Shanhua, Tainan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Shanhua Township
nickname =
motto =

---

image_

---

map_caption = Location of Shanhua Township in Tainan County.
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = County
subdivision_name = Taiwan
subdivision_name1 = Tainan
established_title =
established_date =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
government_type = Strong magistrate-council
leader_title = Magistrate
leader_name = Lee Wen-jun
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 55.31
population_as_of= November 2007
population_total = 42547
population_density_km2 = 769.25
timezone = CST
utc_offset = +8
elevation_footnotes=
elevation_m =
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 741
website = http://web2.tainan.gov.tw/shanhua/
footnotes =

Shanhua Township (zh-t|t=善化鎮; Wade-Giles: Shan-hua Chen; jhuyin fuhao: ㄕㄢˋㄏㄨㄚˋㄓㄣˋ; literally "amelioration township") is an urban township in central Tainan County, Taiwan.

History

Shanhua was inhabited by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribe of Siraya, who called it Bakaloan (zh-t|t=目加溜灣社; POJ: Ba̍k-ka-liù-oan siā). It was one of the four major towns (zh-c|c=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. [ [http://www.taiwan123.com.tw/local/name03-11.htm "地名由來"] ", www.taiwan123.com.tw"] 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 (zh-t|t=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. [http://web1.tainan.gov.tw/english/CP/11813/Shanhua-1.aspx Regions and local info: Shanhua Township] ", Tainan County Government"]

Government

The chief executive of Shanhua Township is the magistrate (zh-t|t=鎮長). The township also has a council (zh-t|t=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 (zh-t|t=善化鎮戶政事務所).

Economy

Shanhua has an agricultural economy. Major products of the township include rice, sugarcane, strawberry, and watermelon. [ [http://web2.tainan.gov.tw/shanhua/CP/10922/industry-1.aspx About Shanhua Township: Industry] ", Shanhua Township Government"]

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 (zh-t|t=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. [http://web1.tainan.gov.tw/english/CP/11813/Shanhua-1.aspx Regions and local info: Shanhua Township] ", Tainan County Government"]

Transportation

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

Notes

References

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

External links

* [http://www.avrdc.org/ AVRDC official website]