Shitan, Miaoli

Shitan Township (Chinese: 獅潭鄉; pinyin: Shītán Xiāng) is a rural township in Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is located in a mountainous area with a mild, sub-tropical climate. Its rainy season is from May to September. Shitan's population was estimated to be 4,468 in January 2017.[1]

Shitan Township
獅潭鄉
Rural township
Shitan Township in Miaoli County
LocationMiaoli County, Taiwan
Area
 • Total79 km2 (31 sq mi)
Population
 (July 2018)
 • Total4,389
 • Density56/km2 (140/sq mi)

History

The area was occupied by native Taiwanese through the 19th Century with an economy strongly dependent upon hunting. In 1876 under Qing rule, the Chinese began to build bullock roads into the area. However it was not until the 1930s, during Japanese rule, that standardized roads began to be constructed. The first motor vehicle road was completed into Shitan in 1939, and regular bus service was started. However, by 1942 the bus service had ended because of fuel rationing.

Administrative divisions

The township comprises seven villages: Boshou, Fenglin, Hexing, Xindian, Xinfeng, Yongxing and Zhumu.

Culture
Shitan Hsintien Old Store

The Shitan Village Historic Museum preserves a Hakka dwelling from the Koxinga period.[2] Other landmarks include Lingdong Temple, Shitan Presbyterian Church and Wenshui Old Street.

Local food specialities include Tea and Mesona chinensis (仙草), which is served as a hot, viscous drink, or curded and served over ice as a type of grass jelly.

Education

Among the schools in Shitan are:

Transportation

Shitan is served by provincial highways No. 3 and No. 72.

Notable natives

References
  1. 106年一月份人口統計下載區 [January 2017 Population Statistic Downloads]. mlhr.miaoli.gov.tw (in Chinese). Miaoli County Government Household Registration Service. January 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  2. "Shitan Village Historic Museum" Cultural Affairs Bureau of Miaoli County website Archived 2007-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
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