Puli Township () is an
urban township in
Nantou County
Nantou is the second largest County (Taiwan), county of Taiwan by area, located in the central part of the country. It is also the only non-coastal county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya people, Hoanya Taiwanese aborigines, Taiwanese ...
,
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
. The township is located within the
Puli Basin. It is the geographic center of Taiwan.
Name
In the 19th century the city was known as Posia () or Po-li-sia
(). The
Atayal name of the settlement was Sabaha Bakalas, meaning "house of stars". From 1920, during the
Japanese era, the town was administered as , ,
Taichū Prefecture
was one of the administrative divisions of Taiwan under Japanese rule, Japanese Taiwan. The prefecture consisted of modern-day Taichung City, Changhua County and Nantou County. It is also the origin of the name of modern-day Taichung. The Taich ...
.
History
Spread of Christianity
In 1870, a native of Po-li-sia named Khai-san received treatment for a medical issue in a missionary hospital in Taiwan-fu (present-day
Tainan
Tainan (), officially Tainan City, is a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in southern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on its western coast. Tainan is the oldest city on the island and commonly called the "Taiwan Prefecture, ...
) and learned about Christianity. When he returned home, he spread information about Christianity to the people of the area. In July 1871, two native preachers were sent to the area after reports concerning the spread of Christianity in Po-li-sia were heard of in Taiwan-fu. They reported back that "a movement, favourable to Christianity, had really taken place" in the area. Members of the
Canada Presbyterian Mission visited the area in March 1872. In late 1872,
William Campbell was part of an armed party that traversed the jungle, mountains and streams between Toa-sia and Po-li-sia to participate in examining candidates for baptism who lived in Po-li-sia.
Chi Chi earthquake
In 1999, this town was damaged by the
921 earthquake. The damage was especially severe in
Taomi Village, a small rural village located within Puli Township. 10 years later, the village has since re-invented itself to be the pride of Taiwan's eco-tourism industry. Especially after the opening of the
Paper Dome, now a major attraction in Puli Township, Taomi Village
was transformed from a sleepy agricultural village to one that is busting with activities related to community redevelopment and eco-tourism. Since then, Taomi Village has seen vibrancy unprecedented since its glory days in the 1970s as an agricultural hub.
Administrative divisions
Tungmen, Pacheng, Pipa, Shuitou, Qilin, Zhuge, Xinan, Ximen, Nanmen, Beimen, Beian, Beimei, Taian, Danan, Wugong, Tongsheng, Qingxin, Xunhua, Dacheng, Lancheng,
Taomi, Chenggong, Nancun, Ailan, Tieshan, Fangli, Xiangshan, Yixin, Gecheng, Guangcheng, Shigang, Fuxing and Niumian Village.
Economy
There is a
TTL brewery in the township. One of the main economic activities in Puli is
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...
. It is located in the mountainous center of Taiwan, and many
tourist destination
A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement.
Types
Places of natural beau ...
spots, such as
Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake ( zh, t=, p=Rìyuè tán, poj= ; Thao language, Thao: ''Zintun'') is a lake in Yuchi, Nantou, Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. It is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The area around the lake is home to the Thao people, o ...
are nearby.
Education
University
*
National Chi Nan University
High school
* National Puli Industrial Vocational Senior High School
*
The Affiliated Senior High School of National Chi-Nan University
Tourist attractions
*
Chung Tai Chan Monastery
*
Geographic center of Taiwan
*
Hung Gee Bees Farm
*
Knock on Wood Working
*
Muh Sheng Museum of Entomology
*
Liyutan
Transportation
Puli is at one end of
National Highway 6 which provides a connection with west Taiwan towards
Taichung
Taichung (, Wade–Giles: '), officially Taichung City, is a special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in central Taiwan. Taichung is Taiwan's second-largest city, with more than 2.85 million residents, making it the largest city in Ce ...
and
Nantou City
Nantou City ( Mandarin Pīnyīn: ''Nántóu Shì''; Hokkien POJ: ''Lâm-tâu-chhī'') is a county-administered city located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the count ...
. At the eastern end of the Highway the Puli exit connects to the
Hehuanshan mountain pass, at its highest point 3275 meters above sea level, before the road continues to
Hualien on the east coast. By this combination of roads, Puli is located along the only east-west coast to coast route crossing the central portion of the island.
Notable natives
*
Chang Mei-yao, former actress
*
Lin Cho-shui, writer, newspaper editor and politician
*
Ma Wen-chun, member of
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan () is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for four-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a ...
*
Tsai Huang-liang, member of
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan () is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in Taipei. The Legislative Yuan is composed of 113 members, who are directly elected for four-year terms by people of the Taiwan Area through a ...
(1996-2016)
Other notable people
*
Hsieh Ho-hsien
Hsieh Ho-hsien (known professionally as R.Chord, and sometimes R.Chord; born 15 April 1987) is a Taiwanese singer and actor. R.Chord is known mainly for writing the lyrics of the song, "Gou Ai," which was played on the Taiwanese drama, ''The X ...
, famous singer
Climate
References
External links
Puli Town Hall, Nantou County
{{Authority control
Townships in Nantou County
Taiwan placenames originating from Formosan languages