Located in Yunlin Gukeng, the Hushan Reservoir Cultural Heritage Site Museum is a free exhibition hall that combines archaeological sites, cultural history, ecological education, and the scenic views of Hushan Reservoir. The museum features the permanent exhibition "Settling on the Mountaintop – Gukeng Dapingding Site", displaying 238 prehistoric artifacts, settlement models, and interactive experiences to introduce visitors to the lives of ancient inhabitants from about 4,000 years ago. Ascending to the fifth-floor exhibition hall and outdoor viewing platform offers panoramic views of Hushan Reservoir, green mountains, and the Yunlin Plain, making it an ideal Yunlin attraction for families and in-depth travel.
Located in Yunlin County Gukeng Township, the Hushan Reservoir Cultural Heritage Site Museum is a distinctive exhibition hall integrating cultural history, archaeological education, ecological conservation, and environmental learning. It is also a worthwhile free stop when visiting Hushan Reservoir.
The museum was established due to the construction of Hushan Reservoir, aiming to showcase archaeological findings so more people can learn about the land's thousands of years of history and culture, while connecting surrounding settlements, ecosystems, and reservoir landscapes to create a "field museum" that serves both educational and recreational purposes.
The museum's permanent exhibition, "Settling on the Mountaintop – Gukeng Dapingding Site", presents prehistoric culture from approximately 4,000 to 2,500 years ago, using unearthed artifacts, models, and interactive displays to guide visitors through the lifestyle of prehistoric settlements in Gukeng.
The Hushan Reservoir Cultural Heritage Site Museum is located next to the Hushan Reservoir Management Center, where its modern architectural design is visible from afar.
The building was planned and designed by architect Liao Weili, featuring geometric lines that create a distinctive architectural language.
The first to third floors use fair-faced concrete design for a calm and simple texture, while the fifth floor employs large-span steel structures combined with wooden construction, resembling a lightweight bridge suspended on the hillside. Its striking appearance has made it a new landmark for Hushan Reservoir.
Climbing the stairs, the fourth floor features an outdoor viewing terrace, the best spot to appreciate the scenery around Hushan Reservoir.
From the terrace, visitors can overlook rolling green hills, winding scenic roads, and the vast Yunlin Plain. On clear days, blue skies, white clouds, and greenery form a beautiful landscape, encouraging visitors to slow down and quietly appreciate the natural charm of Hushan Reservoir. It has also become one of the museum's most popular photo spots.
The Hushan Reservoir Cultural Heritage Site Museum uses "Settling on the Mountaintop – Gukeng Dapingding Site" as its permanent exhibition theme.
The exhibition name "Settling on the Mountaintop" refers to establishing a home on the mountain, showcasing settlement culture from about 3,000 to 4,000 years ago to help the public understand the lifestyle of early residents in the Gukeng area.
The museum displays a total of 238 archaeological artifacts, including:
With illustrated explanations and display designs, visitors without an archaeology background can easily understand the development of prehistoric culture.
The exhibition features a specially crafted 1/4 scale settlement model recreating the living conditions of the Dapingding prehistoric settlement.
Centered around a hearth, the model shows scenes of ancient inhabitants making pottery, cooking food, and building houses, illustrating their wisdom in coexisting with nature and making the archaeological display more vivid and engaging.
The most representative feature of the Dapingding archaeological site is the well-preserved cobble arrangement structures.
These cobble arrangements may have been part of the prehistoric settlement's:
Prehistoric residents skillfully used natural riverbed cobbles as important materials for construction and daily life.
The exhibition uses the common archaeological test pit grid method to recreate the fieldwork of archaeologists, helping the public better understand the processes and methods of archaeological research.
In addition to static displays, the museum features an interactive multimedia installation called "Archaeology Mission".
Visitors can answer archaeology-related questions through touch-screen games, transforming into time-traveling detectives to learn step-by-step how archaeologists excavate sites and study artifacts. This educational yet entertaining interactive design engages both adults and children.
The museum also includes an interactive wall and hands-on experience area, ideal for family visits.
The "Get Hands-On! Pattern Rubbing DIY" offers plant patterns and totem rubbing experiences, allowing visitors of all ages to create their own archaeological works by hand, learning about prehistoric culture through play and creating memorable visit experiences.
The large floor-to-ceiling windows in the exhibition hall also offer excellent views, capturing mountains, lake surfaces, and reservoir scenery all at once. It is one of the most soothing corners in the museum.
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