Chiu Hsing-wei (邱星崴), the founder of Mountain Lodge, originally studied in the city, but after he went home to Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, to conduct field investigations for a group assignment in a college class, he unexpectedly discovered various problems in his hometown. Because of this class, he learned that his hometown was a very important trading stronghold and relay station during the Qing Dynasty. Over time, however, it had become a village in decline.

(Photo: Hakka TV)

Chiu believes that while many people think that the development of tourist attractions is good for the local area, in fact, the damage to the local area caused by tourism can be quite serious.  He said: “When tourists come in, there is noise and garbage pollution. What's more terrible is the intangible harm to culture. Because we want to do business with tourists, we don’t speak Hakka, and children don’t speak Hakka. Even the route of religious ceremonies has to be adjusted in line with the tourists. Everyone is doing business all day and there is no time to spend with their families, which means that we are sacrificing our culture in exchange for money.” In addition, the gravel excavation in Nanzhuang is very serious. Not only does it cause environmental damage, but the quality of living is also affected.

(Photo: Hakka TV)

Wanting to do something for his hometown, Chiu began to study rural issues and participated in the peasant movement, because too much land in Miaoli was unfairly expropriated, which made him more determined to seek solutions for the countryside. In 2011, Chiu and partners with common ideas established the Da Nanpu Rural Office to record, pass on and promote the culture and history of the Nanzhuang area. They promoted rural transformation through various methods, such as re-cultivating organic rice, opening handicraft workshops, and running community newspapers. However, after several operations, Chiu found that there was a lot of resistance to setting up NGOs in rural areas because local residents had no concept of public issues, and he and his partners’ actions were not understood by the elders, and were even misinterpreted as political involvement or manipulation.

After several setbacks, Chiu decided to tackle the challenge of preserving the local rural cultural ecology in a different way. In 2014, he transformed an old local house into a youth hostel, which provides part-time work and accommodation, handicraft workshops, civic lecture halls, and in-depth local tourism itineraries, integrating local agricultural products, culture, ethnic groups, and the natural environment. For example, Nanzhuang is rich in “Osmanthus bamboo shoots,” so the hostel launched a one-day experience itinerary to let people follow farmers into the bamboo forest to pick bamboo shoots, use the bamboo shoots to cook dishes on the spot, and then make hand-made Osmanthus bamboo paper, combining the interpretation of Hakka and Atayal tribal culture. A series of cultural life experiences was formed, and there was no longer just the trading of agricultural products.

After the opening of the hostel, local residents gradually put down their defensive attitude towards Chiu and his group of young people. Coupled with the open space of the hostel, the elders even come to the hostel’s grounds to make tea and chat from time to time.  The relaxed and lively atmosphere also attracts many local young people. Together they share their thoughts on Nanzhuang, hoping to turn the tide on the future of the countryside.