Donghe Township has an old name of Fafokod (馬武窟), which means "fishing by net" in the Ami language. Many of its prehistory artifacts is found at Dulan Site.
Under Qing dynasty rule, the township was under the jurisdiction of the Pi-lam Subprefecture (卑南廳) and "Taitung direct-controlled state" (臺東直隸州) jurisdiction.
Map of the southeastern Donghe area (1944)Map of the region including the southern Donghe area (1951)
In 1920, during the period of Japanese rule, the Toran local office (都蘭區役場) was set up. In 1937, it was changed to Toran Village (都蘭庄), under Shinkō District (新港郡), Taitō Prefecture. The name "Donghe Township" was established after World War II and is currently used.
This township is located on the east side of coastal mountain range. It includes 60% of the hillside onshore, divided into coastal and basin areas with gradual upland slopes merging into relatively flat sea stage plains, the area of major development. Basin streams are mainly north-south because of the difficult terrain. Climate is tropical monsoon climate.
