Nantou County

Last updated
Nantou County
南投縣
Nan-t'ou
Nantou County Montage.png
Top:Shuili Water Creek in Shuili Township, 2nd left:Mount Yu, 2nd right:Nantou County Museum of History in Nantou City, 3rd left:View of Sun Moon Lake, from Xuanzang Temple in Yuchi Township, 3rd right:Evergreen Glassland in Renci Township, Bottom left:Tou George Pond in Taiwan Educational University of Nature, Bottom right:Mount Hehuan
Flag of Nantou County.svg
Seal of Nantou County.svg
Taiwan ROC political division map Nantou County.svg
Nantou County
Coordinates: 23°54′55.28″N120°41′4.32″E / 23.9153556°N 120.6845333°E / 23.9153556; 120.6845333
CountryFlag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China (Taiwan)
Province Taiwan (de facto defunct)
Seat Nantou City
Largest cityNantou City
Boroughs1 city, 12 (4 urban, 8 rural) townships
Government
  Body
  County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua (KMT)
Area
  Total
4,106.436 km2 (1,585.504 sq mi)
  Rank 2 of 22
Population
 (January 2023)
  Total
479,666
  Rank 15 of 22
  Density116.808/km2 (302.532/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (National Standard Time)
ISO 3166 code TW-NAN
Website www.nantou.gov.tw
Symbols
Flower Plum blossom (Prunus mume)
TreeCamphor Laurel ( Cinnamomum camphora )
Thao people in 1900 Thao's canoe, Taiwan 1900 (No.7337).jpg
Thao people in 1900

Following the Japanese annexation of Taiwan through the Treaty of Shimonoseki in April 1995, Japanese forces arrived at Puli on 28 July. A civilian government was set up shortly afterards. [3] :6–7 In 1901, during Japanese rule, Nanto Chō (Japanese: 南投廳) was one of twenty local administrative offices established. In 1909, part of Toroku Chō (斗六廳) was merged into Nanto Cho. A major reorganization occurred in 1920, in which the area was administered under Taichū Prefecture together with modern-day Changhua County and Taichung City.

It was under Japanese rule that indigenous groups came under the control of the central government. [8] :79 Existing tribal confederations were broken up by Japanese attempts to divide and conquer. [8] :87 Indigenous languages and practices were banned under Japanese rules due to assimilation policies. [6] :37 Facial tatoos, formerly a sign of beauty for womenin some groups, were banned. The removal of existing tatoos often left faces disfigured. [9] Those who were not given last names under Qing rule were given last names by the Japanese authorities. [8] :91 In establishing property laws, Japan declared that any land without explicit title was government land. [8] :81 While the western areas of what is now Nantou County were part of normal administrative districts, a mountain district containing what is now eastern Nantou County was considered fully state-owned, with no recognized land title. [4] :103–104 Around Sun Moon Lake, the Thao and Chinese settlers were relocated to enable the construction of the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant. Sun Moon Lake was viewed by the government as a potential source of hydropower that could boost industrialization in the area. [4] :160 By 1934, the lake was 7 metres (23 ft) deeper, with many formerly Thao areas thus flooded. [4] :161

It is likely that Seediq people from Nantou migrated east during the Japanese period. While some likely occurred autonomously, following the 1914 Truku War and the 1930 Musha Incident such resettlement was encouraged and sometimes forced by the government. [8] :84Following the 1914 war, Japan established schools, clinics, police stations, and Shinto shrines in indigenous areas in an attempt to pacify local tribes. The village of Musha  [ ja ] in what is now Nantou County turned into a model village, focused on the harvesting of camphor. However, for reasons that are disputes, on 27 October 1930 more than 300 Tkedaya (Seediq) men from six communities led by Mona Rudao attacked 12 police stations, killing all Japanese staff. The Japanese staff were preparing to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Japan's annexation of Taiwan. At a planned celebration later that afternoon, a gathering of other Japanese officials and their families was attacked. In total, 134 Japanese were killed. Following the Japanese military response, including both Japanese forces and rival tribes, about half of those communities were either killed or committed suicide. More died during later events, and survivors were relocated. [8] :88 The various relocations under Japanese rule broke up kin groups and brought members of different groups, including hostile ones, into the same settlements. [8] :85 They also shifted people used to living in forests into plains, forcing them out of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and into the cash economy. [9] However, opposition to Japanese actions played a significant role in establishing the ethnic identities of today's indigenous groups. [8] :91 Some indigenous people also have overall fond memories of Japanese rule, especially contrasted with the subsequent rule of the KMT. [9]

The Japanese period also saw the development of a sugar industry driven by the Formosa Sugar Company. A railway was constructed in 1918 linking Nantou County with Taichung for sugar export. [10] :150 The construction of the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant also saw the construction of the 29.7 kilometres (18.5 mi) Jiji line. Finished in 1922, this line significant enhanced the capacity of goods transport between the interior and the coast. Economic growth occurred along the line. [11] The Jiji line and a sugar line both had a western terminus at Ershui railway station, and ran paralell until Zhuoshui railway station. From there, the sugar line went north towards Nantou City, while the Jiji line continued east into the interior. [12] :46 The Jiji line also boosted initial tourism activities, providing easy access to Sun Moon Lake. [5] :10

Natural resources extracted along the lines could be transferred to the Western Trunk line at Ershui. [13] The line terminated at its eastern end in natural basin around Checheng. Agicultural areas along the line began to produce bananas, which were often exported to Japan. [12] :45 Banana exporting peaked in 1930. [11] Other agricultural products included rice, camphor, sugar, and various fruits. The line also facilitated the export of wood from the interior Mount Xiluanda  [ zh ] and Mount Danda. [14] This wood was also exported, with a torii at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine being built with wood from Danda. Checheng's forestry sector significantly expanded. [13]

Republic of China

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China on 25 October 1945, the present day area of Nantou County was administered under Taichung County of Taiwan Province. [15] Settlements in what became the country were affected by the February 28 incident. [3] :7 On 16 August 1950,[ citation needed ]Nantou County was established by its separation from Taichung County, and Nantou Township was designed as the county seat. The Nantou County Government was created on 21 October, with the first elections taking place the next year. [16] Taichung continued to provide Prosecutors Office service, although this office opened a branch in Nantou County in 1982. An independent Nantou Prosecutors Office was only set up on 1 July 1994. [17]

On 1 July 1957, the Zhongxing New Village in Nantou Township was designated as the capital of Taiwan Province, replacing the former capital Taipei. It remained the capital until the province was reorganized in 1997. [3] :1 [16] Construction of Zhongxing New Village began in 1956, and it was intended to be a model of Chinese rule and represent a vision for the future. [10] :16 The location was chosen both for its centrality and for its relatively security from invasion, although it was a second choice after a location in Taichung County. [10] :115 The move of the government occurred before the new site was ready, leading many departments needing to find temporary accommodation. Many employees were unhappy with the move, as the new Nantou County location was seen as quiet and remote. [10] :117 The remoteness also created logistical issues, including there not being enough food to feed all the newly translocated government employees. [10] :121 In 1981, the county seat was upgraded from Nantou Township to Nantou City.

Under the Republic of China, some areas assigned to the Thao by Japanese authorities were retaken by the state. [4] :163 Indigenous people were assigned reserves, however these sometimes overlapped with otherwise restricted areas. For example, 758 hectares (1,870 acres) of the 1,169 hectares (2,890 acres) within Xinyi fell within the Yushan National Park. [4] :128–129 One Bunun village that fell within Yushan National Park had its traditional graves extracted to enhance the park. [4] :131 A land registration program in 1964 favored Chinese settlers, and many Thao who either did not know they needed to register or could not afford to ended up as tenants on state land. Other Thao land was appropriated for tourism purposes. A ring road built around Sun Moon Lake in 1969 increased immigration and tourism. The Sun Moon lake area was declared protected in 1970, however this policy did not provide land to the Thao people. [4] :163–165

In 1960 Sun Hai founded a logging company in Checheng, which quickly expanded and revitalized the town. [5] :29 However, the government banned logging in 1985. While the industry attempted to shift to processing imported wood, the forestry sector declined. [13]

In the 1970s road transport improvements included the opening of Provincial Highway 16. Rail transport decreased. The Jiji line was considered for closure in 1986, however it was reopened as a tourist railway. Tourism proved a success, and in the 1990s the line saw 1,000 tourists every weekend. [18] Railway tourists brought a new economic lease of life to the declining towns along the railway. [13]

The new authorities built more tourism sites at Sun Moon Lake, and in 1992 declared it a special 1,974 hectares (4,880 acres) development area. [5] :10 While the pottery industry had declined with the arrival of plastic products, some kilns such as the Shuili Snake Kiln were recontextualized as educational and entertainment facilities. [5] :29

After the provincial government of Taiwan Province was removed due to streamlining, Zhongxing New Village began to decay, [10] :16 although it remains the official administrative center. [10] :65

The 1999 Jiji earthquake struck the region at 1:47am on 21 September. Measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, it caused substantial damage to infrastructure and loss of life. [16] 136 schools were rebuilt. [19] The Thao community organized to assist in reconstruction, and also pushed for reconstruction to be done in a way that restored their culture. In 2001, the Thao people were recognized as Taiwan's 10th indigenous group. [4] :173–174

Following the earthquake, the area around Sun Moon Lake was reorganized under the Tourism Bureau, with the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area created on 24 January 2000. This new body was tasked with both reconstruction and expanding tourism to the area. [5] :2

In 2001, Typhoon Toraji brought 650 millimetres (26 in) of rainfall, causing landslides and flooding. [20]

Geography

Hehuanshan is one of the higher mountains in Nantou County. Hehuanshan Cuesta.JPG
Hehuanshan is one of the higher mountains in Nantou County.

Nantou County has an area of 4,106.436 km2 (1,585.504 sq mi) with a width of 72 km (45 mi) and length of 95 km (59 mi). It is the second largest county in Taiwan after Hualien County. [21] Located at the middle of the island, [3] :2 its borders are about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the eastern and western coasts and 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the north and south of the island. The geographic center of Taiwan is on Mount Hutou  [ zh ], in the Puli township. [3] :4 It is the only landlocked county in Taiwan, bordering Taichung County on its north, Hualien County to the east, Chiayi County and Kaohsiung to the south, and Changhua County and Yunlin County to the west. [3] :1 Many of these borders follow natural features. The western border lies on the Bagua Plateau, while the eastern border lies along the Central Mountain Range. The north and south borders also follow watersheds. [3] :4

There are 41 mountains taller than 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). [22] The tallest is Yu shan in Xinyi Township, the highest peak in Taiwan with a height of 3,952 metres (12,966 ft). [23] Around 83% of Nantou County area is covered by hills and mountains. [22] Large areas of forest and wilderness remain in the mountains. Between some of the mountains lie the Puli Basins. [3] :4 These basins, while limited by surrounding mountains, are large areas of flat terrain that is condusive to agriculture. [3] :10

The two major water sources are the Dadu River and Zhuoshui River. The Zhuoshui River is the longest in Taiwan. [3] :4 Named for its murky water, it originates from Hehuanshan in the Central Mountain Range, flowing 186 kilometres (116 mi) west. [12] :46 Also in the county is Sun Moon Lake, the island's largest lake. [3] :4 Other inland waterbodies include Wushe Reservoir, Liyu Lake  [ zh ], and Cilin Lake  [ zh ]. [22]

The mountains have created different environments of different soil types, while also reducing the impact of rainfall coming from the Pacific. [3] :2

70% of Taiwan's mammal species are found in the county, as are 81% of its amphibians. [3] :4 The Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute is located in Jiji, serving as an educational facility and wildlife sanctuary. [24] The sanctury treats injured wildlife, notably the endangered Taiwanese pangolin and leopard cat. Other species include sparrows, swifts, black-faced spoonbills, collared scops owls, masked palm civets, Formosan ferret-badgers, crested goshawks, and black-crowned night herons. [25] Puli was once a famous butterfly collection spot. [26] The subspecies Papilio machaon sylvina present on the island may have become extinct due to the 1999 Jiji earthquake. [27]

Climate

The mountainous geography of the county has created multiple climatic zones. [3] :2 The annual average temperature is 23 °C (73 °F) on level ground and 20 °C (68 °F) on mountains. The annual average rainfall is less than 1,750 mm (68.9 in) in non-mountainous areas and 2,800 mm (110.2 in) in mountainous areas. The rainy season lasts from April to September and the dry season lasts from October to March. [21] Historically water shortages have occurred in the spring and autumn, similar to the Chiayi–Tainan Plain. In 1925, Puli went 151 days without rain. [3] :4

Government

Nantou County Council New Hall of Nantou County Council.JPG
Nantou County Council

Nantou City is the seat of the county. [3] :5 Executive authority is exercized by the Nantou County Government, [3] :16 which has 15 departments. The Nantou County Council is made up of 37 councilors. [28]

Local government is led by the Magistrate of Nantou County, who is elected and limited to two four-year terms. [3] :18 Since the position was first filled on 1 June 1951, the majority of its officeholders have been members of the Kuomintang party. [3] :19–22 The incumbent is Hsu Shu-hua of the Kuomintang. [29]

Administrative divisions

Nantou County Administrative Divisions Nan Tou Xing Zheng Qu Hua .png
Nantou County Administrative Divisions

Nantou County consists of 1 city, 4 urban townships, 6 rural townships, 2 mountain indigenous townships, 128 villages and 133 neighborhoods. [28] [30] [31]

Nantou County
Traditional Chinese 南投
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Nántóu Xiàn
Bopomofo ㄋㄢˊ   ㄊㄡˊ   ㄒㄧㄢˋ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh Nantour Shiann
Wade–Giles Nan²-tʻou² Hsien⁴
Tongyong Pinyin Nántóu Siàn
MPS2 Nántóu Shiàn
IPA [nǎn.tʰǒʊ ɕjɛ̂n]
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳ Nàm-thèu-yen
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Lâm-tâu-koān
Tâi-lô Lâm-tâu-kuān
TypeName [30] Chinese [30] Taiwanese Hakka Formosan
City Nantou City 南投 Lâm-tâuNàm-thèu
Urban
townships
Caotun 草屯 Chháu-tūnChhó-thùn
Jiji 集集 Chi̍p-chi̍pSi̍p-si̍p
Puli 埔里 Po͘-líPhû-lî
Jhushan (Zhushan) 竹山 Tek-sanTsuk-sân
Rural
townships
Guosing (Guoxing) 國姓 Kok-sèngKoet-siang
Lugu 鹿谷 Lo̍k-kokLu̍k-kuk
Mingjian 名間 Bêng-kanMiàng-kiên
Shueili (Shuili) 水里 Chúi-líSúi-lî
Yuchih (Yuchi) 魚池 Hî-tîǸg-tshṳ̀Qabizay Thao
Jhongliao (Zhongliao) 中寮 Tiong-liâuChûng-liàu
Mountain
indigenous
townships
Ren-ai (Ren'ai) 仁愛 Jîn-àiYìn-oi Atayal, Bunun, Seediq
Sinyi (Xinyi) 信義 Sìn-gīSin-ngiNehunpu-siang Bunun

Colors indicate statutory language status of Hakka and Formosan languages in the respective subdivisions.

Politics

Lin Ming-chen, a former Magistrate of Nantou County Nan Tou Xian Chang Lin Ming Zhen  (cropped).jpg
Lin Ming-chen, a former Magistrate of Nantou County
The 2023 Nantou County 2nd Constituency by-election [zh] saw the election of a Democratic Progressive Party legislator, rare in the county 2023 Nantou County Constituency 2 By-election Result Map.svg
The 2023 Nantou County 2nd Constituency by-election  [ zh ] saw the election of a Democratic Progressive Party legislator, rare in the county

Elections in Nantou County for representation in the Legislative Yuan and for county-wide offices are generally won by Kuomintang (KMT) candidates. [32] While there are no county-wide KMT factions, there is internal factional politics at the town and city level. [33]

Nantou County voted for KMT legislators in both of its seats during the 2016 Republic of China legislative election. [34]

The 2023 Nantou County 2nd Constituency by-election  [ zh ] saw a Democratic Progressive Party candidate elected by 1,925 votes. [32] However, in the 2024 election the 2nd constituency flipped again, voting in a KMT legislator. [35]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1985 535,572    
1990 536,479+0.2%
1995 546,517+1.9%
2000 541,537−0.9%
2005 535,205−1.2%
2010 526,491−1.6%
2015 509,490−3.2%
Source: "Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census. Archived from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
Nantou City, the county seat of Nantou County County Highway 139 and Provincial Highway 3 intersection 20110716.jpg
Nantou City, the county seat of Nantou County

The county remains home to a large number of ethnic groups, [3] :4 and includes the traditional lands of a number of Taiwanese indigenous peoples, including the Atayal people, Bunun people, and Seediq people. [3] :1 Altogether there are around 30,000 people registered as indigenous, mostly living in Puli, Ren'ai, Xinyi, and Yuchi. [36] :1

The largest population of Atayal people is in Ren'ai. Many Bunun people live in Ren'ai and Xinyi. Xinyi also has a distinct Tsou population. The Yuchi and Shuili townships are home to the Thao people. [3] :5 The Thao were recognized as separate from the Tsou only in 2001, and less than 1,000 people are registered as Thao. [4] :54 The Seediq are divided into three dialect groups, the Truku, [a] Teuda, and Tkedaya, each with roughtly equal populations. These were historically antagonstic groups, up until at least some time during the Japanese period. The Nantou Seediq have a mixed relationship with Seediq in neighboring Hualian County, with views stretching from viewing them as part of the same dialect groups to asserting that they should be viewed as a different ethnic group entirely. [8] :87

Non-indigenous ethnic groups include the Hoklo people, Hakka people, and Waishengren . [3] :8 Large Hakka communities are found in Caotun, Guoxing, Nantou City, Puli, and Shuili. [36] :1

There are around 500 registered surnames in the county. [1]

Population

Nantou County has a population of 471,647 people as of February 2025. Of these, 11,948 were recent immigrants. [36] :1

City Nameacreage
(km²)
下轄村
里數
下轄
鄰數
Population人口
消長
The population density
(人/km²)
PostcodeGeographical division
Nantou City 71.60213475397,403+421,386540烏溪
Puli 162.22273356977,340+96490545烏溪
Caotun 104.03272760896,778+132939542烏溪
Jhushan (Zhushan) 247.33392848251,840-1217557濁水溪
Jiji 49.72681112610,073+5212552濁水溪
Mingjian 83.09552337236,212-22454551濁水溪
Lugu 141.89811317416,457-20122558濁水溪
Jhongliao (Zhongliao) 146.65411825813,819-2298541烏溪
Yuchih (Yuchi) 121.37351319114,900+8128555烏溪
Guosing (Guoxing) 175.70421315917,224-32103544烏溪
Shuili 106.84241920916,359-28161553濁水溪
Sinyi (Xinyi) 1,422.41881512115,573-1911556濁水溪
Ren-ai (Ren'ai) 1,273.53121619215,688-2412546烏溪
Nantou County4,106.43602634,214479,666+71120

Language

The official language of the county is Mandarin. Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, English and aboriginal languages are also spoken. [37] The county is the only place where the Thao language is spoken. Other aboriginal languages include Atayal, Bunun, and Tsou. [4] :127 The Nantou Hakka Cultural Academy promotes the Hakka Chinese language. [36] :12

Economy

Agriculture in Nantou County Xiangbi Mountain, viewed looking south-southeast from the roadside near New Jiji Tunnel in the morning on 3 July 2021.jpg
Agriculture in Nantou County

Due to its landlocked nature, the county's economy depends mainly on agriculture. [17] [38] Other important industries in the county include forestry, fishery, and animal husbandry. Tourism and manufacturing are also important.

As of 2016, there are 28,000 registered businesses and 5,205 registered companies in the county with a total capital of NT$5,609 million and NT$80,024 million respectively. There are 938 factories operating in the county as of 2015. [39]

Many areas along the Jiji line are still agricultural. While banana production has decreased from historical levels, other crops include dragon fruit and oranges.‍ [12] :45 The Jiji line has also proved a significant tourism draw, going through picturesque countryside. A railway museum has been opened at its terminus. [18] Assam tea is cultivated around Sun Moon Lake. This tea was first introduced the area by the Japanese. Also grown around the lake are mushrooms and orchids. Plums are grown in Shuili, which also serve as a tourist attraction when they blossom in December. The plums are processed into various products, including dry fruit, vinegar, and wine. [5] :25 Dong Ding tea is cultivated in Lugu. A unique variation, Gui Fei Oolong, was developed after the 1999 Jiji earthquake. It is created from tea leaves that secrete honey-flavored defences against Jacobiasca formosana insects. [40]

Sun Moon Lake also supports a small fishery, holding sharpbelly and predatory carp. Sharpbelly are a traditional part of the Thao diet. As the fish are small, it is common to salt or deep fry them. Predatory carp are larger, reaching 30 centimetres (12 in). They became known as "President's Fish" as Chiang Kai-shek was known to eat them whenever visiting the lake. [5] :30

The Nantou governmnet has sought to encourage international as well as domestic tourism. It has also sought to develop industrial parks in Zhongxing New Village, [39] and is developing similar industrial parks elsewhere. [36] :21 Events held by the government include a lantern festival, a Coffee and Chocolate Festival, a tea expo, and the Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival. [36] :3,17 Huhuanshan was certified as a Dark-sky preserve by DarkSky International in 2019, the first Dark-sky preserve in Taiwan. [36] :1 A tourist shuttle bus network connects many key points within the county. [36] :23 Old logging buildings in Checheng have been preserved for tourists. [5] :29 The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is a joint amusement park and education center for all the Taiwanese indigenous peoples. [5] :30

Tourist attractions

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Totem poles in Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village.jpg
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Education

National Chi Nan University U Chi Nan Library and Information Building SW side.jpg
National Chi Nan University

As of 2007, there were 2 colleges, 13 senior high and vocational schools, 30 junior high schools, 149 elementary schools, 106 kindergartens, and 84 day care centers in the county. [41] This changed to 2 colleges, 15 high schools, 23 junior high school schools, 139 elementary schools, and 180 kindergartens in January 2024. [42] In preschools linked to elementary schools, there is a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. [36] :5 Since 2005, students from third grade up are required to take at least on English class each week. The county operates one community college, distributed through 10 branches. [19] Notable universities in the county are National Chi Nan University, National Chung Hsing University and Nan Kai University of Technology.

An Indigenous Community College has been established by the governmnet to help create locally-generated curriculumns that reflect traditional cultures. [36] :11

Energy

Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant Taiwan Power Ccopany Mingtan Power Station.JPG
Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant

Nantou County houses Taiwan's first pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, the Takuan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant commissioned in 1985 with an installed capacity of 1,008 MW. It also houses Taiwan's largest pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant with an installed capacity of 1,602 MW. Both power plants are located in Shuili Township along the Shuili River.

Both the Dadu River and Zhuoshui River have resovoirs used to generate hydroelection power. [39] The Shuili River supports three power plants. [5] :26

Culture

The Taiwanese indigenous peoples in the county retain many distinct customs. [3] :5 In many cases these are retained from previous homelands, following migration to the Puli basin in the 19th century. [6] :37

Different Plains Indigenous peoples with communities in the Puli basin have different ceremonies as part of ancestor worship. The Papora people hold an annual ancestor worship ceremony at the start of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, called the "Alomai". This ceremony has never been open to those outside of the community. The Taokas people hold the "Chian Tien" ritual from the 15th day of the seventh month to the 15th day of the eigth month. For this, three large flags are created. On the final day, the flags are each assigned their own flag bearer and two guards for a ritual march, and a flag falling indicates misfortune. The Babuza people similarly celebrate "Chian Tien", but within their households rather than on a community basis. Arikun and Lloa communities celebrate on the 20th day of the seventh month. Their rituals take place in front of a sacred Bischofia javanica tree. [6] :38

The Pazeh and Kaxabu communities celebrate "Azem" on the 15th day of the 11th month. [6] :38

However, many groups share a common practice of offering rice cakes as part of ancestor worship, although different names are used by each group. [6] :37

There are a number of registerd historical sites in the county, including Lantian Academy  [ zh ], Mingxin Academy, Dengying Academy  [ zh ], Linfongshih Tomb, Nuomi Bridge, the Yidu Stele  [ zh ], Dunlun Hall  [ zh ], the Cyubing remains, Longde Temple  [ zh ], the Manshe School ruins, and Jingsheng Pavilion. [16]

Sports

Notable sporting events held by Nantou County include:

Transportation

Checheng Station TRA Checheng Station.JPG
Checheng Station

National Freeway 3 and National Freeway 6 connect the county to other parts of the country. [39] Provincial Highway 16 is built within the county. [18]

Taichung International Airport and the Port of Taichung are within half an hour of the county. [39]

Rail

Nantou County is served by the Jiji line of Taiwan Railways, the longest branch line in Taiwan. It consists of Tianzhong railway station, Ershui railway station, Zhuoshui railway station, Longquan railway station, Jiji railway station, Shuili railway station, and Checheng railway station. The Jiji line connects Nantou County to the Taiwan High Speed Rail line, as its western terminus at Tianzhong station is connected by express bus to Changhua HSR station. [11] [43] There are plans to directly connect the Jiji line to Changhua HSR station. [44] It has also been proposed to extend the Taichung MRT to Zhongxing New Village in Nantou County. [39]

See also

Notes

  1. The recognized Taroko people is related to this group, however those in Nantou did not support the campaign for a separate identity. [9]

Words in native languages

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nantou of Yesterday". Nantou County Government. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  2. 南投的地方起源與變遷 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. 此地原本為平埔族Arikun族南投(Ramtau)社之故址所在,此「南投」之地名即翻譯自平埔族語。
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Yaguang Hao (2023). Grassroots Governance in Taiwan. Springer Nature. ISBN   9789811998294.
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