea in 1895, it was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan. The Japanese persecuted and subdued the aborigines, not hesitating to resort to violence. For instance, in 1928, the Japanese ordered the aborigines to fell wood to build temples and schools at Wushe. In order to make the work easier, the aborigines used iron cables to bring the wood down from the top of the mountain. The Japanese police, however, whose main aim was to cause suffering for the aborigines, would beat anyone using this method. Angered over this show of ruthless cruelty, the aborigines rose up on the morning of Oct. 27, 1930 and ambushed 134 Japanese who were attending a sports meeting.

The Japanese at once mobilized all their military and police forces to attack the aborigines, but even in the face of cannon and machine gun fire, they would not surrender. Finally, the Japanese air force bombarded Wushe and dropped poison gas shells. Realizing they had been defeated, the aborigines jumped over cliffs to commit suicide rather than give up. During the four-month uprising, it was estimated that some 900 people were killed. The government set up tablets and arches in 1953 to commemorate the aborigines' heroism.

Wushe Villa provides accommodation and food for young people. Inaugurated by the China Youth Corps in 1961, the villa has a meeting hall and dormitories to house more than 100 people at a time. Along the main street of the small town can be found stores, restaurants, beauty parlors, a post office, police station, church and public service station. The administrative office for the Jenai area can be found at the end of the street.

Most people living in Wushe today are from the plains, and many of them are government employees, school teachers or businessmen. In the past, aborigines in the nearby mountain area earned their living from hunting. With government assistance, most of them today are engaged in agriculture, and their living standards have been greatly improved. A particularly helpful move has been the introduction of hsiang ku cultivation techniques to the village.

To fill educational needs, there are a provincial agricultural high school, a junior high school and 15 primary schools in the Jenai area. Many of the young people living there also continue their education at high schools and colleges in other parts of Taiwan.

The Jenai Primary School is built on the site where the aborigines rose up against their Japanese overlords. Now, fountains, pavilions and blossoming plum trees dot the campus. The school has six classes, 147 students and 10 teachers and staff. Brought up in such an environment, the children live simple and healthy lives, while at the same time receiving a solid educational background.

Jenai Agricultural High School, whose intake is made up entirely of aborigines, is the highest education institute in the mountain area of Taiwan. The school was inaugurated some 40 years ago by the Japanese administration when they were forced to change their aborigine policy as a result of the Wushe incident. After Taiwan was returned to the Republic of China in 1945, the school was taken over by the government under the compulsory five-year education scheme. Currently, the school has departments of agricultural management, horticulture, forestry and agricultural operation.

Over the years, the original five shabby shacks on the campus have been replaced by 40 modern buildings which include an administrative headquarters, dormitories, recreation center, library, data center, and laboratories. With the addition of a playground, experimental farms, orchards and a small forest area, the school today covers an area of 30 hectares.

The more than 400 students at the school are chosen from all the aborigine villages in the area through an examination. All tuition, accommodation and board is paid for by the government. On five occasions, the school has won first prizes in national high school folk dance contests.

Because of the comfortable environment and friendly people, more and more teachers are volunteering to teach at Wushe, including many who graduated from the school. The Jenai Agricultural High School is also an important base for the activities of the China Youth Corps. Each year, about 5,000 young men from all over Taiwan go there for a vacation. As a result, laughter echoes over the town from the school all the year round.

[Picture Caption]

Left: The Pi Hu or Green Lake looks serene and natural in the valley. Above: In early spring, cherry blossoms line the road leading into Wushe.

From left: Jenai Agricultural High School, whose intake is made up entir ely of aborigines, is the highest educational institute in the mountain area of Taiwan; the smooth Puli-Wushe highway; a panoramic view of Wushe.

1. Stone arches and tablets with inscriptions are erected to commemorate the aborigines in the area who fought against Japanese rule during their occupation of Taiwan. 2. Wushe Villa. 3. Chiehsou Pavilion was a favorite retreat of the late President Chiang Kai-shek. 4. Weaving colorful cloth is a leading occupation of the aborigine population in Wushe. 5. The aborigines' living standards have been greatly improved.

1. Beautiful aborigine girls. 2. A member of Bunun Tribe in traditional costume. 3. Aborigine children. 4. Aborigines of the Taiya Tribe demonstrating their traditional dances.

In early spring, cherry blossoms line the road leading into Wushe.

In early spring, cherry blossoms line the road leading into Wushe.

Agricultural High School, whose intake is made up entir ely of aborigines.

is the highest educational institute in the mountain area of Taiwan;.

the smooth Puli-Wushe highway; a panoramic view of Wushe.

Stone arches and tablets with inscriptions are erected to commemorate the aborigines in the area who fought against Japanese rule during their occupation of Taiwan.

Wushe Villa.

Chiehsou Pavilion was a favorite retreat of the late President Chiang Kai-shek.

Weaving colorful cloth is a leading occupation of the aborigine population in Wushe.

The aborigines' living standards have been greatly improved.

Beautiful aborigine girls.

A member of Bunun Tribe in traditional costume.

Aborigine children.

Aborigines of the Taiya Tribe demonstrating their traditional dances.