1.Luo-shan Winds (katabatic winds)
From every October to April next year, along the coasts of western Hengchun, winds blow so strong as if they were howling. This is because the northeastern monsoons would cross the mountains and fall directly down the slopes carrying high density air. For more than a hundred years, the winds are called by locals as the Luo-shan Winds, literally meaning “winds falling from the mountains” in Chinese.
2.Betel-nut chewing
People in Hengchun used to chew betel nuts regardless of their age. It is said that they did so to keep warm when the chilling Luo-shan Winds (katabatic winds) blow. Because betel nuts can cause cancer, today, betel-nut chewing is no longer popular among health-conscious locals.
3.Si Xiang Qi (a Hengchun folk song)
The history of Hengchun folk singing is complicated. It derives from the Hakka, Paiwan and Pingpu music and therefore reflects the cultural diversity of the Hengchun Peninsula. Hengchun folk singing is known to many through Si Xiang Qi, a famous folk song and a key cultural heritage acknowledged by the Taiwan government. A number of cultural institutions have devoted themselves to the preservation and study of Hengchun folk singing, too.