Rush Grass Cultural Center. In the early days, Yuanli was known as the "Hometown of Rush Grass." As soon as you enter Yuanli, you can see many rush grass fields. Because the stems of rush grass are soft. In the early days, Yuanli was known as the "Hometown of Rush Grass." As soon as you enter Yuanli, you can see many rush grass fields. Because the stems of rush grass are soft and strong, and can dehumidify and deodorize, they are very suitable for weaving. Therefore, as early as the Qing Dynasty, local women were already using rush grass to weave sleeping mats. After development and improvement, during the Japanese colonial era, beautiful rush grass hats were developed. Because of their light texture and natural grassy aroma, they became a globally marketed specialty. In 1936, the export of rush grass hats reached its peak, with an annual sales volume of over ten million hats. At that time, if a family had one woman who could weave rush grass, it was enough to support the family's livelihood. Therefore, the traditional patriarchal concept did not apply in Yuanli Township, and there was even a folk song that said, "It's better to give birth to a girl than a boy," which shows the prosperity of that era. As times evolved, traditional hand-weaving was gradually replaced by machines, and the increase in wages also made women unwilling to weave rush grass at home, choosing to work in factories instead. Rush grass fields became fewer and fewer, and the entire industry entered history. To preserve this memory, the Yuanli Township Farmers' Association specially established the "Rush Grass Cultural Center" in the hope of showcasing the local characteristics of Yuanli and ensuring the sustainable inheritance of this traditional cultural skill. The Rush Grass Cultural Center covers an area of approximately 330 square meters and is located at
Address: 苗栗縣苑裡鎮山腳里灣麗路99號
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Miaoli