Changhua County 彰化縣 Chiang-hoa | |
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 Top:View of Wu River from National Highway 74, between Changsha and Wuri, 2nd left:Changhua County Hall, 2nd right:Baguashan Great Buddha in Changhua City, 3rd left:Lukang Tinhau Temple, 3rd right:View of inside in roof at Longshan Temple, Lukang, Bottom left:View of entrance in Baguashan Buddha Park, Bottom right:Koo's House in Lukang Folk Museum | |
 Flag  Logo | |
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| Coordinates:23°56′N120°32′E / 23.933°N 120.533°E /23.933; 120.533 | |
| Country |  Republic of China (Taiwan) |
| Province |  Taiwan Province(de facto defunct) |
| Region | Western Taiwan |
| Seat | Changhua City |
| Largest city | Changhua City |
| Boroughs | 2 cities, 24 (6 urban, 18 rural) townships |
| Government | |
| • Magistrate | Wang Huei-mei (KMT) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,074.396 km2 (414.827 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 15 of 22 |
| Population (March 2023)[1] | |
• Total | 1,244,148 |
| • Rank | 6 of 22 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (National Standard Time) |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Anthem | Changhua County Song[2] |
| Bird | Grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) |
| Flower | Chrysanthemum |
| Tree | Peepul (Ficus religiosa) |
| Changhua County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 彰化縣 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Changhua (MandarinPinyin:Zhānghuà Xiàn;Wade-Giles:Chang¹-hua⁴ Hsien⁴;HokkienPOJ:Chiang-hòa-koān orChiong-hòa-koān) is the smallestcounty on the mainisland of Taiwan by area, and the fourth smallest in the country. With a total population of 1.24 million, Changhua County is the most populous county in the Republic of China. Its capital isChanghua City and it is part of theTaichung–Changhua metropolitan area.
There are 32 prehistoric burial sites in Changhua that date back 5000 years. The original name of the area wasPoasoa (Chinese:半線;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Pòaⁿ-sòaⁿ;lit. 'half line'), so-named by the localindigenous tribes. Poasoa used to be inhabited primarily by theBabuza people, who have since been mostly assimilated by theHan people.
Qing rule in Taiwan began in 1683, and in 1684,Taiwan Prefecture was established to administer Taiwan underFujian Province. The prefecture consisted of three counties:Taiwan County [zh],Fongshan District (Formosa) [zh] andZhuluo. Poasoa and modern-day Changhua County were under the jurisdiction of Zhuluo, but the Changhua area was spread over three counties.
In 1723, after theZhu Yigui rebellion, an inspector official in Taiwan requested to the Qing Emperor to designate Changhua to another county magistrate and legal warden because of the increasing population in the northern part of Zhuluo County.[3] As a result, Changhua County was created, encompassing the area of modern Changhua County,Taichung, half ofYunlin County and three townships ofNantou County. Changhua County Hall was built in the middle of the district and is regarded as the beginning of the Changhua County establishment.[4]
The name of Changhua, meaning "manifestation of a royal civilization", is formally worded "manifestation of the majestic Emperor's civilization spread over the seas".[4]
During earlyJapanese rule, the island was subdivided into threeken (県): Taihoku, Taiwan, and Tainan. Changhua was ruled under Taiwan Ken. In 1920, after several administrative changes,Taichū Prefecture was established, covering modern-day Changhua County,Nantou County andTaichung City. By 1930, the population in Changhua already exceeded one million.
After theafter World War II of Taiwan on 25 December 1945, the area of the current Changhua County was established under the jurisdiction ofTaichung County. On 16 August 1950 after its separation from Taichung County,Changhua County was established withChanghua City as itscounty seat on 1 December 1951.[5]
Changhua county is located on the west coast of Taiwan, borderingTaichung City on the north separated byDadu River, so Changhua County and Taichung City are often referred to as theTaichung–Changhua metropolitan area. Changhua County is bordered byYunlin County to the south by theZhuoshui River. To the east, Changhua County is separated fromNantou County and southern Taichung City byBagua Plateau. To the west, Changhua County faces theTaiwan Strait.[6]
The county's total area is 1,074 km2 (415 sq mi), being Taiwan's smallest county. It owns a 60 km (37 mi) of coastline. The landscape of Changhua can be roughly divided into two parts, one being the western flat land, and the other being theChanghua Plain. This two combines measures up to 88% of Changhua county's total area. The highest elevation in Changhua is "Hen Shan", at 443 m (1,453 ft).
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,223,209 | — |
| 1990 | 1,245,288 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 1,288,447 | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 1,310,531 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 1,315,034 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 1,307,286 | −0.6% |
| 2015 | 1,289,072 | −1.4% |
| Source:"Populations by city and country in Taiwan".Ministry of the Interior Population Census. Archived fromthe original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved2016-05-01. | ||
Changhua County is divided into 2cities, 6 urbantownships and 18 ruraltownships.[7][8]Changhua City is the seat of the county which houses theChanghua County Government andChanghua County Council. Changhua County has the highest number of urban townships of all counties in Taiwan. It also has the second highest number of rural townships afterPingtung County. The currentMagistrate of Changhua County isWang Huei-mei of theKuomintang.
| Type | Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cities | Changhua City | 彰化市 | Chiong-hòaor Chiang-hòa | Chông-fa |
| Yuanlin City | 員林市 | Oân-lîm | Yèn-lìm | |
| Urban townships | Beidou | 北斗鎮 | Pó-táu | Pet-téu |
| Erlin(Erhlin)[9] | 二林鎮 | Jī-lîm | Ngi-lìm | |
| Hemei | 和美鎮 | Hô-bí | Fò-mî | |
| Lukang | 鹿港鎮 | Lo̍k-káng | Lu̍k-kóng | |
| Tianzhong(Tianjhong) | 田中鎮 | Tiân-tiong | Thièn-chûng | |
| Xihu(Sihu) | 溪湖鎮 | Khe-ô͘ | Hâi-fù | |
| Rural townships | Dacheng | 大城鄉 | Toā-siâⁿ | Thai-sàng |
| Dacun | 大村鄉 | Tāi-chhoan | Thai-tshûn | |
| Ershui(Erhshui) | 二水鄉 | Jī-chúi | Ngi-súi | |
| Fangyuan | 芳苑鄉 | Hong-oán | Fông-yen | |
| Fenyuan | 芬園鄉 | Hun-hn̂g | Fûn-yèn | |
| Fuxing(Fusing) | 福興鄉 | Hok-heng | Fuk-hîn | |
| Huatan | 花壇鄉 | Hoe-toâⁿ | Fâ-thàn | |
| Pitou | 埤頭鄉 | Pi-thâu | Phî-thèu | |
| Puxin(Pusin) | 埔心鄉 | Po͘-sim | Phû-sîm | |
| Puyan | 埔鹽鄉 | Po͘-iâm | Phû-yàm | |
| Shenkang(Shengang) | 伸港鄉 | Sin-káng | Tshûn-kóng | |
| Shetou | 社頭鄉 | Siā-thâu | Sa-thèu | |
| Tianwei | 田尾鄉 | Chhân-boé | Thièn-mî | |
| Xianxi(Siansi; Hsienhsi)[10] | 線西鄉 | Soàⁿ-sai | Sien-sî | |
| Xiushui(Sioushuei) | 秀水鄉 | Siù-chúi | Siu-súi | |
| Xizhou(Sijhou) | 溪州鄉 | Khe-chiu | Hâi-chû | |
| Yongjing | 永靖鄉 | Éng-chēng | Yún-tshìn | |
| Zhutang(Jhutang; Chutang) | 竹塘鄉 | Tek-tn̂g | Tsuk-thòng |
Changhua County, an electoralbellwether, is seen as a political battleground between theKuomintang (KMT) and theDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP). While it has historically favored the KMT, recent elections have swung in the direction of the DPP.
TheChanghua County Magistrate is the democratically elected chief executive officer of the county. The current incumbent isWang Huei-Mei of theKuomintang.
| Election | Winner | Party | Runner-up | Party | Majority | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Wong Chin-chu | DPP | Yeh Chin-fong | KMT | 44,080 | ||
| 2005 | Cho Po-yuan | KMT | Wong Chin-chu | DPP | 99,841 | ||
| 2009 | Cho Po-yuan | KMT | Wong Chin-chu | DPP | 71,444 | ||
| 2014 | Wei Ming-ku | DPP | Lin Tsang-min | KMT | 101,667 | ||
Since the reorganization of theLegislative Yuan into a 113-member chamber in 2008, Changhua has been divided into four constituencies, each of which return one legislator. In 2011 the incumbent in Changhua 1, Chen Shou-ching, died in office. Because there was less than a year left on her term in office, the seat was left vacant until the 2012 election.[11] In 2014 a by-election was held in Changhua 4 after Wei Ming-ku was elected as Changhua County Magistrate.
| Constituency | Administrative areas | 2008 election | 2012 election | 2014 by-election | 2016 election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislator | Party | Legislator | Party | Legislator | Party | Legislator | Party | ||||||
| Changhua 1 | Shengang, Xianxi, Hemei, Lukang, Fuxing, Xiushui | Chen Shou-ching | KMT | Wang Hui-mei | KMT | No change | Wang Hui-mei | KMT | |||||
| Changhua 2 | Changhua City, Huatan, Fenyuan | Lin Tsang-min | KMT | Lin Tsang-min | KMT | No change | Huang Hsiu-fang | DPP | |||||
| Changhua 3 | Fenyuan, Erlin, Puyan, Xihu, Puxin, Dacheng, Zhutang, Pitou, Beidou, Xizhou | Cheng Ju-fen | KMT | Cheng Ju-fen | KMT | No change | Hung Tsung-yi | DPP | |||||
| Changhua 4 | Dacun, Yuanlin, Yongjing, Shetou, Tianwei, Tianzhong, Ershui | Hsiao Ching-tien | KMT | Wei Ming-ku | DPP | Chen Su-yue | DPP | Chen Su-yue | DPP | ||||
Lukang used to be the economic hub of central Taiwan in its early years where it was a commercially prosperous area. It was an important trading port during theQing Dynasty.[12]
Around 1,200 hectares of total land used for growing fruits in the county is used for grape cultivation withXihu Township acts as the largest grape production hub in the county.[13]
Changhua County is home to Taiwan's two gas-fired power plants,Hsingyuan Power Plant andHsingneng Power Plant, with a capacity of 490 MW each. Both power plants are located inLukang Township.
In August 2016, theChanghua County Government signed an agreement with Canada'sNorthland Power and Singapore's Yushan Energy to develop "Hai Long", a 1,200 MW-capacity offshore wind generation project spread over 2,300 km2 (890 sq mi) off the coast of the county.[14]
With an installed capacity of 188.5 MW from 83 onshore wind turbine, Changhua County has the largest wind energy capacity of any county, municipality or city in Taiwan. As of 2015, there were 21 offshore wind farms located in the water offshore of the county.[15]
Changhua was one of the cultural centers of Taiwan, with a lot of ancient monuments and structures left from theQing Dynasty, including theConfucian Temple, Tian Ho Gung, built inLukang in 1647. There are currently 6 National Certified Historical Monuments, 42 County Certified Historical Monuments, 67 Historical Infrastructures, and 1 Cultural Center in Changhua County.
Museums in the county include theBRAND'S Health Museum,Changhua County Art Museum andLukang Folk Arts Museum.
The county is home to the following art and culture centers, which areChanghua Arts Hall,Lukang Culture Center andNational Changhua Living Art Center.
Temples in Changhua County are
Nature tourism in the county areAlice's Garden andChanghua Fitzroy Gardens.
Historical buildings in the county are theChanghua Wude Hall,Daodong Tutorial Academy,Fuxing Barn,Lukang Ai Gate,Lukang Kinmen Hall,Lukang Rimao Hang,Luocuo Church,Spring of Youth,Yi Yuan Mansion andYusan Hall.
There are 8 stations in Changhua County of theTaiwan Railways Administration (TRA), with the largest beingChanghua Station located in Changhua City. The rest are:Huatan Station,Dacun Station,Yuanlin Station,Yongjing Station,Shetou Station,Tianzhong Station andErshui Station.
Taiwan High Speed Rail has also one station in the county, which isChanghua Station.
National Highway 1 andNational Highway 3 both pass through Changhua County. In addition, there are plenty of provincial highways as well. TheXiluo Bridge, with a span over 1,900 meters and opened in 1953, links Changhua County with neighboringYunlin County.
Changhau has one professional basketball team, theFormosa Taishin Dreamers of theP. League+ (shared withTaichung).[16]
Nagano Prefecture,Japan (2008)Places adjacent to Changhua County | |
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After the terrible insurrection of 1722, it was found that the district of Choolo was too large to be conveniently administered by a single magistrate, and the northern portion was detached to become a new prefecture, named Changwha, while the north part of the island was formed into ating or division, Tamsui, and was placed under the authority of a marine magistrate.
Hemei Beidou Yuanlin Erhshui Pusin Sihu Siansi Fenyuan Shengang Huatan Dacun Yongjing Sijhou Jhutang Fangyuan Tianjhong Erlin Pitou Dacheng Tianwei Shetou Sioushuei Puyan Lukang Changhua Fusing
Geographic data related toChanghua County atOpenStreetMapCities and townships ofChanghua County | ||
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| Cities | | |
| Urban townships | ||
| Rural townships | ||
| Authority control databases: Geographic |
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