This paper explores the dynamic relationships between landscape identities and economic developments in the remote Huilan of Taiwan. Since 1990, locals and environmental groups have been battling over the proposed Suhua Freeway connecting Huilan and other cities. Through qualitative methods, it examines how locals perceive the potential ecological and cultural impacts of the freeway’s construction and analyzes Bali’s community-based ecotourism as examples for Huilan’s own economic development. It concludes that local Huilanese should consider the small-scale eco-tourism model as an option in future economic development.