Nanzhuang

Nánzhuāng (南庄) is a rural township in Miaoli known for its diverse cultural heritage and mining history. The population is a mix of Hakka people and Taiwanese Indigenous peoples, particularly Saisiyat and Tayal. During the Japanese colonial era Nanzhuang developed into an important center for both forestry operations and coal mining, with numerous mines operating throughout the mountainous terrain including the Longxiang (隆祥), Longshan (龍山), and Shitoushan (獅頭山) coal mines. The township was also connected to broader extraction networks through the Jialishan Forest Railway (加里山林業鐵道), which transported timber from the surrounding mountains. This industrial heritage left behind numerous remnants including mine entrances, forestry dormitories, and worker housing that can still be found scattered throughout the hills. Several theaters were built to entertain miners and lumberjacks but today only the historic Nanzhuang Theater (南庄戲院) remains intact, while the famous Nanzhuang Old Street (南庄老街) has been redeveloped as a tourist destination.