Shetoushan

Shetou Mountain is located at the 12km mark of Kaohsiung County Highway No. 132 and can be spotted on the way to Douna Village. The mountain sits right across the Longtou Mountain in a meander.


It was named Shetou, literally "snake head" in English, because it looks like a Deinagkistrodon snake snuggling at the Zhuokou River. It is a landmark in Maolin District and the guardian mountain of the local indigenous Tribe.

There is also interesting folklore behind the mountain. So it goes that there were a mother snake and her two baby snakes hunting for food in the mountain. Mistaking the sound of a gushing river in the mountain for heavy rain, the mother snake ushered her children up to a tree to avoid a huge flood that might follow the rain and instructed them to chant a spell so they could turn themselves into an eagle or a purple crow butterfly and fly away safely.


The Hundred Pace Snake symbolizes the ancient spirit of the Rukai Tribe. Rukai legends claim that their people are descended from this snake, so the snake is considered highly esteemed and plays an important role in their traditional culture.

Visitors are recommended to spend 15 minutes here: They can head to the observatory and appreciate the unique meander landscape or the full view of the mountain.