The Tsao originally lived high in the mountains, at 2000 meters. During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, in order to make rule easier, they forced the aborigines to migrate down the mountains. Some moved to what is now Shanmei.
鄒族原來居於海拔兩千公尺的高山上，日本據台時期，為了統治方便，強迫族人遷移下山，其中一部分就搬到現在的山美。