Introduction of Zhenzhu Agricultural Leisure Area

Zhenzhu Agricultural Leisure Area is located in the east of Dongshan Township. The middle reach of the Dongshan river flows through the area, where six Pingpu tribes, Kavalan, once lived. The area covers Zhenzhu, Nanxing, Bucheng, Wuyuan, Qunying, Yongmei, Sanqi and Taihe villages. These names of villages are short for the names of indigenous communities at that time. (Table 1) In the early times, a boat could sail from the mouth of the Dongshan River, Karewangang (the former name of Dongshan River), along the former river course, passing Shagang, Sanqi, Zhenzhu, and other places, down to the Dongshan Old Street. The bricks which residents used to build houses were shipped by Bo-A from Wuyuangang, on the main stream, to many tributaries, which connected to Baxian, Qunying, Sanqi and other places.

Because the Dongshan River runs through the area, Zhenzhu Agricultural Leisure Area became a transport hub. Due to the good transport network and irrigation system, it brought land reclamation along the old river course. The history of tribe migration, the development of settlement and the traces of our ancestors all turn out to be the names of places, which enriches the humanities and landscapes of the Zhenzhu Agricultural Leisure Area. Thus, based on the local traffic, landscape, animals as well as plants, humanities, and other elements, an easy mnemonic phrase (in Taiwanese) “Image of Dung Gua Shan Zhenzhu,” was written. We give a   description of the reflection of a bamboo fence and paddy field to lead people to know Dung Gua Shan Zhenzhu Agricultural Leisure Area.