Beigang, Hokkō or Peikang is an urban township in

Yunlin County Yunlin County ( Mandarin pinyin: ''Yúnlín Xiàn''; Taigi POJ: ''Hûn-lîm-koān''; Hakka PFS: ''Yùn-lìm-yen'') is a county in western Taiwan. Yunlin County borders the Taiwan Strait to the west, Nantou County to the east, Changhua County ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

. It is primarily known for its

Chaotian Temple The Chaotian or Chaotien Temple, officially the Chao-Tian Temple,. & is a temple to the Chinese Goddess Mazu in Beigang Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan. Constructed in 1700, it became one of the most important Mazu temples in Taiwan and is k ...

, one of the most prominent

Temples A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

of Mazu on Taiwan. It has a population of 37,899 as of September 2022.

Geography

The

Beigang River The Beigang River, formerly known as the Pakan from its Hokkien pronunciation, is a river in Taiwan named for Beigang, a port 20 kilometres from its mouth. It flows through Yunlin and Chiayi counties for 82 km. At the river mouth, lies the ...

borders the town on the east and south.

History

Dutch Formosa

During the Dutch era, ''Ponkan'' () was an important coastal castle. In 1621,

Pedro Yan Shiqi Yan Shiqi (顏思齊) (1586 – September 1625), courtesy name Zhenquan (振泉), was a native of Haicheng, Zhangzhou. He was a tailor, fugitive, armed maritime merchant and also known as the "King of Pioneer Taiwan" (開台王). He may have als ...

(顏思齊) from

Zhangzhou Zhangzhou (), alternately romanized as Changchow, is a prefecture-level city in Fujian Province, China. The prefecture around the city proper comprises the southeast corner of the province, facing the Taiwan Strait and surrounding the prefect ...

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...

and his forces occupied Ponkan (modern-day Beigang) and started to develop Tsulosan (諸羅山; today's

Chiayi City Chiayi (, Taigi POJ: ''Ka-gī''; ), officially known as Chiayi City, is a city located in the plains of southwestern Taiwan. Formerly called ''Kagee'' during the late Qing dynasty and ''Kagi'' during the Japanese era (), its historical name ...

), 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 National Chung Cheng University (CCU; ) is a national university in Minxiong Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan. CCU is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. History National Chung Cheng University was the first ...

, one of Taiwan's foremost research universities. National Beigang Senior High School

Tourist attractions

Beigang Sports Park Beigang, Hokkō 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. It has a population of 37,899 as of September 2022. Geography Th ...

,Beigang Sports Park has a history of 50 years, and was previously a venue for track & field athletics, which has been greatly renovated with the times. After renovation, a white sand pit was added, which became a place for children to pla

* Zhongshan Road,It is the old street surrounding Beigang Chaotian Temple, surrounded by many well-known specialty shops and snack bars. It is one of the highlights of Beigan

* Nui Hui Morning Market,It used to be a place where cows were regularly sold in the morning. Nui Hui Morning Market has a history of more than 100 years and has now become a large vegetable marke

*

Beigang Cultural Center The Beigang Cultural Center () is a cultural center in Beigang Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan. History The tender to construct the center was held in May 2012. Construction of the building started in February 2014 and completed a year later ...

Beigang Tourist Bridge The Beigang Tourist Bridge () is a footbridge in Lioujiao, Chiayi County, Lioujiao Township, Chiayi County and Beigang, Yunlin, Beigang Township, Yunlin County in Taiwan. The bridge crosses over Beigang River. Features Comprising three arches, t ...

, connecting the counties of Yunlin and

Chiayi Chiayi (, Taigi POJ: ''Ka-gī''; ), officially known as Chiayi City, is a city located in the plains of southwestern Taiwan. Formerly called ''Kagee'' during the late Qing dynasty and ''Kagi'' during the Japanese era (), its historical name ...

, which are separated by the

* Beigang

, 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 Beigang, Hokkō 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. It has a population of 37,899 as of September 2022. Geography The B ...

Local cuisine specialities

* ''Beigang Wedding Cakes'' (traditional wedding cakes) are a must-buy souvenir in Beigang. There are many flavors, both salty and sweet. Many married couples will come to buy wedding cakes, and ordinary tourists will take them home as snacks. * ''Beigang Peanuts'' and ''Broad Beans''

Cultural activities

* Festivities around the birthday of Mazu (23rd day of the third month of the

lunar year A lunar calendar is a calendar based on the monthly cycles of the Moon's phases ( synodic months, lunations), in contrast to solar calendars, whose annual cycles are based only directly on the solar year. The most commonly used calendar, the Gr ...

) *

Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage () is usually held annually between lunar January and April in the western plains of Taiwan, a major Taoist religious event since 1863. After every lunar new year, the Mazu statue of Gongtian Temple () at Baishatun ...

* Beigang International Music Festival

Transportation

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

Notable natives

Alex Tsai Alex Tsai (; born 25 December 1953) is a Taiwanese politician and a member of the Kuomintang. He served as a legislator from 2008 to 2016. Tsai graduated from the Taipei Municipal High School of Agriculture and Industry and the John F. Kennedy ...

, member of Legislative Yuan (2002-2016) * Su Chih-fen, Magistrate of

(2005-2014) *

Wu Se-hwa Wu Se-hwa (; born 9 July 1955) is a Taiwanese people, Taiwanese politician who was the Ministry of Education (Republic of China), Minister of Education in the Executive Yuan of Taiwan from 2014 to 2016. Education Wu obtained his bachelor's degr ...

, Minister of

Education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...

(2014-2016)

References

External links

Yunlin County, Beigang Township Office

* National Geographic Traveler Taiwan, {{Townships in Taiwan Townships in Yunlin County