Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village
Encyclopedia
The Formosan Aboriginal
Culture Village (traditional Chinese
: 九族文化村) is an amusement park
in the Nantou
County of Taiwan
which has been in operation since 1986. It is distinctive for its Formosan aboriginal culture theme. The park contains the tallest free-fall ride in Taiwan as well as Taiwan's largest European gardens and bell tower
.
: 歐洲花園) is the largest European garden in Taiwan. Notable features are the gothic clock tower, the roman fountain, the miniature train, and the Ritz palace. The garden itself has Aboriginal style patterns.
The aboriginal village employs Taiwanese aborigines from the nine tribes with whom the visitors can engage in living history
. Activies include sculpting, weaving, pottery making, cooking, knitting, exercising, handicrafts making, playing, and dancing in the tradition of the aboriginal tribes.
The park's current rides and attractions include:
Taiwanese aborigines
Taiwanese aborigines is the term commonly applied in reference to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Although Taiwanese indigenous groups hold a variety of creation myths, recent research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han...
Culture Village (traditional Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 九族文化村) is an amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in the Nantou
Nantou County
Nantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan....
County of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
which has been in operation since 1986. It is distinctive for its Formosan aboriginal culture theme. The park contains the tallest free-fall ride in Taiwan as well as Taiwan's largest European gardens and bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
.
History
The land on which the Formosan Aboriginal Culture village now stands was purchased in 1982 by the village's current president Jung-i Chang. The park was opened four years later in July 1986 with only the culture village and the European garden. The amusement park section was added in 1992.Rides and attractions
The park is composed of three main themed areas: the amusement park "Amusement Isle", an activities area "Aboriginal Village Park", and a European garden. All of the rides except the Gondola to the aboriginal village and the steam train are located in "Amusement Isle".European Garden
The European Garden (traditional ChineseChinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 歐洲花園) is the largest European garden in Taiwan. Notable features are the gothic clock tower, the roman fountain, the miniature train, and the Ritz palace. The garden itself has Aboriginal style patterns.
Aboriginal Village Park
The Aboriginal Village Park is the largest outdoor museum in Taiwan. It is composed of nine villages on the hillside above Amusement Isle, each representing a different aboriginal tribal community. The buildings were reconstructed based on fieldwork and blueprints drawn up by anthropologists in the 1930s and 40s.The aboriginal village employs Taiwanese aborigines from the nine tribes with whom the visitors can engage in living history
Living history
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...
. Activies include sculpting, weaving, pottery making, cooking, knitting, exercising, handicrafts making, playing, and dancing in the tradition of the aboriginal tribes.
Amusement Isle
Amusement Isle is the amusement park section of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. It is located between the culture village and the european gardens and serves as an access point to the culture village via the cable car.The park's current rides and attractions include:
- Mayan Adventure (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 馬雅探險). Taiwan's first suspended roller coaster. Built by the Dutch company VEKOMA for NT$600,000,000. - UFO Adventures (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: UFO歷險). Taiwan's tallest free-fall ride at 280 ft (85m). Built by Swiss company INTAMIN for NT$300,000,000. - Gold Mine Exploration (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 金礦山探險). A log flume ride with a 50 ft (15m) final drop. Built by German company MACK for NT$1,000,000,000. - Caribbean Adventure (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 加勒比海探險). A rafting rideRiver rafting rideA river rafting ride is an amusement ride that simulates whitewater rafting.-History:The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall and developed by Intamin AG...
consisting of a backwards section and a final drop of 100 ft (30m). Built by German company MACK for NT$360,000,000. - Aboriginal Ropeway (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 九族空中纜車). Taiwan's first cable carGondola liftA gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
system. Transports visitors from amusement isle to the aboriginal village. Built by Austrian company DOPPELMAYR for NT$1,000,000,000. - Aladdin Square (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 阿拉丁廣場). An indoor facility that houses various small attractions. Notable among these are Space Mountain (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 太空山) similar to Disneyland's Space Mountain, and Hawaii waves (traditional ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 夏威夷巨浪). Other attractions include carnival games and fair rides.