Liugui Turtle King Rock

The Great Tortoise Rock is a mountain rock that reminds people of a great tortoise asserting its dominance like a king. It sits on the bank of the Laonong River and is surrounded by Chinese pistache sprawling around.


Folklore has it that Liugui is the namesake of the six large rocks scattered in the Laonong River under the Liugui Bridge; the rocks looked like tortoises swimming in the river from afar, thus the name Liugui, meaning six tortoises in English. The biggest rock was then referred to as the Great Tortoise Rock by the locals, who set up a shrine worshipping the rock. Local people brought offerings like Bok choy and carrots every day to the Great Tortoise Rock, praying to the Great Tortoise for protection from floods. The Great Tortoise withstood Typhoon Morakot and continues to stand on the side of a detour along the riverbank, safeguarding residents in Liugui.

Visitors are recommended to stick around for 15 minutes, showing respect to the Great Tortoise and enjoying the scenery alongside the Laonong River.