Beigang, Yunlin

Beigang, Yunlin
Chinese	北港
Literal meaning	North Port
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	běi gǎng[1]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Pak-káng

Beigang Township
北港鎮
Beigang Township; 北港鎮
	Urban township
	Street leading to Chaotian Temple
	Beigang Township in Yunlin County
	Beigang Township; 北港鎮 Beigang Township in Yunlin County
	Coordinates:
Location	Yunlin County, Taiwan
Area
• Total	41 km2 (16 sq mi)
Population (July 2018)
• Total	40,118
• Density	980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)

Beigang or Peikang is an urban township in Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is primarily known for its Chaotian Temple, one of the most prominent Temples of Mazu on Taiwan.[2] It has a population of 40,327 as of November 2017.

Geography

Map including Beigang (labeled as Hokkō) (1944)

Map including Beigang (labeled as Pei-chiang (Hokkō) 北港) (1950)

The Beigang River borders the town on the east and south.

History

Dutch Formosa

During the Dutch era, Ponkan (Chinese: 笨港; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pùn-káng) was an important coastal castle.[3] In 1621, "Chinese Peter" (顏思齊) from Zhangzhou, Fujian and his forces occupied Ponkan (modern-day Beigang) and started to develop Tsulosan (諸羅山; today's Chiayi City), which grew to become the capital of Tsulo County in 1704.

Administrative divisions

The township comprises 28 villages: Caohu, Dabei, Datong, Fupan, Fuzhao, Gongguan, Gongrong, Gouzao, Guangfu, Guangmin, Haoshou, Hougou, Huasheng, Liucuo, Nanan, Pangou, Renan, Renhe, Shuipu, Shujiao, Sifu, Tunghua, Tungyang, Xincuo, Xinjie, Xishi, Yimin and Zhonghe.

Education

The China Medical University has a branch in Beigang.

Beigang is only a short drive (approximately fifteen minutes by car) from National Chung Cheng University, one of Taiwan's foremost research universities.

Tourist attractions

The Beigang Tourist Bridge is 450m long and 6m wide. The three bridge arches are said to resemble the body of a dragon.[4]

Beigang Cultural Center
Beigang Tourist Bridge, connecting the counties of Yunlin and Chiayi, which are separated by the Beigang River [4]
Beigang Chaotian Temple, one of the most important Mazu temples in Taiwan and known for its magnificent temple architecture, visited by more than a million pilgrims every year.
Beigang Wude Temple, one of the largest temple dedicated to Xuan Tan Zhen Jun (玄壇真君), Martial God of Wealth.
Museum of Beigang Story
Beigang Water Tower

Local cuisine specialities

Beigang Cakes (traditional wedding cakes)
Beigang Peanuts and Broad Beans

Cultural activities

Festivities around the birthday of Mazu (23rd day of the third month of the lunar year)
Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage
Beigang International Music Festival

Transportation

Beigang Bus Station

Bus stations in the county is Beigang Bus Station of Chiayi Bus.

Notable natives

Alex Tsai, member of Legislative Yuan (2002-2016)
Su Chih-fen, Magistrate of Yunlin County (2005-2014)
Wu Se-hwa, Minister of Education (2014-2016)

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gollark: Which reminds me, I could and should make PotatOS Bootable Edition None Are Safe™.

gollark: Macron OS is actually just Linux with `imacron` as `init`.

gollark: ↑ Macron

gollark: https://github.com/PaddlePaddle/PaddleOCR/blob/develop/doc/imgs_results/1101.jpg

References

教育部重編國語辭典修訂本 (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 November 2019. 字詞【北港鎮】注音ㄅㄟˇ ㄍㄤˇ ㄓㄣˋ 漢語拼音 běi gǎng zhèn
Keeling, Stephen (2013), "Beigang", The Rough Guide to Taiwan, Rough Guides.
"Historical Evolution". The Roots of Yunlin. Yunlin County Government. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
"Cultural Tours in Yunlin - Beigang Tourist Bridge". yunlin.gov.tw. Yunlin County Gov't. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2017.

External links

Yunlin County, Beigang Township Office (in Chinese)
Introduction of Beigang in the China Post
National Geographic Traveler Taiwan, ISBN 0-7922-6555-6

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[revised-1] 教育部重編國語辭典修訂本 (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 November 2019. 字詞【北港鎮】注音ㄅㄟˇ ㄍㄤˇ ㄓㄣˋ 漢語拼音 běi gǎng zhèn

[2] Keeling, Stephen (2013), "Beigang", The Rough Guide to Taiwan, Rough Guides.

[3] "Historical Evolution". The Roots of Yunlin. Yunlin County Government. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2014.

[bridge-4] "Cultural Tours in Yunlin - Beigang Tourist Bridge". yunlin.gov.tw. Yunlin County Gov't. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2017.