Smangus Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
tribe of the Atayal people living in Hsinchu County, Taiwan
About Smangus
Smangus is a remote Atayal (one of the indigenous peoples of Taiwan) village at 1,500 metres altitude in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County. It is famous for its ancient cypress trees. The village of 23 families is an experiment in communalism. The system of communal management draws on traditional Atayal culture and ideas from other sources including the Israeli kibbutz. Before the giant trees in the area were discovered, Smangus was completely cut off from the outside world. The fact that it is so far removed from "civilization" does nothing but promote an air of mystery about the area and the people who live there, which is why it was once known as "Black Village". It is now known as "God's Village". As far as modern conveniences go, the village has had an interesting history of developme
Smangus Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: