Nan'ao Township is a mountain indigenous township in the southern part of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is the largest township in the county.

History

The township was formerly the "Aboriginal Area" of Suō District, Taihoku Prefecture, during Japanese rule. It was the site of the Sayun incident made famous through the movie Sayon's Bell.

Geography

The population consists mainly of the indigenous Atayal people. Many residents of Aohua Village still speak the Japanese language in daily life. Nan'ao Township contains part of the mountainous terrain of the Central Mountain Range.

Administrative divisions

Nanao is divided into seven villages (from north to south):

Tourist attractions

Transportation

Nan'ao is served by the North-Link Line of Taiwan Railway Administration at three stations: Dong'ao Station, Hanben Station, and Wuta Station. Taiwan Highway 9 passes through Nan'ao. Between Su'ao and Hualien City, to the south, this road is known as the Suhua Highway (蘇花公路), and it features some of the most dramatic oceanside scenery in Taiwan.

Notable natives