Shanhua District

Shanhua
善化區
District
Shanhua District

Location of Shanhua District in Tainan
Country Taiwan
Special municipality Tainan
Area
 • Total 55.31 km2 (21.36 sq mi)
Population (January 2016)
 • Total 46,931
 • 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 office

Shanhua District (Chinese: 善化區; pinyin: Shànhuà Qū; Wade–Giles: Shan-hua; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Siān-hoà-khu; literally: "amelioration") is a suburban district of Tainan, a special municipality located in southwestern Taiwan, about 20 km northeast of Anping. 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 (transliterated into Chinese: 目加溜灣; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ba̍k-ka-liù-oan) (see also Anding, bordering to the southwest). It was one of the four major towns established by the tribe.

In 1625, the Dutch East India Company was driven back by the aborigines while trying to collect bamboo. The Dutch, however, were able to conquer the town in 1635, and started setting up schools and churches in the area, calling the place Tevoran[1] (see modern-day Yujing). They encouraged Han settlers to cultivate the place.

In the Siege of Fort Zeelandia, Koxinga drove the Europeans out of Taiwan. Under the Kingdom of Tungning, Bakaloan was governed as Sian-hoa Village (善化里; Siān-hoà-lí) of Tien-hsing County (天興縣). According to the Shanhua Urban Plan Total Review Report, the old name for the region is Oanli (灣里街; Oan-lí-ke)[2] before it was changed back again to Shanhua (Japanese: 善化 Hepburn: Zenka) under Japanese rule in 1920.[3] In 1940, the village was upgraded to Zenka Town (善化街), Shinka District (新化郡), Tainan Prefecture.

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.[4]

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.

Notable natives

Tourist attractions

Qing-An Gong

The Qing-An Gong (simplified Chinese: 庆安宫; traditional Chinese: 慶安宮; pinyin: Qìng-ān gōng) 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.[3]

Transportation

TRA Shanhua Station

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shanhua District, Tainan.

References

  1. ↑ 地名由來: 各地方的地方起源與變遷-台南. 鄉土台灣 (in Chinese). 台灣咁仔店. April 30, 2002.
  2. ↑ "Entry #40262 (灣里街)". 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Hokkien). Ministry of Education, R.O.C. 2011.
  3. 1 2 Regions and local info: Shanhua Township, Tainan County Government
  4. ↑ About Shanhua Township: Industry, Shanhua Township Government

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

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