During Ching Dynasty, the Thao people moved many times to escape from the Hans’ invasion and spread of epidemic disease. When the Japanese built hydro-electrical plant nearby the Sun Moon Lake in 1930s, water level raised 18.18 meters, and several Thao villages merged into the lake. Therefore, the Japanese forced the Thaos to move to Barabaw and prohibited the Han to mingle in. Lalu Island became smaller, and on it a shrine for Japanese goddess was built. From then on Sun Moon Lake and the Lalu have been a famous tourist attraction, even till now. The Thao society and their way of living change dramatically too.

In today’s Barabaw, most land properties belong to the Han people and the ROC government. By losing their traditional territory, the Thao become as a tree without root. Finally in 2000, the Constitution of Republic of China recognizes the Thao as the tenth minority group of indigenous people in Taiwan. The Thao people are striving to reclaim only some of their rights in these years.