Situated to the southeast of Taiwan, Lan Yu (Orchid Island) is home to the seafaring Tao people. The Tao gather indig­enous plants of the island to build their sea canoes known as tatalas. 

Pometia pinnata — a sturdy evergreen — can be used to make the keel; false Indian almond is used for the bow and stern, oars, and rudder lock; delicate Lanyu eugenia is used for planks on the sides; and the cotton-like fibers of Zanthoxylum integrifoliolum are used to fill seams.

This canoe is a traditional watercraft used by the Tao, a Taiwanese indigenous people who live on Lan Yu (also known as Orchid Island), which is situated off the southeast coast of Taiwan. This canoe holds up to 10 people and has eight oars. The hull consists of four rows, each constructed with three planks of wood. Each row is comprised of three pieces of wood. All the rows and sections, including a keel head, middle and end, together form a ship with 27 pieces of wood plates.

The Tao decorate their boats with pictures and patterns to symbolize various things. For example, The concentric circles painted in black and white on the bow symbolize eyes of the boat which protects the security of the tribes and the wealth of a great harvest. Different families have their own signature carvings on the ship that represent their ancestry. The triangular designs on the ship embodies sea wave and the feathers on both sides of the canoe can help the Tao to tell the directions of the wind. Therefore, the Carvel-built Canoe of Lan Yu is not only a boat and a tool but also a symbol of glory and culture.