Ita Thao Commercial District

Ita Thao used to be called "Dehua Village" or "Huafan Village." It's the main settlement for the Thao people and the most populated area around Sun Moon Lake. Back in the day, President Chiang Kai-shek loved boating over here to watch traditional Thao music and dance performances, which helped turn Ita Thao into a major hub for Indigenous culture. Today, it’s a vibrant community where Thao, Atayal, and Han Chinese people live together, packed with souvenir shops, restaurants, and hotels. Every year around August 15th (on the lunar calendar), the Thao people hold their grandest traditional festival. The whole tribe comes together for it, making it an amazing time for visitors to drop by and truly experience Thao culture. Plus, Ita Thao is also the trailhead for hiking Mount Shuishe.