Taichung
Taichung (Chinese台中市/台中市, Pinyin Taizhong Shì, Tongyong Pinyin Táijhōng Shih, W.-G. T'ai-chung -shih, PEH oē - jī Tâi - Tiong - chhi, Tai [ wan ] - middle ') is a city of millions on the west coast in the middle of Taiwan. She is one of five centrally-administered cities of the Republic of China and with over 2.6 million inhabitants, the third largest after New Taipei and Kaohsiung city in the country. Taichung is the site of the power plant with the world's largest carbon dioxide ( 36.336 million tons per year as of 2009).
Geography
The area of Taichung is limited by the Miaoli County to the north and the counties of Changhua and Nantou in the south. To the west lies the Formosastraße, at the eastern tip of the counties of Hsinchu, Yilan and Hualien.
The coastal plain in the west and separated from it by a chain of hills Taichung Basin to the core Taichung City are densely populated and highly industrialized. The three most populous counties Fengyuan, Dali and Taiping, which had the status of major cities by 2010, are on the outskirts of the city core. In the east the district area extends far into the rough Taiwanese central mountains. There, representing about 11,000 inhabitants ( 0.7% of the county population) scoring district (until 2010 rural community ) Heping geographically half of the former county area.
The Heping District has share of lying in the central mountains Sheipa National Park and on reaching to the east coast of the island of Taroko National Park. The Xueshan (雪山), with 3,886 m the second highest mountain in Taiwan, is located on the border with northern neighbor Miaoli County.
Climate
Taichung supposedly has the best climate in Taiwan. The weather is relatively mild with a pleasant breeze that blows in from the coast to the city. Unlike the capital, Taipei, the number of rain days is lower, the temperature is cooler than in the south of Taiwan. The average temperature is 23 ° C, in the year falls on average 1700 mm rainfall.
History
The area is inhabited by humans for over 4000 years. At the beginning of historical time lived and hunted here Native American tribes of the westtaiwanischen level ( collective term Pingbuzu平埔族). During the Qing Dynasty, many mainland Chinese from Fujian and Canton immigrated. It developed at this time, among other things, the place Dadun (大墩), then the most important place in the area. Today, the Da- Dun - street recalls in Taichung to the village.
Under the Japanese occupation of Taiwan from 1895 the town was renamed in Taichung, in 1903 the streets in what is now the center of the city and the city park (台中 公园/台中 公园) were created. At the beginning of the 20th century was a stronghold of Taichung Taiwanese nationalism, while most schools this time were built by the Japanese, the Taichung Middle School (now Taichung First High School ) by Taiwanese people with the aim to promote Taiwanese culture, was founded.
After the Second World War and the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Kuomintang appointed to Taichung independent city. On 25 December 2010, the surrounding Taichung County was incorporated into the city. Thus, the population grew from around 1.1 million to 2.6 million and the city area of 163 km ² to 2215 km ². At the same time from Taichung Taiwan Province was spun off and was awarded the status of a centrally-administered city.
Administrative Divisions
The enlarged in December 2010, Taichung city is divided into 29 districts (区, Qū ). Of these eight districts come from the " core city ":
The remaining 21 districts have emerged from the former individual cities and towns of the district Taichung ( Population February 2009):
Education
In Taichung there are 11 universities and colleges. The three main universities are the National Chung Hsing University (国立 中兴 大学), the Feng Chia University (逢甲 大学) and Tunghai University (东海 大学), on whose campus the Luce Memorial Chapel by the architect IM Pei is.
Attractions
The National Natural Science Museum was opened in 1993, it includes, among other things, a botanical garden and an Omnimax theater. The Art Museum of the city is also considered one of the best in Taiwan, however, a majority of the exhibitions are exhibitions.
In the urban area there are several smaller and larger temples, some of which were built in the 19th century for traditional local folk gods. There is next to Buddhist, Taoist and Mazu temples also a Confucius Temple.
In Taichung, there are several night markets, the area around Yizhong (一 中 街, Yizhong jiē ) is associated with many small shops, a popular meeting place. There are also some larger shopping centers in Taichung.
Traffic
The highway 1 ( Sun Yat- sen Freeway ) and Highway 3 connect Taichung with other cities on the west coast of Taiwan and Taipei.
Taichung is also connected to the island umrundende railway line, all major features of the North -South connection stop here. The main railway station was built in 1917 during the period of Japanese control of Taiwan in the Renaissance style. The main route of conventional railroad branches in Taichung area in two parallel lines, one of which crosses the former district area in the coastal plain and the other in the Taichung Basin.
Taichung is connected to the high -speed rail Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR ). The station is located south of the center in the district Wuri. Thither also the railway station of Wuri is laid, which there crosses the route of the HSR. Express HSR trains on their way from Taipei to Zuoying / Kaohsiung and Taichung and back only in Banqiao, ordinary trains also in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Chiayi and Tainan.
The Taichung ( RMQ) airport is the third largest and newest international airport in Taiwan. It is about 20 km outside the city center and was opened in 2004. Currently, there are domestic connections to Taipei and Hualien, as well as the belonging to Taiwan and the Pescadores islands of Kinmen; international connections are other Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City.
The port of Taichung is the largest Situated on the Formosastraße port of the island.
Culinary
Taichung is famous especially for its tea houses. The Black Pearl milk tea (珍珠 奶茶, Zhen Nǎichá ), also known as bubble tea, comes from Taichung. In addition, the so-called sun biscuits (太阳 饼, Tàiyángbǐng ) are a popular souvenir from Taichung.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Peter Chen, American- Taiwanese computer
- David Ho ( born 1952 ), American- Taiwanese AIDS researchers
- Lai Shin -yuan ( b. 1956 ), Taiwanese politician
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