Around 1700, some Hakka people relocated themselves from the foothills to cultivate the densely forested Pingtung Plain. They settled down in this new land and have since taken root. The plain’s water system created their rice storage culture. Hence, they transformed themselves from a mountain community to a water-dependent community and made concerted efforts to set up six settlements, giving this area its name “Liu (six) dui (piles/settlements).” The Liudui Hakka settlements, which were organized to protect their hometown, have evolved to this day and have become synonymous with Hakka villages in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area.

Though Taiwan’s social structure has changed tremendously, Liudui people still retain their cultural assets of worshiping ancestors, putting emphasis on culture and education, working hard and cherishing all resources. They also created new vitality and splendor on this land, and spread the culture of their ethnic group from generation to generation.

Standing on the aerial landscape of the Pingtung Plain, you can compare the administrative divisions of Liudui and the large-scale hand-painted map of Liudui to learn about the geographical characteristics of Liudui Hakka villages. Through AR interaction, the audience can further explore the Dawu Mountains and water resources that are closely related to Liudui, as well as the artistic, cultural and featured landscapes of each settlement.

The ancestors of Liudui reclaimed land roughly along the Donggang River, Linbian River, and Ailiao River. Some reached the north side of Laonong River and the east side of Qishan River. Through the touch map, you can see the relationship between hydrology and settlement changes of Liudui from the Qing Dynasty through the Japanese colonial period to the present time. From historical events, you can learn about the transformation of the concept of “Liudui.” From the spirit of united love for their hometown, the Liudui Hakka people developed a core sense of identity, which led the community to stage the Liudui Games, keep writing about the Liudui, and encourage its residents to actively participate in grass-roots campaigns.

The spatial construction of the Liudui settlements shows the wisdom they gained from their ancestors on how to build defensive facilities in their villages in accordance with local land conditions. The rigorous configuration of the houses the families lived in combines the functional convenience of members' lives with the feng shui significance of inheritance and reproduction, presenting a unique form that is vastly different from other Hakka regions.

Hall names, ancestral halls, and share-holding worship associations show Hakka people’s strong awareness of their roots. Written texts in the Jingzi (Respect Words) Pavilion, Changli Temple (honoring the Tang Dynasty scholar) and huo fang, the traditional Hakka housing compound, also reflect Hakka people’s tradition of emphasizing culture and education. Through the Hakka worship ceremonies held year after year, you can also experience the evolution of the Hakka village culture.

The Hakka craftsmanship that focuses on meeting the needs of daily life, the salty sesame oil dishes, sauce jar ingredients and rice snacks reflect the frugal characteristics of the Hakka people; and the transformation of symbols in paper-cut works is a modest expression of Hakka people’s emotions.

Modern Hakka culture no longer only consists of the traditional bayin music performed during festive rituals; all kinds of music and literary creations have been developed, presenting Liudui's beautiful humanities and art for all to see. It is hoped that this will enable everyone to gain a deeper understanding of Liudui’s Hakka people.