Wanhua District
| Wanhua District 萬華區 Bangka (艋舺) (old name) | |
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| Country | Taiwan |
| Region | Western Taipei |
| Divisions |
List
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| Area | |
| • Total | 8.8522 km2 (3.4179 sq mi) |
| Area rank | Ranked 10th of 12 |
| Population | |
| • Total | 187,241[1] |
| • Rank | Ranked 9th of 12 |
| Postal code | 108 |
Wanhua District (Chinese: 萬華區; pinyin: Wànhúa Qū; Wade–Giles: Wan-hua Chü; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Báng-kah-khu), known in Taiwanese as Bangka a.k.a. Monga, is a district in Taipei, Taiwan. It is Taipei's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as Longshan Temple, an iconic historic temple, and the Red House Theater, the first and largest teahouse and playhouse in Taiwan. Taipei's oldest, but decaying, garment district is also here.
Overview
As Wanhua District was Taipei's first district to undergo economic development, there are many old buildings and cultural sites. The large number of temples in this area is attributed to its prosperous past originating from the Qing Dynasty. The district can be divided into three sections: northern, central, and southern.[2] The northern area, including Ximending, has become home to many shopping centers and is popular among the younger generation. Central Wanhua is known for its historical sites (like Longshan Temple, Qing Shui Temple, Qing Shan Gong, Bopiliao), traditional shopping, and local snacks. Southern Wanhua is mainly a residential area with a wide city park, also known as the Youth Park.
Wanhua District is divided up into 36 villages (里) and 722 neighborhoods (鄰). In recent years, the population in the district has been in decline. The district also has population aging and obesity issues compared to other districts. It also has a higher concentration of mainland Chinese. Nevertheless, this district continues to be treasured by many as it is representative of some of Taipei's richest historical cultures. An example would be the annual temple rituals held at Qing Shan Gong, also known as the Qing Shan King Sacrificial Ceremony. This is a massive event that involves touring Wanhua for 3 consecutive nights.
Etymology
Wanhua is the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of the Japanese kanji characters Banka (萬華), a name coined by the Japanese because of its phonetic resemblance to the district's Taiwanese name 艋舺 (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: báng-kah).[3] The name báng-kah (normally spelled either Bangka or Bangkah in nineteenth-century English texts) possibly derives from the Austronesian word bangca (bangka), meaning canoe. This is also attributed to the location of Wanhua, which is beside the Tamsui River. Hence forth, it was once a prosperous trading port.
Tourism and Shopping
Near the famous Longshan Temple is the Huaxi (Huahsi) Street Tourist Night Market (also known as "Snake Alley"). The market once served snake and turtle delicacies, but changed its focus to seafood upon protest from animal and environmental groups. The area is also the site of Taipei's former "red light district". The place has been largely cleaned up since prostitution was outlawed in the 1990s, though prostitutes can still be readily found. Today, the night markets are famous among both tourists and locals alike as it presents a wide array of Taiwanese local delicacies at affordable prices.
Ximending (Hsimenting), another main attraction of Wanhua, serves as a counter-culture, trendy shopping center and as Taipei's main movie theater district.
Night markets, a staple of Taiwanese culture, are everywhere. Night markets in the district include the Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market, Xichang Street Night Market, Guangzhou Street Night Market, Wuzhou Street Night Market, and Nanjichang Night Market.[2] In addition, the district has many specialized streets that specialize in different items such as herbs, jewelry, hardware, and home furnishings.
The district is also home to three wholesale markets: the Taipei First Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, Taipei First Poultry Wholesale Market, and Taipei Fishery Wholesale Market.[2] It can be said to be Taipei's center for fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats.
Education
Medical Institutions
- National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch
- Taipei City Hospital, Chinese Medicine and Kunming Branches
- Renji Hospital
- Xiyuan Hospital
- Wanhua Hospital
High Schools
- Huajiang Senior High School
- Dali Senior High School
- Liren Private High School
Junior High Schools
- Wanhua Junior High School
- Shuangyuan Junior High School
- Longshan Junior High School
- Dali Junior High School
- Liren Private Junior High School
Elementary Schools
- Xinhe Elementary School
- Shuangyuan Elementary School
- Dongyuan Elementary School
- Dali Elementary School
- Xiyuan Elementary School
- Wanda Elementary School
- Huajiang Elementary School
- Ximen Elementary School
- Laosong Elementary School
- Longshan Elementary School
- Fuxing Elementary School
- Guangren Elementary School
Other Schools
- Taipei Korean Elementary School
- Wanhua Community College
Transportation
Wanhua is served by the Taipei Metro Banqiao Line and Xiaonanmen Line. The Taiwan Railway Administration's Western Line has one station in the district (Wanhua Station).
Important roads, highways, and bridges include:
- Provincial Highway No. 1 (台一線)：Zhongxiao Bridge, Zhongxiao W. Rd (忠孝橋、忠孝西路)
- Provincial Highway No. 3 (台三線)：Huajiang Bridge, Heping W. Rd, Zhonghua Road (華江橋、和平西路、中華路)
- Zhongxing Bridge (中興橋)
- Wanban Bridge (萬板橋)
- Huacui Bridge (華翠大橋)
- Guangfu Bridge (光復橋)
- Huazhong Bridge (華中橋)
Movies filmed in Wanhua
- Dust in the Wind (1986), a film by Hou Hsiao-Hsien.
- Dust of Angels (1992)
- Rebels of the Neon God (1992), a film by Tsai Ming-liang.
- Exit No.6 (2007)
- Miss Kicki (2009), starring Pernilla August.
- Monga (2010), starring Ethan Juan and Mark Chao.
References
- ↑ "99年06月各里人口數戶數統計表". 萬華區戶政事務所. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "About Wanhua District". Taipei City Government. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
- ↑ Victor H. Mair. "How to Forget Your Mother Tongue and Remember Your National Language".
External links
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Coordinates: 25°02′00″N 121°28′59″E / 25.0333°N 121.483°E