The Pingtung region was originally called Ahhou, based on the name of one of the aboriginal tribes. Mt. Peitawu in Pingtung's northeast, some 3,000 meters high, is sacred to both Paiwan and Rukai tribespeople.
從族群來看，屏東古稱「阿猴」，是原住民部落名的譯音，屏東東北部、標高三千公尺的北大武山，正是排灣、魯凱兩大族的聖山；由行政院原住民委員會設立的「原住民文化園區」就坐落於此區。