Beigang, Hokkō or Peikang is an urban township in

Yunlin County Yunlin is a Counties of Taiwan, county in Regions of Taiwan, western Taiwan. Yunlin County borders the Taiwan Strait to the west, Nantou County to the east, Changhua County to the north at the Zhuoshui River, and Chiayi County to the south at th ...

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 ...

. It is primarily known for its

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

, one of the most prominent

Temples A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...

Mazu Mazu or Matsu is a sea goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. She is also known by several other names and titles. Mazu is the deified form of Lin Moniang (), a shamaness from Fujian who is said to ...

on Taiwan. It has a population of 37,763 as of February 2023.

Geography

The

Beigang River The Beigang River, formerly known as the Pakan from its Hokkien language, Hokkien pronunciation, is a river in Taiwan named for Beigang, Yunlin, Beigang, a port 20 kilometres from its mouth. It flows through Yunlin County, Yunlin and Chiayi Count ...

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 (顏思齊) from

Zhangzhou Zhangzhou (, ) 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 (with Quanzhou) surrounding the prefecture of Xiamen. Nam ...

Fujian Fujian is a provinces of China, province in East China, southeastern 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 capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefe ...

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

Chiayi City Chiayi (,), officially known as Chiayi City, is a Provincial city (Taiwan), city located in Chianan Plain in Regions of Taiwan, southwestern Taiwan, surrounded by Chiayi County with a population of 263,188 inhabitants as of January 2023. The H ...

), 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

Universities

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.

High Schools

* National Beigang Senior High School * National Pei-Kang Agricultural & Industrial Vocational High School * Jiu Ren High School

Junior High Schools

* Peikang Junior High School * Jianguo Junior High School

Tourist attractions

* Beigang Sports Park: Beigang Sports Park has a history of 50 years, and was previously a venue for track & field athletics. After renovation, a white sand pit was added for children. * Zhongshan Road: The old street surrounding Beigang Chaotian Temple, surrounded by many well-known specialty shops and snack bars. * Nui Hui Morning Market: A gathering 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 market. * Beigang Cultural Center * Beigang Tourist Bridge, connecting the counties of Yunlin and

Chiayi Chiayi (,), officially known as Chiayi City, is a Provincial city (Taiwan), city located in Chianan Plain in Regions of Taiwan, southwestern Taiwan, surrounded by Chiayi County with a population of 263,188 inhabitants as of January 2023. The H ...

, 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

Local cuisine specialities

* Beigang Wedding Cakes (traditional wedding cakes) are popular souvenirs 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. * Peanuts and broad beans

Cultural activities

* Festivities around the birthday of

(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 on the solar year, and lunisolar calendars, whose lunar months are brought ...

) * Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage * Beigang International Music Festival

Transportation

* Beigang Bus Station

Notable natives

* Alex Tsai, 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 ...

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

(2005-2014) * Wu Se-hwa, Minister of

Education Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education als ...

(2014-2016)

Climate

References

External links

Yunlin County, Beigang Township Office

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