Beigang, Yunlin

{{Short description|Urban township in Yunlin, Taiwan}} {{hatnote|'Beigang' redirects here. Not to be confused with the nearby Beigang River.}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | pushpin_map = Taiwan | coordinates = {{coord|23|34|N|120|18|E|display=title|region:TW_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}} | official_name = Beigang Township<br>北港鎮 | nickname = | motto = | settlement_type = Urban township | image_skyline = 北港朝天宮夜之美--張利聰.jpg | image_caption = Street leading to Chaotian Temple | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = Peigang.png | map_caption = Beigang Township in Yunlin County | subdivision_type = Location | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name = Yunlin County, Taiwan | subdivision_name1 = | established_title = | established_date = | established_title2 = | established_date2 = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = 41 | area_land_sq_mi = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of = February 2023 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 37763 | population_urban = | population_metro = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_ft = | elevation_m = | website = | footnotes = | name = | other_name = Hokkō }} {{chinese | c = {{linktext|北港}} | p = běi gǎng<ref name="revised">{{cite web|url=http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000014998|language=zh-tw|script-title=zh:教育部重編國語辭典修訂本|access-date=18 November 2019|quote=字詞【北港鎮】注音ㄅㄟˇ ㄍㄤˇ ㄓㄣˋ 漢語拼音 běi gǎng zhèn}}</ref> | poj = Pak-káng | l = North{{nbsp}}Port }} '''Beigang''', '''Hokkō''' or '''Peikang''' is an urban township in Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is primarily known for its Chaotian Temple, one of the most prominent Temples of Mazu on Taiwan.<ref>{{citation |last=Keeling |first=Stephen |contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRwrAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT256 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRwrAQAAQBAJ |title=The Rough Guide to Taiwan |publisher=Rough Guides |date=2013 |isbn=9781409350613 |contribution=Beigang }}.</ref> It has a population of 37,763 as of February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=雲林縣戶政入口資訊網-統計資訊-鄉鎮市人口數 |url=https://beigang.household.yunlin.gov.tw/popul01/List.aspx?Parser=99,5,40,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,,,5,112,2 |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=Household Registration Services of Yunlin County}}</ref>

==Geography== left|thumb|Map including Beigang (labeled as Hokkō) (1944) left|thumb|Map including Beigang (labeled as Pei-chiang (Hokkō) {{lang|zh-tw|北港}}) (1950) The Beigang River borders the town on the east and south.

==History==

===Dutch Formosa=== During the Dutch era, ''Ponkan'' ({{zh|c=笨港|poj=Pùn-káng}}) was an important coastal castle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Evolution|url=http://www.yunlin.gov.tw/english/content/index.asp?m=1&m1=15&m2=82&gp=67|website=The Roots of Yunlin|publisher=Yunlin County Government|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806062315/http://www.yunlin.gov.tw/english/content/index.asp?m=1&m1=15&m2=82&gp=67|archive-date=6 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1621, Pedro Yan Shiqi (顏思齊) from Zhangzhou, Fujian and his forces occupied Ponkan (modern-day Beigang) and started to develop Tsulosan (諸羅山; today's Chiayi City), which grew to become the capital of Tsulo County in 1704.

==Administrative divisions== The township comprises 28 villages: Caohu, Dabei, Datong, Fupan, Fuzhao, Gongguan, Gongrong, Gouzao, Guangfu, Guangmin, Haoshou, Hougou, Huasheng, Liucuo, Nanan, Pangou, Renan, Renhe, Shuipu, Shujiao, Sifu, Tunghua, Tungyang, Xincuo, Xinjie, Xishi, Yimin and Zhonghe.

==Education==

=== Universities ===

The China Medical University has a branch in Beigang.

Beigang is only a short drive (approximately fifteen minutes by car) from National Chung Cheng University, one of Taiwan's foremost research universities.

=== High Schools ===

* National Beigang Senior High School * National Pei-Kang Agricultural & Industrial Vocational High School * Jiu Ren High School

=== Junior High Schools ===

* Peikang Junior High School * Jianguo Junior High School

==Tourist attractions== [[Image:Beigang Tourist Bridge.JPG|thumb|The Beigang Tourist Bridge is 450m long and 6m wide. The three bridge arches are said to resemble the body of a dragon.<ref name=bridge/>]]

* Beigang Sports Park: Beigang Sports Park has a history of 50 years, and was previously a venue for track & field athletics. After renovation, a white sand pit was added for children.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

* Zhongshan Road: The old street surrounding Beigang Chaotian Temple, surrounded by many well-known specialty shops and snack bars.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

* Nui Hui Morning Market: A gathering place where cows were regularly sold in the morning. Nui Hui Morning Market has a history of more than 100 years and has now become a large vegetable market.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

* Beigang Cultural Center * Beigang Tourist Bridge, connecting the counties of Yunlin and Chiayi, which are separated by the Beigang River.<ref name=bridge>{{cite web |url=http://tour.yunlin.gov.tw/english/scenery/index-1.asp?id=152&m=99&m1=17&m2=61 |title=Cultural Tours in Yunlin - Beigang Tourist Bridge |publisher=Yunlin County Gov't |website=yunlin.gov.tw |date=3 August 2015 |access-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527213205/http://tour.yunlin.gov.tw/english/scenery/index-1.asp?id=152&m=99&m1=17&m2=61 |archive-date=27 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Beigang Chaotian Temple, one of the most important Mazu temples in Taiwan and known for its magnificent temple architecture, visited by more than a million pilgrims every year. * Beigang Wude Temple, one of the largest temple dedicated to Xuan Tan Zhen Jun (玄壇真君), Martial God of Wealth. * Museum of Beigang Story * Beigang Water Tower

==Local cuisine specialities== * '''Beigang Wedding Cakes''' (traditional wedding cakes) are popular souvenirs in Beigang. There are many flavors, both salty and sweet. Many married couples will come to buy wedding cakes, and ordinary tourists will take them home as snacks. * Peanuts and broad beans

==Cultural activities== * Festivities around the birthday of Mazu (23rd day of the third month of the lunar year) * Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage * Beigang International Music Festival

==Transportation== thumb|Beigang Bus Station * Beigang Bus Station

==Notable natives== * Alex Tsai, member of Legislative Yuan (2002-2016) * Su Chih-fen, Magistrate of Yunlin County (2005-2014) * Wu Se-hwa, Minister of Education (2014-2016)

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto |metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Beigang, Yunlin (2016–2023 normals, extremes 2016–present) |Jan record high C = 28.9 |Feb record high C = 31.7 |Mar record high C = 31.2 |Apr record high C = 32.2 |May record high C = 34.6 |Jun record high C = 34.7 |Jul record high C = 35.4 |Aug record high C = 35.3 |Sep record high C = 35.5 |Oct record high C = 34.6 |Nov record high C = 32.1 |Dec record high C = 29.8 |Jan record low C = 4.7 |Feb record low C = 8.2 |Mar record low C = 10.1 |Apr record low C = 12.6 |May record low C = 15.6 |Jun record low C = 22.3 |Jul record low C = 22.6 |Aug record low C = 23.0 |Sep record low C = 21.5 |Oct record low C = 15.7 |Nov record low C = 12.4 |Dec record low C = 8.5 |Jan high C = 21.4 |Feb high C = 21.9 |Mar high C = 25.0 |Apr high C = 27.7 |May high C = 30.2 |Jun high C = 31.8 |Jul high C = 32.8 |Aug high C = 32.3 |Sep high C = 32.2 |Oct high C = 30.0 |Nov high C = 27.3 |Dec high C = 23.0 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 17.0 |Feb mean C = 17.3 |Mar mean C = 20.4 |Apr mean C = 23.5 |May mean C = 26.5 |Jun mean C = 28.3 |Jul mean C = 29.1 |Aug mean C = 28.6 |Sep mean C = 28.2 |Oct mean C = 25.6 |Nov mean C = 22.8 |Dec mean C = 18.8 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 14.3 |Feb low C = 14.5 |Mar low C = 17.1 |Apr low C = 20.4 |May low C = 23.7 |Jun low C = 25.5 |Jul low C = 26.2 |Aug low C = 25.9 |Sep low C = 25.4 |Oct low C = 22.7 |Nov low C = 19.9 |Dec low C = 16.1 | year low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 33.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 22.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 52.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 67.4 |May precipitation mm = 140.6 |Jun precipitation mm = 284.5 |Jul precipitation mm = 138.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 280.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 91.8 |Oct precipitation mm = 19.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 11.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 31.1 |year precipitation mm = | Jan precipitation days = 5.1 | Feb precipitation days = 4.0 | Mar precipitation days = 5.7 | Apr precipitation days = 5.7 | May precipitation days = 8.9 | Jun precipitation days = 12.9 | Jul precipitation days = 11.3 | Aug precipitation days = 14.2 | Sep precipitation days = 5.8 | Oct precipitation days = 2.8 | Nov precipitation days = 2.2 | Dec precipitation days = 3.3 | year precipitation days = | Jan humidity = 81.3 | Feb humidity = 80.6 | Mar humidity = 79.3 | Apr humidity = 79.0 | May humidity = 81.9 | Jun humidity = 82.5 | Jul humidity = 80.5 | Aug humidity = 83.2 | Sep humidity = 79.4 | Oct humidity = 78.3 | Nov humidity = 80.1 | Dec humidity = 78.5 | year humidity = |source 1 = Central Weather Administration<ref name= CWA>{{cite web |url = https://codis.cwa.gov.tw/StationData | title = 月報表(逐日資料) : 北港 (C0K410) | publisher= Central Weather Administration |access-date = 13 October 2024 }}</ref> |source 2 = Atmospheric Science Research and Application Databank (precipitation days and humidity 2015–2024)<ref name= ASRAD>{{cite web |url = https://asrad.pccu.edu.tw/catalog/clim/ | title = 中央氣象署測站氣候資料 : 雲林北港 C0K410 | publisher= Atmospheric Science Research and Application Databank |access-date = 13 October 2024 }}</ref> }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Beigang Township, Yunlin County}} * [http://www.beigang.gov.tw/tw/default1.asp Yunlin County, Beigang Township Office] {{in lang|zh}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120319150953/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/travel/taiwan-central/yunlin/2008/03/27/149162/p2/Beigang%E2%80%99s-two.htm Introduction of Beigang in the China Post] * National Geographic Traveler Taiwan, {{ISBN|0-7922-6555-6}}

Category:Townships in Yunlin County