Dehe Village 德和里

The original name of Dehe Village was “Kanglanglin – 槺榔林” During the Qing dynasty’s Guangxu period, it belonged to Dehe Village, and during the Japanese colonial period, it was known as Kanglanglin Township.

The name “Kanglang” 槺瑯 derived from the abundant cultivation of a plant called “Kanglang” (also known as “Guanglang” 光榔 or “light betel nut”).

The fruit clusters of Kanglang are large, similar to beans, and the young yellow fruits are edible with a slightly sweet and sour taste. Therefore, the area was called Kanglanglin.

In the past, the cultivation of Kanglang trees was prevalent in areas like Dehe Village, which was formerly known as Kanglanglin. The plant’s name became associated with the region due to its abundance there. However, the cultivation of Kanglang trees for their fruits has diminished over time.

The village covers an area of 6.6161 square kilometers and has a population of 1111 people. Tougou Village borders it to the north, Longshui Village to the south, Shanhai Village to the west, and Shanjiao Village to the east.

Most of the village’s residents rely on agriculture for their livelihood, and due to its flat and spacious terrain, it is more suitable for cultivation than the Jiahu and Sigou areas.

However, it is also interesting to note that Dehe village is home for a relatively big number of hotels and homestays if compared to other villages in the area. At the time of my writing this, google maps show such hotels and B&Bs as 漫山尋渡假Villa, W59 Villa, Easy Inn, 墾丁牧羊人villa, and others.  I explain this as because the village is located close to Hengchun city and Wanlitong beach, which is a famous snorkeling and swimming place in Kenting.