Shanhua, Tainan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shanhua Township | |
 |
|
 |
|
| Country | Taiwan |
|---|---|
| County | Tainan |
| Government | |
| - Type | Strong magistrate-council |
| - Magistrate | Lee Wen-jun |
| Area | |
| - Total | 55.31 km² (21.4 sq mi) |
| Population (November 2007) | |
| - Total | 42,547 |
| - Density | 769.25/km² (1,992.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC+8) |
| Postal code | 741 |
| Website: http://web2.tainan.gov.tw/shanhua/ | |
Shanhua Township (traditional Chinese: 善化鎮; Wade-Giles: Shan-hua Chen; jhuyin fuhao: ㄕㄢˋㄏㄨㄚˋㄓㄣˋ; literally "amelioration township") is an urban township in central Tainan County, Taiwan.
Contents |
[edit] History
Shanhua was inhabited by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribe of Siraya, who called it Bakaloan (traditional Chinese: 目加溜灣社; POJ: Ba̍k-ka-liù-oan siā). It was one of the four major towns (Chinese: 社) established by the tribe.
In 1625, the Dutch East India Company was drove back by the aborigines while trying to collect bamboo. The Dutch, however, were able to conquer the town using military forces in 1635, and started setting up schools and churches in the area, calling the place Tevoran.[1] They encouraged Han settlers to cultivate the place. After the Siege of Fort Zeelandia, Koxinga drove the Europeans out of Taiwan. Under the administration of Koxinga, Bakaloan was governed as Shanhua Village of Tianhsing County (traditional Chinese: 天興縣) of the Kingdom of Tungning. According to the Shanhua Urban Plan Total Review Report, the old name for the region is Wanli before it was changed back again to Shanhua Village under Japanese rule in 1920.[2]
[edit] Government
The chief executive of Shanhua Township is the magistrate (traditional Chinese: 鎮長). The township also has a council (traditional Chinese: 善化鎮民代表會), which has councillors elected from the township. The population of the township is calculated by the Shanhua Township Household Registration Office (traditional Chinese: 善化鎮戶政事務所).
[edit] Economy
Shanhua has an agricultural economy. Major products of the township include rice, sugarcane, strawberry, and watermelon.[3]
In 1973, the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) was co-established by eleven nations including the United States, Japan, and the Republic of China (Taiwan). It has the goal to improve agricultural techniques. The headquarters of the organization is located in the southern part of Shanhua, and is the first and only headquarters of an international organization located in Taiwan.
The National Science Council of the Executive Yuan founded the Tainan Science Park based in Sinshih. Part of the park lies within Shanhua, and brings job opportunities to local residents.
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Cing-an Temple
The Cing-an Temple (traditional Chinese: 慶安宮) is a temple, which is almost 300 years old, dedicated to goddess Matsu. According to oral tradition, the Dutch set up a Dutch language school here when they ruled Taiwan.[2]
[edit] Transportation
- Taiwan Railway Administration
- Shanhua Station
- Formosa Freeway
- Shanhua Interchange
- Provincial Highway No.1
[edit] Notes
- ^ "地名由來", www.taiwan123.com.tw
- ^ a b Regions and local info: Shanhua Township, Tainan County Government
- ^ About Shanhua Township: Industry, Shanhua Township Government
[edit] References
- Tang Te-chien (唐德塹). Local Records of Shanhua Township (《善化鎮鄉土誌》), 1982
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||||||||
