Sizihwan

Coordinates: 22°37′33″N 120°15′51″E / 22.625809°N 120.264044°E

Sizihwan
西子灣
Country Taiwan
Administrative divisions Kaohsiung City
Sizihwan
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 西子灣
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 西仔灣
Japanese name
Kanji 西子湾

Sizihwan (Chinese: 西子灣; Hanyu Pinyin: Xīzǐwān; Tongyong Pinyin: Sizǐhwan) is a community in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, named for the adjacent bay of the Taiwan Strait, also called Sizihwan.[1]

Names

A postcard showing "Seishiwan", in Taiwan under Japanese rule

The name Sizih (Chinese: 西子; Hanyu Pinyin: Xīzǐ; Tongyong Pinyin: Sizǐh) can also mean Xi Shi (Chinese: 西施; Hanyu Pinyin: Xīshī; Tongyong Pinyin: Sishih; Taiwanese Hokkien transcription: Seishi), an alternative name used by the poet Su Dongpo of the Song dynasty referring to the famous ancient beauty, which somehow implies the view in this scenic area is as beautiful as the lady.

Historical names include:

Geography

Sizihwan in the foreground with the black sand beach of Sizihwan Bay on the right, Lianhai Road in the middle, and buildings of National Sun Yat-sen University and Shaochuantou mountain (哨船頭小山丘) to the left; Qihou Mountain on Qijin lies beyond the entrance to Kaohsiung Harbor in the background

Located on the Taiwan Strait at the north of the entrance to Kaohsiung Harbor, Sizihwan is surrounded by mountains with Shoushan to the northeast and Shaochuantou Mountain, a spur of Shoushan to the east. The area is dominated by the campus of National Sun Yat-sen University which faces the open waters of the Taiwan Strait. Sizihwan Beach (known as Takao Beach during Japanese rule) is a black sand beach that sits right at the edge of the campus and is a popular recreation area. The Former British Consulate at Takao and the historic Lingsing Temple at the peak of Shaochuantou overlook Sizihwan Bay.

Transportation

Sizihwan is directly accessible by bicycle and on foot through the Sizihwan Tunnel (through Shaochuantou mountain). Built from 1927 to 1933, the tunnel is itself a tourist attraction. Larger vehicular traffic can reach the area by two other more circuitous routes around the mountain. Public bus service to the area is available from G-Bus #99. The nearest Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit station is the Orange Line's terminus at Sizihwan Station which, despite its name, is not in Sizihwan but in neighboring Hamasing.

Photo gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sizihwan Bay". The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung. Retrieved December 1, 2009.

External links