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 and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
, Taiwan. The historical spelling of the district is Peitou. The name originates from the
Ketagalan
Ketagalan or Ketangalan () are a Taiwanese aboriginal people originating in what is now the Taipei Basin. Their language has now become extinct.
On 21 March 1996, the road in front of the Presidential Office Building was renamed from "Long Liv ...
word ''Kipatauw'', meaning
witch
Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have us ...
. 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 ci ...
. 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 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. Beginning in 1949, ''Peitou'' and
Shilin were administered by the newly formed
Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau
Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau () was a 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 Shirin Town () and H ...
. Both of them were merged into
Taipei City
Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
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
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. A ...
*
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
*
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 ce ...
*
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
*
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
*
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 Ja ...
*
Beitou Park
*
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, ...
*
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 buildi ...
*
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 est ...
*
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 cultures, including the Ketagalan tribes cultures.
History
The center w ...
*
Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts
*
Lady Zhou's Memorial Gate
*
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
*
Thermal Valley
*
Tittot Glass Art Museum
*
Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan National Park is one of the 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 and Shilin Districts; and New Taipei's Wanli, Jinshan ...
*
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 Chi ...
*
Zhuzihu Ponlai Rice Foundation Seed Field Story House
*
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 ci ...
in Xin Beitou and Xingyi Road
* Beitou Cape: Lighthouse and seaside resort
* Puji Temple
Transportation
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,
Zhongyi Station,
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.
Sta ...
,
Qilian Station,
Mingde Station and
Shipai Station
Shipai (, formerly transliterated as Shihpai Station until 2003) is a metro station in Shipai, Taipei, Taiwan served by Taipei Metro. In the past, the station belonged to the now-defunct Tamsui railway line.
Station overview
The two-level ele ...
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 in Taiwan, operated by the government-owned Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, which also operates the Maokong Gondo ...
.
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, wh ...
, 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 es ...
, 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 ...
, comedian, actor and show host
See also
*
Shipai, Taipei
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