The township was formerly the "Aboriginal Area" of Suō District, Taihoku Prefecture, during Japanese rule. It was the site of the Sayun incident made famous through the movie Sayon's Bell.
Geography
The population consists mainly of the indigenousAtayal people. Many residents of Aohua Village still speak the Japanese language in daily life.[1]
Taiwan Highway 9 passes through Nan'ao. Between Su'ao and Hualien City, to the south, this road is known as the Suhua Highway (蘇花公路), and it features some of the most dramatic oceanside scenery in Taiwan.