Songhe Tribe

Songhe was formerly known as the 'Gulas' or 'Kyūrashi' tribe. It was an early settlement of the Atayal indigenous people. 'Tafūlan' is the Atayal place name for Songhe, meaning a place with abundant water and fertile land, suitable for human habitation. After Taiwan's Retrocession, it was renamed 'Songhe' because many egrets were often seen foraging in the Dajia River, which from a distance resembled white cranes dancing. Songhe Community, located by the Dajia River, is situated on a river terrace. Currently, the village is home to diverse ethnic groups, including indigenous people, Minnan, Hakka, and waishengren (mainlanders). In Linchang Lane of Songhe Community, there is a row of cypress plank houses (staff dormitories of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency) that serve as the most complete historical testament to the 'Basianshan' Forest Farm, one of Taiwan's three major forest farms during the Japanese colonial period.