Surrounding mountain ranges made contacts scarce and communication difficult with other Hakka groups to the north, east and west. Since establishing settlements in Chuolan and adjacent areas, the Hakkas gradually assimilated many of the customs and characteristics of their southern neighbors, and today tend to have much more in common with the local residents of nearby Taichung than with other Hakka groups.
自從聯絡東勢、卓蘭的蘭勢大橋竣工後，卓蘭與南面的台中縣交通暢行無阻，卓蘭因而與東勢、豐原往來頻繁，無論生活習慣、風俗民情多被同化。連嫁娶也都向南「發展」，一位鎮民說：「我們很多姑娘都給他們娶走囉。」