Nantou County is located at the very center of Taiwan’s main island and is one of only two administrative regions not facing the sea (the other being Chiayi City). The county seat is in Nantou City. The county is surrounded by mountains and valleys: it borders Taichung City to the north, Changhua and Yunlin to the west, Hualien to the east, and Chiayi and Kaohsiung to the south. The terrain within the county is highly varied, with lofty mountains enclosing it. It is home to Taiwan’s highest peak, Yushan (Jade Mountain), the famous Sun Moon Lake, and the Geographic Center Monument of Taiwan, and it is also the source of the Zhuoshui River.
The name “Nantou” derives from the word Ramtau in the language of the Papora people, specifically the Arikun subgroup, and was later transliterated into Hokkien. Historical records such as the Gazetteer of Zhuluo County already mention “Nantou Mountain” and “Nantou Village,” distinguishing Nantou from Beitou (today’s Caotun) by the Zhuoshui River as a natural boundary.
The population of the county is mainly concentrated in Caotun Township and Nantou City, which also serve as key satellite towns of the Taichung–Changhua metropolitan area. The county administers 1 city, 4 towns, and 8 townships (including 2 mountain indigenous townships), and is home to indigenous groups such as the Seediq, Bunun, Atayal, and Thao peoples, giving the region a culturally diverse character.
Nantou’s natural environment has nurtured a wealth of agricultural products and handicrafts, such as green plums, bananas, sugarcane, Dong Ding Oolong tea, Shaoxing wine, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo crafts, Nantou ceramics, and flowers, all of which are famous specialties. Because of the large differences in elevation, the county’s high mountains intercept moisture from Pacific monsoon winds, bringing abundant rainfall and making Nantou an important water source area for Taiwan.
In terms of living circles, Nantou can be roughly divided into four zones:
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Nantou Circle: Centered on Nantou City and Caotun Township, with the largest population and close ties to Changhua.
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Puli Circle: Centered on Puli Township, serving as the gateway to Sun Moon Lake and Cingjing Farm.
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Zhushan Circle: Formed by Zhushan Township and Lugu Township, acting as the access point to Xitou and Shanlinxi, while maintaining strong connections with Yunlin.
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Shuili Circle: Centered on Shuili Township, linked with Jiji and Xinyi, and known for its rich mountain landscapes.
