Where does the Eluanbi name originate from? Who was the first calling this place – 鵝鑾鼻 Éluánbí?
The origin of the name “Eluanbi” has various explanations, with different opinions. Among them, the explanation widely circulated by the Kenting National Park Administration is as follows:
“Eluanbi” can be traced back to the Southern Paiwan language, meaning “sail.” This is due to the presence of a rock on the west side of Banana Bay that resembles a sail, leading to the name “Eluanbi.”
The large stone on the west side is called the Sail Rock.
The term “鼻” (bǐ) in Taiwanese refers to a protruding part of an object that resembles a nose, which represents a cape (for example, “Cat’s Nose Cape”).
Thus, it was named “Eluanbi.” During Taiwan’s Japanese colonial period, the name was often written in katakana as “ガランピ” or in Chinese characters as “鵞鑾鼻.”
Currently, Sail Rock, along with the Southernmost Point of Taiwan and Banana Bay Harbour, is a part of the administrative division of Eluan Village.