Su’ao

Su’ao (蘇澳) is a strategically important township in southeastern Yilan serving as a crucial transit point between northern and eastern Taiwan. The area’s significance dates back to the Qing dynasty when Luo Dachun (羅大春) was dispatched to construct what would become the Suhua Highway. During the Japanese colonial period Su’ao developed into an important administrative and industrial center, with major infrastructure including harbor facilities, the foundation for what would become one of the major bases of the ROC Navy, and several Shinto shrines. The township encompasses Nanfang’ao (南方澳), historically one of Taiwan’s three largest fishing ports, and is famous for its unusual cold springs.