Hualien City


Hualien City is a county-administered city and the county seat of Hualien County, Taiwan. It is located on the east coast of Taiwan on the Pacific Ocean, and has a population of 106,368 inhabitants.

Name

Hualien County annals record that the city was called "Kiray" until the early twentieth century. This name refers to the Sakiraya Taiwanese aborigines and their settlement.
After Taiwan came under Japanese rule in 1895 its governors sought to change the name because "Kiray" is pronounced the same as the Japanese word for "dislike". The name was eventually changed to Karen Harbour. After World War II the incoming Kuomintang-led Republic of China retained the Kanji spelling but shortened the name to just, or Hualien via Chinese romanization.

History

The Spaniards built mines for gold in Hualien in 1622. Permanent settlements began in 1851, when 2,200 Han Chinese farmers led by Huang A-fong from Taipei arrived at Fengchuan. In 1875, more farmers, led by Lin Cang-an from Yilan, settled at Fengchuan.
Settlements in the area remained small by the start of Japanese rule. The city was expanded circa 1912 by its Japanese governors to incorporate Guohua and Guoan Villages, a region later known as Old New Port. In 1920, was established, and around 1923 it was extended to, today known as "New Port", including the Guowei and Guoji Villages. In 1940, the town was upgraded to Karenkō City, Karenkō Prefecture.
On 25 October 1945, Taiwan was handed over from Japan to the Republic of China under Kuomintang government. In January 1946, the incoming Kuomintang designated Hualien City a county-controlled city of Hualien County and to be the county seat, an administrative structure that has remained in place since Taiwan's transition to democracy.

Climate

Hualien experiences a tropical rainforest climate with frequent cyclones, as it borders the Pacific Ocean. It closely borders on a humid subtropical climate. The city experiences significant rainfall year-round and the temperature there averages. Precipitation in the city averages. January is the city's driest month, while September tends to be the wettest.

Subdivisions

The 45 villages of the city are divided into six village unions :
  1. The first union: Minyun, Minle, Minxiang, Minyi, Minxin, Minli, Minde, Minzheng, Minqin, Minxiao
  2. The second union: Minsheng, Minquan, Minzu, Minyou, Minzhu, Minzhi
  3. The third union: Zhuji, Zhuyi, Zhuxin, Zhuqin, Zhushang, Zhugong
  4. The fourth union: Zhuxue, Zhuquan, Zhunong, Zhuhe, Zhuli, Zhu'an, Zhumu
  5. The fifth union: Guofeng, Guofang, Guozhi, Guoguang, Guohun, Guo'an, Guowei, Guohua, Guolian, Guosheng
  6. The sixth union: Guofu, Guoyu, Guoqing, Guoqiang, Guofu, Guoxing
The newest villages from 2002 are Guosheng, Guoxing, Minxiao, and Minzhu.

Government institutions

Hualien City has 9,000 aboriginal people, making it the city with the largest aboriginal population in Taiwan. The majority of the aborigines that reside in Hualien include the Amis, Atayal, Truku and Bunun. Hualien City is also the most densely populated area in Hualien county.

Education

There are 3 universities, 12 senior high schools, 4 junior high schools, 16 elementary schools.

Universities

Hualien City is the center of politics, economy and transportation of Hualien County.

Medical care

Foundation

Tourist attractions

Air

Hualien City is served by Hualien Airport located at the neighboring Xincheng Township of Hualien County. The airport is about 10 minutes drive to the city.

Rail

The Port of Hualien is an international port in the city with liners sailing to Japan, Middle East, South East Asia and South Korea.

Road

Sister cities