Amis Hunter Camp & Jade River: Make & Learn in Hualien

Make bamboo rice, carve jade, learn two-thousand-year-old hunting methods.

A full-day class in Hualien where you learn Amis tribal traditions hands-on: hunting techniques, fishing methods, bamboo rice-making and jade carving, with a live English guide and private transport included. Children from age 1 are welcome. The camp adjusts activities based on the day's conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Experience Amis culture and jade crafting

• Introduction to Amis tribe culture
• Make bamboo rice and try traditional bow
• Roast pork over firewood
• Try rice wine and learn animal traps
• Wear traditional tribal outfit
• Learn fishing skills and tribal cuisine
• Find or pick Taiwan jade
• Perform grinding and polishing on jade
• Complete and take home jade piece

The experience

Hualien's seven indigenous tribes each hold distinct knowledge, and this experience centers on the Amis: Taiwan's largest indigenous group. The day splits between the hunter camp and the jade workshop, both hands-on. At the camp, you make bamboo rice from scratch, learn to set traditional animal traps the way Amis hunters have for over two thousand years, try their bow and arrow, roast pork over firewood, taste rice wine, wear tribal clothing, and practice traditional fishing methods. The camp adjusts what you do based on conditions and what the hunters have planned that day.

After the camp, you move to the jade workshop. Taiwan jade sits in the Jade River valley, and you'll search for a piece yourself or select one already found. Once you've chosen a semi-finished stone in the shape you want, you do the carving: rough grinding on the wheel, fine grinding with sandpaper, then polishing with horsehide. Staff guide you through each step, but your hands do the work. You leave with the piece you made.

Private transport picks you up and brings you back, and a live English-speaking guide is with you the whole day. The experience fee covers both the camp and the jade workshop. Lunch is on your own.

What’s included

• Private transportation with pickup and drop-off.
• live English-speaking guide for the full day.
• all materials and instruction at the hunter camp (bamboo rice-making, trap-setting, bow and arrow, roasting, rice wine tasting, tribal clothing, fishing methods).
• jade selection and all carving tools and materials at the workshop (grinding wheel, sandpaper, horsehide for polishing).
• experience fees for both locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupUp to 15 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 36 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Allen Kao

Is this one for you?You do the making and learning yourself. This is not a demonstration or a tour where you watch. If you want hands-on instruction in tribal skills and jade carving rather than a guided walk through cultural sites, and you prefer private transport with a single guide over a group setting, this full-day class is built for that.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I make and learn at the Amis hunter camp?

At the camp you make bamboo rice, learn to set traditional animal traps used for over two thousand years, try bow and arrow, roast pork over firewood, taste rice wine, wear tribal clothing, and practice traditional fishing methods. The specific activities shift based on what the hunters have planned and conditions that day.

Do I carve the jade myself, or does someone do it for me?

You carve it yourself from start to finish. After choosing your semi-finished stone, you do the rough grinding on a wheel, fine grinding with sandpaper, and polishing with horsehide. Staff are there to guide you through each step, but your hands do the work.

Is lunch included in the day?

Lunch is not included. The experience fee covers the hunter camp and jade workshop activities, but you'll need to arrange your own meal.

How does the Amis tribe's approach to hunting and fishing differ from other methods?

Amis hunting and fishing techniques developed over two thousand years and are built on deep knowledge of the forest and water. The tribe's methods reflect concepts of sustainability and environmental protection. They take only what they need and understand the land as something to live with, not extract from.