Yilan County 宜蘭縣 [I] Giran, I-lan, Ilan | |
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Coordinates: 24°45′2″N121°45′33″E / 24.75056°N 121.75917°E | |
Country | Republic of China (Taiwan) |
Province | Taiwan Province (streamlined) |
Seat | Yilan City |
Townships/cities | |
Government | |
• Body | |
• Magistrate | Lin Zi-miao (KMT) |
Area | |
• Total | 2,143.6251 km2 (827.6583 sq mi) |
• Rank | 6 of 22 |
Population (September 2023) | |
• Total | 450,031 |
• Rank | 17 of 22 |
• Density | 210/km2 (540/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (National Standard Time) |
ISO 3166 code | TW-ILA |
Website | enwww |
Symbols | |
Flower | Cymbidium |
Tree | Chinese flame tree ( Koelreuteria formosana ) |
Yilan County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 宜蘭 縣 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yilan County, [I] [1] alternately spelled I-lan, [2] is a county in northeastern Taiwan. Yilan is the northernmost county on the island of Taiwan,with a population 450,031. Its seat is located in Yilan City.
Before the Han Chinese Wu Sha led his company into large-scale reclamation in today’s Yilan in 1787,the area was mainly inhabited by the indigenous Kavalan people. During the Japanese rule,much of the present day Yilan County was part of Japan within its Taihoku Prefecture. When the Republic of China took over Taiwan in 1945,it became part of Taipei County until 10 October 1950 when 12 southeastern townships of Taipei County split off to form the present day Yilan County.
The name Yilan derives from the indigenous Kavalan people. Other former names in reference to this area in the Yilan Plain include Kabalan, [3] Kavalan,Kavaland,kap-a-lan,Yiland and Gilan. Before 2009,the county's official name was transliterated as Ilan.
Since early ages,many people have traveled from far places to Yilan. Indigenous tribes that have settled in Yilan are Kavalan people and Atayal people.
The Kavalan people came by the sea and lived by the river at Yilan Plain since around 1,000 years ago. They mostly speak the Austronesian languages. Their settlements consisted of small villages along rivers with around 40–50 communities scattered around the area with a total population of approximately 10,000 people. The Atayal people came by crossing the Xiyuan Pass and settled in the mountain areas.
The Atayal people arrived in Yilan around 250 years ago and settled along the upper Dazhuoshui River. Later,the tribes crossed the Siyuan Pass to reach the valley upstream of the Zhuoshui River. These people are the current residents of Datong Township. Other parts of the Atayal people headed east to enter and settle along the Nan'ao North River and Heping North River. These groups are now settled in Nan-ao Township.
Around 200 years ago,at the end of the 18th century,the Han Chinese traversed the mountain range and settled in Yilan. Large populations began taming the wilderness,cultivating the fields and building irrigation channels. They used various means to seize lands from the Kavalans. Some Kavalans left their homes while some others migrated southwards to Hualien and Taitung coastlines and established settlements. [4]
The Spaniards began arriving in Taiwan in the 17th century. In 1626,the Spaniards led an invasion under the pretext of ship crews having been slain by Taiwanese barbarians. They then torched harbors and surrounding villages,and even went as far as taking over Su'ao Town and established a city called Saint Lorenzo.
The Spaniards were subsequently ousted by the Dutch who had taken over the southern part of Taiwan and established Dutch Formosa. In 1640,the Dutch began contacting Han Chinese merchants for trade and levying taxes on various commercial goods. The merchants had to pay all company taxes but also enjoyed the right to monopolize trade.
During the Kingdom of Tungning era,the previous economy monopoly system developed during the Dutch Formosa continued to be practiced.
When the Qing dynasty annexed Taiwan,they established the Kavalan sub-prefecture in Yilan. In 1806,armed conflicts broke out among various ethnic immigrants,followed by pillaging by pirates. The Qing dynasty government subsequently realized that if they continued to disregard the Kavalan people and did not establish rule of law and a system of defense,Yilan would become a haven for criminals and outlaws,a thorn in the side for Taiwan. In 1809,Jiaqing Emperor incorporated Kavalan into the domain of the empire. Troops were dispatched to quell pirate attacks and chart local territory.
Local government systems in Taiwan underwent many changes during the Qing dynasty period. But with regards to administrative levels lower than the county,including local villages,there were no major changes. The earliest organization and planning of Yilan consisted of seven citadels. In 1835,the seven citadels were further divided into 12 citadels based on the needs of the changing population and environment. This arrangement remained unchanged until the end of Qing dynasty rule. [5]
After the Mudan Incident in 1874,Qing rulers changed their passive attitude and took a more ambitious approach in ruling Taiwan. The original aboriginal term Kavalan district was renamed with a more Han-centric Yilan name and the administrative system was also changed accordingly from the original temporary "district" to a formally governed "county". [6] In 1875,the newly created Taipeh Prefecture included modern-day Yilan County.
After the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894,the Qing government handed over Taiwan to Japan in accordance with the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Modern-day Yilan County covers Giran District (宜蘭郡),RatōDistrict (羅東郡),SuōDistrict (蘇澳郡) and Giran City (宜蘭市) as they existed from 1920 to 1945,all under Taihoku Prefecture,during Japanese rule.
After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in October 1945,the present-day area of Yilan County was incorporated under Taipei County. On 10 October 1950,Yilan County was established as a county of Taiwan Province with Yilan City as the county seat. [7] In 1998,the government streamlined Taiwan Province and Yilan County became administered by the Executive Yuan while the remaining institutions of this province have been dissolved in 2018.
Yilan County sits on the Yilan Plain,a combined alluvial plain created by Lanyang River and other minor streams with a rough shape of triangle. On the three vertices of the triangle sit the Toucheng,Sanxing and Su-ao Townships with a roughly equal distance of 30 km on the three sides. The Xueshan Range sits on the northwest of Yilan County from Toucheng to Sanxing. The county is geographically divided into the cliffs and the plains. The Central Mountain Range sits to the south from Sanxing to Su'ao. [8]
The Upper Lanyang River is steep and the rapid current is highly erosive. Large amount of silt carried by the river have little time to settle because of the high slope of the lands where it flows out of the mountains and valleys. An alluvial fan is formed as a result of scattered sand and gravel settling down. Large amount of gravel accumulate in the shallow stream bed,creating alluvial fans that often forms into web-like pattern. The river tends to change courses after floods caused by heavy rainfall or river overflow. The Lanyang River slows down as it reaches mid and downstream where silt begins to settle.
Yilan County is located in the northeastern Taiwan Island which covers an area of 2,143 km2. The longest distance from east to west is 63 km and from north to south is 74 km. From the mountain areas downwards,the land falls in altitude in the stages of mountains,alleys,alluvial plains,lowlands,swamps,sand hills and finally coastline.
Yilan's Toucheng Township includes Guishan Island and Guiluan Island. The Senkaku Islands,known in Mandarin as the Tiaoyutai Islands,are claimed as part of the township. [9]
Yilan County is administered as a county of Taiwan Province. Yilan City is the county seat which houses the Yilan County Government and Yilan County Council. The county is headed by Magistrate Lin Zi-miao of the Kuomintang.
Yilan County is divided into 1 city,3 urban townships,6 rural townships and 2 mountain indigenous townships. [10]
Type | Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka | Formosan |
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City | Yilan City | 宜蘭 市 | Gî-lân | Ngì-làn | Kebalan Kavalan |
Urban townships | Luodong | 羅東 鎮 | Lô-tong | Lò-tûng | Rutung Kavalan |
Su'ao (Suao) | 蘇澳 鎮 | So-ò/So·-ò | Sû-o | ||
Toucheng | 頭城 鎮 | Thâu-siâⁿ | Thèu-sàng | ||
Rural townships | Dongshan | 冬山 鄉 | Tang-soaⁿ | Tûng-sân | |
Jiaoxi | 礁溪 鄉 | Ta-khe/Ta-kheⁿ | Tsiâu-hâi | ||
Sanxing | 三星 鄉 | Sam-sing | Sâm-sên | ||
Wujie | 五結 鄉 | Gō·-kiat | Ńg-kiet | ||
Yuanshan | 員山 鄉 | Îⁿ-soaⁿ | Yèn-sân | ||
Zhuangwei (Jhuangwei) | 壯圍 鄉 | Chòng-ûi | Tsong-vì | ||
Mountain indigenous townships | Datong | 大同 鄉 | Tāi-tông | Thai-thùng | Tayto Atayal |
Nan'ao | 南澳 鄉 | Lâm-ò | Nàm-o | Nan'ao Atayal |
Colors indicate the common language status of Formosan languages within each division.
Yilan County voted one Democratic Progressive Party legislator out of one seat to be in the Legislative Yuan during the 2016 Republic of China legislative election. [11]
Year | Pop. | ±% |
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1985 | 449,981 | — |
1990 | 450,943 | +0.2% |
1995 | 465,043 | +3.1% |
2000 | 465,186 | +0.0% |
2005 | 460,426 | −1.0% |
2010 | 460,486 | +0.0% |
2015 | 458,117 | −0.5% |
Source: "Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census. |
Today Han Chinese comprises the majority of the population in Yilan County. [4]
Education related affairs in Yilan County is governed by the Education Department of Yilan County Government. The county houses several public and private universities and colleges such as the National Ilan University, National Lan-Yang Girls' Senior High school, National Yilan Senior High School, Lan Yang Institute of Technology and St. Mary's Medicine Nursing and Management College.
Yilan County has 40 MW renewable energy capacity from an incinerator plant and two hydroelectric power plants. [12] It houses the Qingshui Geothermal Power Plant.
Yilan County was the host for the 2009 Asian Rowing Championships. [13]
The Yilan Line and North-Link Line of Taiwan Railways Administration pass the county. Train stations within the two lines in the county are Shicheng, Dali, Daxi, Guishan, Wai-ao, Toucheng, Dingpu, Jiaoxi, Sicheng, Yilan, Erjie, Zhongli, Luodong, Dongshan, Xinma, Su'aoxin, Su'ao, Yongle, Dong-ao, Wuta and Hanben Station.
On 21 October 2018, it was the site of a train derailment that killed 18 passengers and injured 178. [20]
Harbors in the county include Wushi Harbor.
The Kavalan or Kuvalan are an indigenous people of Taiwan. Most of them moved to the coastal area of Hualien County and Taitung County in the 19th century due to encroachment by Han settlers. Their language is also known as Kavalan. Currently, the largest settlement of Kavalan is Xinshe Village in Fengbin Township, Hualien County.
Yilan City is a county-administered city and the county seat of Yilan County, Taiwan. The city lies on the north side of the Lanyang River.
Luodong Township (Chinese: 羅東鎮; pinyin: Luódōng Zhèn; Wade–Giles: Lo2-tung1 Chen4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lô-tong), sometimes spelled Lotung or Lotong, is an urban township in the central part of Yilan County, Taiwan. Luodong is the smallest township in the county by area.
Toucheng Township is an urban township in Yilan County, Taiwan. The township includes Guishan Island and Guiluan Island in the Philippine Sea. The Senkaku Islands, known in Mandarin as the Diaoyu Islands, are claimed as part of the township.
Jiaoxi Township or Chiaohsi Township is a rural township in the northern section of Yilan County, Taiwan.
Datong Township (Chinese: 大同鄉; pinyin: Dàtóng Xiāng; Wade–Giles: Da4-t'ung2 Hsiang1) is a mountain indigenous township in the southwestern part of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is the second largest township in Yilan County after Nan'ao Township.
Nan'ao Township is a mountain indigenous township in the southern part of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is the largest township in the county.
Guishan Island / Gueishan Island or Steep Island or Turtle Island, also known as Kweishan Island or Kueishan Island, is an island in the Pacific Ocean, part of Toucheng Township, Yilan County, Taiwan and located 9.1 km (5.7 mi) east of port of Kengfang Fishery Harbor. The island's name is derived from the resemblance of the topography of the island to that of a turtle. The island is a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1785.
Honeymoon Bay is a small bay facing the Pacific Ocean, located at the northeast coast of Taiwan in Toucheng Township, Yilan County. Southeast of the bay is Guishan Island, famous to Taiwanese people. Recently, this bay became popular among Taiwanese and foreign surfers. It can be reached by taking the train to nearby Daxi Station of the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) and then walking for about 10 minutes.
Toucheng is a railway station on the Taiwan Railways Administration Yilan line located in Toucheng Township, Yilan County, Taiwan.
Yilan Plain, also called the Lanyang Plain (蘭陽平原), or historically Kabalan, Kapsulan, Komalan, is a plain in Yilan County, Taiwan. The plain has an alluvial fan which formed by Lanyang River. The plain was formed in the shape of nearly equilateral triangle. The broad and flat feature of this plan has made transportation so convenient in the region which drew large population to the towns and cities in the area.
Provincial Highway 9 is an important highway across eastern Taiwan from Taipei City to Fangshan, Pingtung, Pingtung County. This provincial highway, at 453.851 km long, is the second-longest provincial highway in Taiwan and passes the regions of Taipei City, New Taipei City, Yilan County, Hualien County, Taitung County and Pingtung County.
The Yilan County Government is the local government of Yilan County, Taiwan.
The Toucheng Old Street is a street in Toucheng Township, Yilan County, Taiwan.
Provincial Highway 7 is a highway connecting Daxi, Taoyuan and Zhuangwei, Yilan. The highway is also known as Northern Cross-Country Highway, one of the three most important east–west highways in Taiwan.
The Wushi Harbor is a harbor in Toucheng Township, Yilan County, Taiwan.
Lanyang Taiwanese Opera Company is a public Taiwanese opera troupe that belongs to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Yilan County. It was established by Yilan County Government in 1992, and it is the first and only public Taiwanese opera troupe in Taiwan. The Company has performed in US, Costa Rica, Canada, and Japan.
Luodong River is the largest tributary on the south bank of Lanyang River. Its upstream section is also called Han River, and the midstream section is known as Guangxing River. It originates from the northeastern slope of Dayuan Mountain and flows through Datong Township, Dongshan Township, Sanxing Township, and Luodong Township in Yilan County, serving as the boundary river between Sanxing Township and Dongshan Township.
Annong River, originally named Dianhuo River, is a river in Taiwan located in Sanxing Township, Yilan County, approximately 3 kilometers from the downtown area of Luodong Township. It is one of the tributaries of the Luodong River in the Lanyang River system and serves as the drainage channel for the tailwater of the Lanyang Power Plant. The river is about 17.2 kilometers long, with a watershed area of approximately 55.9 square kilometers. It flows through the prime areas of Sanxing Township, providing essential water for agricultural irrigation in Sanxing Township and downstream towns. It is regarded as the "River of Life" of Sanxing Township due to its abundant water resources, which also make it suitable for rafting activities. Currently, the Annong River is managed by the First River Management Office of the Water Resources Agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It is the most important and water-rich river in Sanxing Township, serving purposes of hydropower generation, irrigation, and tourism and recreation
字詞 【宜蘭縣】 注音 ㄧˊ ㄌㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄢˋ 漢語拼音 yí lán xiàn
另轄兩小島(龜山島及龜卵嶼)及一群島(釣魚臺列嶼)。