Beitou District is the northernmost of the twelve
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
of
Taipei City
Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the Capital city, capital and a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality of the Taiwan, Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Regions of Taiwan, Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of t ...
, Taiwan. The historical spelling of the district is Peitou. The name originates from the
Ketagalan
Ketagalan or Ketangalan () are a Taiwanese aborigines, Taiwanese aboriginal people originating in what is now the Taipei Basin. Their Ketagalan language, language has now become extinct.
On 21 March 1996, the road in front of the Presidential O ...
word ''Kipatauw'', meaning
witch
Witchcraft traditionally means the use of Magic (supernatural), magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In Middle Ages, medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually ...
. Beitou is the most mountainous and highest of Taipei's districts, encompassing a meadow with rivers running through the valley which have abundant steam rising from them; the result of geothermal warming. The valley is often surrounded by mist shrouding the trees and grass. Beitou is famous for its
hot springs
A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow bodies of magma (molten rock) or by circ ...
. In March 2012, it was named one of the ''Top 10 Small Tourist Towns'' by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan.
History
The area's hot springs had long been enjoyed by the aboriginal people of Taiwan. Shortly before the Japanese period a German sulfur merchant established the first hot spring club in Beitou.
During early
Japanese rule, ''Hokutō'' () was a village at the entrance of the well-known North Formosa sulfur district. Three Japanese extracting plants in this district produced about of sulfur monthly. The Japanese had already recognized the value of the village as a sanitary resort and constructed a Japanese inn with hot mineral baths provided by the sulfur springs. The hot springs have been developed to include aroma therapy, massage, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and excellent cuisine which complement the entire spa experience. The mineral waters stream from the numerous geothermal vents that occur naturally in the region and are famous for their health benefits.
Between 1920 and 1941, was governed under Shichisei District,
Taihoku Prefecture
Taihoku Prefecture (台北州; ''Taihoku-shū'') was an administrative division of Taiwan created in 1920, during Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern-day Keelung, New Taipei City, Taipei and Yilan County. Its government office, ...
. It was upgraded to a Hokutō Town in 1941.
After
the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the
Republic of China
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 northeast ...
in 1945, it was renamed as ''Peitou''
urban township
An urban township is a designation of a unit of local government in several countries.
United States
The term is called ''urban township'' Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio and urban town in Wisconsin. Generally, an urban township is afforded more loca ...
(), belonging to
Taipei County
New Taipei City is a special municipality located in northern Taiwan. The city is home to an estimated population of 3,974,683 as of 2022, making it the most populous city of Taiwan, and also the second largest special municipality by area, be ...
. Beginning in 1949, ''Peitou'' and
Shilin were administered by the newly formed
Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau
Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau () was a County (Taiwan), county level administrative body in Republic of China's Taiwan Province between 1949 and 1973.
History
The territory of the Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau was administered by Shi ...
. Both of them were merged into
Taipei City
Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the Capital city, capital and a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality of the Taiwan, Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Regions of Taiwan, Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of t ...
on 1 July 1968 as
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
. In 1974, Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau underwent restructuring and Beitou District was placed under direct jurisdiction of Taipei City.
Economy
Asus has its headquarters in Beitou.
[2007 Corporate Sustainability Report]
." Asus. 10 of 67. Retrieved on March 15, 2010. "ASUS has its headquarters located in No. 15, Li-Te Rd., Beitou, Taipei 11259, Taiwan."
Institutions
*
National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine
The National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRICM; ; previously: ''National Institute of Chinese Medicine'') is a research center responsible for research, experimental and development issues of Chinese medicine. It is located in the Be ...
Education
![Yang Ming University's Campus 20100905a](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Yang_Ming_University%27s_Campus_20100905a.jpg)
Universities and colleges:
* Dharma Drum Mountain Community University - Beitou Campus
*
Fu Hsing Kang College
The Political Warfare College (), also known as Fu Hsing Kang College (復興崗, "Renaissance Hill"), is a military academy in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. During the Japanese occupation period, this location was the racetrack of Beitou; afte ...
*
National Defense University
The National Defense University (NDU) is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level education, training, and professional development of national security leaders. As ...
*
National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Science
The National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences () is a public Medical School located in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
Founded in 1954 as Taiwan Provincial Junior College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nurs ...
*
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU; ) is a public research university in Taiwan. It was created in 2021 through the merger of National Yang-Ming University and National Chiao Tung University. At present, there are 19 colleges, 74 univ ...
*
Taipei City University of Science and Technology
The Taipei City University of Science and Technology (TPCU; ) is a technological university located in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
TPCU's original name "Kuang Wu" is derived from Emperor Guangwu of Han. After entering the 21st centu ...
*
Taipei National University of the Arts
The Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA; ) is a national university in Guandu, Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
The preparatory committees to establish the school was formed on 22 October 1980. The National Institute of the Art ...
Junior and Senior High Schools:
*
Taipei Municipal Zhong-zheng Senior High School
Zhong-zheng Senior High School
(ZZSH or CCSH; ; Tongyong Pinyin: taibei shihli jhong jheng gaojhong, Wade–Giles: t'aipei shihli chung cheng kaochung) is a public 3-year high school in Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China.
History
Taipei ...
*
Taipei Municipal Fuxing Senior High School
* Taipei Xin-Min Junior High School
* Taipei Beitou Junior High School
* Taipei Mingde Junior High School
Infrastructure
*
Beitou Refuse Incineration Plant
The Beitou Refuse Incineration Plant () is an incinerator in Zhoumei Borough, Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
The plant was originally established as the Shilin Refuse Incineration Plant on 1 July 1991. On 1 July 1995, the plant was re ...
Tourism
Beitou has one of the largest concentrations of hot springs and spas in the world. Once a small park where locals used to relax in the hot springs, the Beitou Valley has evolved today to include over thirty resorts; a 20-minute subway ride north of Taipei takes you to Beitou. The resorts and spas are regarded by many locals and international tourists as among the most relaxing and rejuvenating places in the country. The spas consist of different degree pools (from cool to very hot) and minerals.
However, residents of this district note that sulfuric fumes from the hot springs do ruin their electric appliances in the long term.
Tourist attractions
*
Beitou Hot Spring Museum
The Beitou Hot Spring Museum () is a museum about hot spring in Beitou Park, Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
The construction of the building started in 1911 and completed in 1913 during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. It was init ...
*
Beitou Museum
The Beitou Museum () or sometimes called Taiwan Folk Arts Museum is a museum in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
Empire of Japan
The museum building was originally built in 1921 as Kazan Hotel, the best hot spring hotel during the Taiwa ...
*
Beitou Park
The Beitou Park () is a park in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
The park was created in 1913, making it the third oldest park in Taipei and the first hot spring park on the island. It was constructed to welcome the visit of Prince Hiro ...
*
Beitou Plum Garden
The Beitou Plum Garden () is a museum in the former residence of calligrapher Yu Youren in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
The building was constructed in the late 1930s as the summer getaway home of calligrapher Yu Youren. In 2006, th ...
*
Beitou Presbyterian Church
*
Grass Mountain Chateau
The Grass Mountain Chateau () is a former residence of late President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek located in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan in Yangmingshan National Park.
History
Empire of Japan
The Grass Mountain Chateau, a buil ...
*
Guandu Nature Park
Guandu Nature Park () is a park in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
History
The wetland within the area was saved from being turned into a stadium in 1996 due to the protest from civic groups. After 10 years of planning, the nature park was es ...
*
Guandu Temple
The Guandu Temple () is a prominent Chinese temple in Beitou District of Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated the Goddess Mazu.
History
The temple was originally constructed in 1712. It was also known as Lingshan Temple due to its location at Mount Ling.. ...
*
Hong-Gah Museum
*
Ketagalan Culture Center
The Ketagalan Culture Center (KCC; ) is a cultural center in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. The cultural center is dedicated to introduce the various plains indigenous peoples, plains indigenous cultures, including the Ketagalan people, Ketaga ...
*
Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts
The Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts (KdMoFA; ) is an art museum in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. The museum is located at the Taipei National University of the Arts.
History
The museum was opened in 2007.
Architecture
The museum is located insid ...
*
Lady Zhou's Memorial Gate
The Lady Zhou's Memorial Gate () is a paifang in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
Name
The gate is named after Lady Zhou, a local lady who was born in 1788 and died in 1846. She was widowed a very young age and raised her children as a single m ...
*
Nung Chan Monastery
The Nung Chan Monastery (meaning 'Farming Ch'an') is a monastery at Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is formally founded in 1975 by Ven. Dongchu, a scholar monk and disciple of renowned Chinese Buddhist Master Taixu. It's named ' ''Farming Ch ...
*
Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch
Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch () is a public library in Beitou Park, located within Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is Taiwan's first green library.
History
The library was opened in November 2006.
Architecture
It is a two-storey bui ...
*
Thermal Valley
*
Tittot Glass Art Museum
The Tittot Glass Art Museum () is a museum about glass art in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the first museum in Taiwan dedicated to glass art.
History
The museum was established in 1999.
Architecture
The museum spans over two floors. ...
*
Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan National Park is one of the List of national parks in Taiwan, nine national parks in Taiwan, located in both Taipei and New Taipei City. The districts that are partially in the park include Taipei's Beitou District, Beitou and Sh ...
*
Zhongxing Guesthouse
The Zhongxing Guesthouse () also known as the Yangmingshuwu is a historical site located in on Zhongxing road in Yangmingshan National Park in the Beitou District of Taipei, Taiwan. It was constructed between 1969 and 1970 by late Republic of Ch ...
*
Zhuzihu Ponlai Rice Foundation Seed Field Story House
The Zhuzihu Ponlai Rice Foundation Seed Field Story House () is a historic building in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building is located within Yangmingshan National Park.
History
Empire of Japan
The area where the building stands used to ...
*
Hot Springs
A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow bodies of magma (molten rock) or by circ ...
in Xin Beitou and Xingyi Road
* Beitou Cape: Lighthouse and seaside resort
* Puji Temple
Transportation
![Beitou Station](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Beitou_Station.jpg)
The district is served by
Beitou Station
The Taipei Metro Beitou station (formerly transliterated as Peitou Station until 2003) is a station on the Tamsui–Xinyi line and Xinbeitou branch line), located in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. The location of station can be traced back the ...
,
Xinbeitou Station
The Taipei Metro Xinbeitou station (formerly transliterated as Hsin Peitou Station from 1997 until 2003) is the terminal station on the Xinbeitou branch line located in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. The location of the station used to be the ...
,
Zhongyi Station
The Taipei Metro Zhongyi station (formerly transliterated as Chungyi Station until 2003) is located in Beitou District, Taipei. Taiwan. It is a station on the Tamsui–Xinyi Line. In the past, the station belonged to the now-defunct TRA Tamsui ...
,
Qiyan Station,
Fuxinggang Station,
Guandu Station
The Taipei Metro Guandu station (formerly transliterated as Kuantu Station until 2003) is located in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is a station on the Tamsui Line. In the past, the station belonged to the now-defunct TRA Tamsui Line.
Stati ...
,
Qilian Station,
Mingde Station and
Shipai Station of the
Taipei Metro
Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), branded as Metro Taipei, is a rapid transit system serving the areas of Taipei and New Taipei City, New Taipei in Taiwan, operated by the State-owned enterprise, government-owned Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation ...
.
Notable people
*
Ashin
Chen Hsin-hung (); Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chhîn Sìn-fên, nicknamed Ashin (;Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: A-sìn), born 6 December 1975, is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter, author, and the vocalist of the Taiwanese band Mayday. Ashin majored in art in college, whe ...
, singer, songwriter and author
*
Gingle Wang
Gingle Wang (Chinese: 王淨; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ''Ông Chēng''; pinyin: Wáng Jìng; born 7 February 1998) is a Taiwanese actress and writer. Rapidly gaining reputation from her work across various films and television productions, she already e ...
, actress and writer
*
Tai Chih-yuan
Andy Tai Chih-yuan (, born 7 May 1965) is a Taiwanese comedian, actor, show host and YouTuber. He is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology
The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT or New York Tech) is a private research university f ...
, comedian, actor and show host
See also
*
Shipai, Taipei
Shipai, Shihpai or Tsio̍h-pâisee Tâi-lô () is a region in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. It includes eight villages (里): Shipai (石牌), Wenlin (文林), Ronghua (榮華), Zhenhua (振華), Yumin (裕民), Fuxing (福興), Rongguang (榮 ...
References
External links
*
*
- Photos of Beitou by Junewei(Wayne)* Ku, Melody. Travel Taiwan. Central Coast Magazine, San Luis Obispo, CA. Dec. 2004.
* https://web.archive.org/web/20120226062458/http://www.go2taiwan.net/monthly_selection.php?sqno=23
{{coord, 25.1167, N, 121.5, E, source:kolossus-jawiki, display=title
Districts of Taipei
Hot springs of Taiwan
Taiwan placenames originating from Formosan languages