Siraya

Siraya National Scenic Area covers about 96,682 hectares of Tainan's foothills and the Chiayi Plain across 17 townships and districts^[1]. It is named after the Siraya people, an Indigenous group that lived in the region well into the 18th century^[2].

Hills, river valleys and reservoirs such as Wushantou and Zengwen make up much of the area's habitat^[1].

The Dongshan district is known for its coffee plantations^[2].

Mountains and hills make up about half the area. The Zengwen River cuts through it, and the badlands known locally as Moon World are made of blue-gray rock. The area also includes the Wushanling fault-block mountains, the Zhuqi and Neimen hills and the Chianan uplifted coastal plain^[1].

Southern Taiwan has hot, humid summers with most of the rain, and a drier winter.

The Siraya lived in the area into the 18th century, and their descendants have intermarried with Han Chinese^[2]. The area promotes Siraya cultural roots tourism in Zuozhen^[1].

Resource surveys began in 1992, and in November 1994 the area was approved as Taiwan's 13th national-level scenic area. The Siraya National Scenic Area Headquarters was founded on 26 November 2005 under the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications^[1].

Main sights are Guanziling and its mud hot springs, Wushantou Reservoir, Zengwen Reservoir and the Moon World badlands at Zuozhen, along with Baihe, Hutouping and Jianshanpi reservoirs^[1].

The headquarters is at 99 Futian Road, Guantian District, Tainan, and the Guantian Visitor Center is part of the area's visitor services^[1].

The scenic area is managed by the Tourism Administration, which promotes the area's reservoirs, hot springs and Siraya cultural heritage^[1].