Readomg Taiwan-Hualien city

Name of Town:
Hualien City

Name of County:
Hualien County

Area:
29.41 square kilometers

Population:
Approximately 110,000

Mayor of Town:
Tsai Chi-ta

Administrative Districts: 　

45 lis: Min-yun, Min-lo, Min-hsiang, Min-yi, Min-hsin, Min-li, Min-teh, Min-cheng, Min-ching, Min-hsiao, Min-chu, Min-chuan, Min-sheng, Min-tsu, Min-yo, Min-jih, Tzu-ji, Tzu-yi, Tzu-hsin, Tzu-chin, Tzu-shang, Tzu-kung, Tzu-shue, Tzu-chuan, Tzu-non, Tzu-ho, Tzu-li, Tzu-an, Tzu-mu, Kuo-feng, Kuo-fang, Kuo-jih, Kuo- kwang, Kuo-huen, Kuo-an, Kuo-wei, Kuo-hua, Kuo-lien, Kuo-sheng, Kuo-fu, Kuo-yu, Kuo-ching, Kuo-chang, Kuo-fu, Kuo-hsing.

Geographical Location:

　　Hualien City is located at 121 degrees 36 minutes 23 seconds east longitude, and 23 degrees 58 minutes 20 seconds north latitude, beside the Central Mountains and facing the immense Pacific Ocean . The climate is mildly warm, and the natural sceneries are very beautiful.

Brief Introduction to Special Features:

　　Hualien City is located on the eastern eastern coast of Taiwan . The sceneries are beautiful, with fresh air, green mountains, clean rivers, and abundant wildlife. Because of its location, the city is also the political, economic, cultural, and educational center of eastern Taiwan . It is close to famous scenic spots like Taroko National Park and the East Coast, and millions of tourists visit the city every year, making it a famous sightseeing city in the world.

History of Town:

　　According to Hualien County Documents , the Spanish came to Turumoan (now Hualien) to mine for sand gold in as early as the second year of Tienchi of the Ming Dynasty (1622). The Han people began to come to settle in Hualien in the first year of Hsienfeng of the Ching Dynasty (1851), when Huang A-feng of Tamsui, Taipei raised a fund to hire tenants to settle at Shi-lui-ku (now Fengchuan). In the first year of Kuanghsu, Lin Chang-an also recruited tenants from Ilan to settle at Shi-liu-ku.

　　Before the 21 st year of Kuanghsu (1895), when Taiwan and the Peng-hu Islands ( Pescadores ) were taken over by the Japanese after the Jia-wu War, very few Han people had come to Hualien to settle. A small group led by Li A-lung lived at Hsincheng. Some others began to live at Nanpin (now the northern shore of Hualien River ), which later developed into a mmunity.

　　Hualien was originally called “Kilai” or “Chilai.” The name “Hualien” first appeared in the report of Shen Paojen, the Governor of Taiwan, to the Emperor of the Ching Dynasty: “The river in Hualien flows into the ocean, and the water crashes with the waves, forming great circling currents. The sight can be described as ‘Huilan,' by which the place was named. The name later evolved into ‘Hualien,' which has been used since.” However, in the period of Japanese Occupation, because “Kilai” sounded like “disgusting” in the Japanese language, the name was discarded, and Huilan or Hualien began to be officially used. Later, more Han people arrived and scattered everywhere. Besides the group in Hsincheng led by Li A-lung, the largest group lived at Nanpin. According to Hualine County Documents , in the 26 th year of Kuanghsu (1900), the Hualien Harbor Street was moved westward to a further inland area. Nanpin is actually the earliest street in Hualien City .

Means of Communication:

Phone Number of City Hall: 03-8322141
Address of City Hall: 252 Linsheng Road , Hualien City
Website of City Hall: http://www.hualien.gov.tw

Sources of Data:

◎ Website of City Hall: http://www.hualien.gov.tw/
◎ Secretariate of Hualien City Hall , A Colletion of the Historical Documents of Hualien City , 1996.