Ya-Tan, its old name is located in the eastern foot of mountains in the Nantou countybasin , used to be the gateway of LuKang harbour and other outgoing cities. In the early age many businessmen lander picker gathered around here, usually they abandoned the old grass shoes here then change into new ones, therefore we called it grass shoes mound to name after the shoes piles.

It is belonged to subtropical monsoon climate, at average cool and dry in winter and hight tempertature and heavy rains in summer except for rare part of eastern due to the higher sea-level which has lower tempertare, the whole area are agricultural productions and economical activities.

The township is mainly putting efforts on rice, cigarette leaves, and betelnut. The Nantou countyused to be called kingdom of rice however since the government change the strategy about planning , we had to lesson the plane. Nearly half of the paddy rice is planted in this township among whole county. The quantity of tobacco leaves in Nantou countyis the second in Taiwan, and Tsao Tun township covers 60% in whole county, mostly half of the materials which TaiChung tobacco branch factory of tobacco and liquor bureau needs is from here.