Shanhua District

Shanhua District 善化區
Location of Shanhua District in Tainan
Country	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Special municipality	Tainan
Area
• Total	55.31 km2 (21.36 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 District (Chinese: 善化區; pinyin: Shànhuà Qū; Wade-Giles: Shan-hua; jhuyin fuhao: ㄕㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ; literally "amelioration") is a suburban district of Tainan City, a special municipality of the Republic of China located in southwestern Taiwan. Until December 25, 2010, it was an urban township in the dissolved Tainan County, which is now merged with the original Tainan City to form a single special municipality.

History

Shanhua was inhabited by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribe of Siraya, who called it Bakaloan (Chinese: 目加溜灣社; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: 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 (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]

Government

Until December 25, 2010, the chief executive of Shanhua Township was the popularly elected magistrate (Chinese: 鎮長). The township also had a council (Chinese: 善化鎮民代表會) consisting of councillors elected from the township.

Since the current administrative arrangement came into effect on the above date, a director (Chinese: 區長) appointed by the mayor of Tainan City is in charge of the administration of the newly created district.

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.

Attractions

Cing-an Temple

The Cing-an Temple (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]

Transportation

• Taiwan Railway Administration
  • Shanhua Station
• Formosa Freeway
  • Shanhua Interchange
• Provincial Highway No.1

See also

• Tainan

References

• Tang Te-chien (唐德塹). Local Records of Shanhua Township (《善化鎮鄉土誌》), 1982

External links

• Welcome to Sanhua District

v t e Districts of Tainan City seat: Anping and Xinying Districts Anding Annan Anping Baihe Beimen Danei Dongshan East Guanmiao Guantian Guiren Houbi Jiali Jiangjun Liujia Liuying Longqi Madou Nanhua Nanxi North Rende Shanhua Shanshang South West Central Qigu Xiaying Xigang Xinhua Xinshi Xinying Xuejia Yanshui Yongkang Yujing Zuozhen Note: Although Hanyu Pinyin is the national standard; East, South, West Central, and North District uses English instead.

Coordinates: 23°08′N 120°18′E / 23.133°N 120.300°E / 23.133; 120.300