Zhongli District
Zhongli District is a district in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. Zhongli is spelled variously as Jungli, Jongli, Jhongli or Chungli on railway, bus stop and road signs. Historically, the city is the site of the Zhongli Incident of 1977, the most significant event of the democratization movement prior to the 1980s. Ethnically, it is considered a kind of capital city for the Hakka Taiwanese, who live in great numbers here and in surrounding areas; many of the elderly could speak Hakka in addition to Mandarin and Taiwanese Hokkien. In recent years many foreign workers have also settled in and around the city due to the heavy industries in the suburbs of the city, making it a center for foreign laborers. The city of Zhongli has three large parks and over 70 green reserves in the city for residents of Zhongli to enjoy.
History
In the 19th century, the area was home to Pingpu aborigines. During the Qing dynasty, immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong Provinces arrived along with the Hakka. The original name of the area was Kan-a-lek due to its location between Tamsui and Hsinchu.During Japanese rule, the town was administered as, Chūreki District, Shinchiku Prefecture.
After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, Zhongli was reorganized as Zhongli Town. In October 1950, it was placed under Taoyuan County. On 1 July 1967, Zhongli was promoted to a county-controlled city and became Zhongli City. On 25 December 2014, as Taoyuan County was upgraded to a special municipality named Taoyuan City, Zhongli became a district of the municipality.
Demographics
Zhongli's population was estimated at 397,083 in January 2017, including 8,417 Taiwanese aborigines. Zhongli is one of the most multicultural cities due to its convenience and proximity to Taipei. Zhongli is subdivided into 85 villages, with the eight biggest but least populated villages on the western side of the district, while the eastern side is occupied by industrial factories and the heart of the metropolitan area. This reflects the imbalance of development of western and eastern Zhongli.Administrative divisions
The district comprises 85 villages: Chenggong, Deyi, Duhang, Fude, Fuhua, Fuxing, Guangming, Guoling, Heping, Houliao, Huaai, Huaxun, Jianhang, Jingpu, Jinhua, Jiuming, Linsen, Longan, Longchang, Longci, Longde, Longgang, Longping, Longtung, Longxing, Mingde, Neicuo, Neiding, Neili, Pujiang, Puqing, Puren, Puyi, Puzhong, Qiaxi, Renai, Rende, Renfu, Renhe, Renmei, Renxiang, Renyi, Sanmin, Shantung, Shitou, Shuiwei, Tungxing, Wenhua, Wufu, Wuquan, Xingfu, Xingguo, Xinghe, Xingnan, Xingping, Xingren, Xinjie, Xinming, Xinxing, Xinyi, Yongfu, Yongguang, Yongxing, Yuemei, Zhengyi, Zhenxing, Zhiba, Zhishan, Zhongfu, Zhongjian, Zhongjian, Zhongli, Zhongrong, Zhongshan, Zhongxiao, Zhongxing, Zhongyang, Zhongyi, Zhongyuan, Zhongzheng, Zhuangjing, Zijiang, Zili, Zixin and Zizhi.Economy
Department Store and Shops
Zhongli TRA Station is surrounded by shops on the street, and Zhongli also has a SOGO-branched department store. Zhongli Night Market opens daily, usually from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. In addition, there are two shopping districts: Ta-tung and Jung-ping, both within half an hour's walk from the Zhongli train station.Industry
The Zhongli–Neili Industrial Park was established in December 1976. This is a combined multipurpose industrial park, controlled by Taiwan's Economic Bureau, with a total area of 433 sq. yards. There are currently 480 companies that have built either factories or offices here, belonging to electronic, metal, chemical, mechanical, food, textile and plastic manufacturers.Education
Library
- Zhongli City Library, four floors of books, allowed to be borrowed for a month
- Neili Library
- Longgang Library
Universities
- National Central University
- Chung Yuan Christian University
- Yuan Ze University
- Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology
- Vanung University
- Nanya Institute of Technology
- Sheng-te Christian College
Academies and institutes
- Yuan Kwang Buddhist Academy
- Army Academy R.O.C.
Public high schools
- The Affiliated Jhongli Senior High School of National Central University
- National Neili Senior High School
- National Zhongli Commercial High School
Religious organizations
- Yuan Hua Uan
- Un Ping Temple
- Yuan Gaung Chan Temple
- Chi Hui Temple
- Taiwan Lutheran Zhongli Truth Church
- Zhongli Church of Christ
- Zhongli Christian Bible Church
Tourist attractions
- Action Museum
- HeySong Beverage Museum
- Jenhai Temple
- Jungshan Park
- Jungte Temple
- Lungkang Park
- Shengchi Pavilion
- Taiwan High Speed Rail Museum
- Yuankuang Temple
- Zhongli Arts Hall
- Zhongli Night Market
Transportation
Railway
The city of Zhongli is centered around the TRA Zhongli Station. The TRA station is the third-busiest station in Taiwan. In addition, there is Neili TRA station. The only station situated in Taoyuan on the Taiwan High Speed Rail is a 15-minute drive from central Zhongli. There are free shuttle buses from central Zhongli to the THSR station every 15–20 minutes. The Taipei/Airport MRT line has been open to the public since 2017. An extension of this MRT line from A21 to the TRA station is still under construction as of October 2018. In addition, the Taiwan Railway Administration Zhongli Station provides conventional train connections to other Taiwanese cities.Roads
Zhongli is served by both National Highway No. 1 and Provincial Highway No. 66. The nationally owned E-Go freeway buses, near the Zhongli Station, are an inexpensive means of transport to other cities.Sister Cities
- Gumi, Republic of Korea
- Enfield, Connecticut, United States
Notable natives
- Angela Chang, singer and actress
- Aska Yang, singer
- Candy Chen, dancer, actress, host, singer and model
- Elva Hsiao, singer and actress
- Hu Chen-pu, Commandant of the ROC Army
- John Wu, Magistrate of Taoyuan County
- Maggie Chiang, singer and songwriter
- Huang Pei-jia, actress
- Shih Szu, actress
- Wu Po-hsiung, Chairman of Kuomintang