Wanhua District, known in Taiwanese Hokkien as Báng-kah khu and historically as "Monga" or "Monka", is a district in Taipei, Taiwan. It is Taipei's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as the Bangka Lungshan Temple and the Red House Theater. Wanhua was the first district in Taipei to undergo economic development; many of the buildings and cultural sites in the region are older than those in surrounding districts. A large number of temples in Wanhua are attributed with originating from the Qing era. Wanhua District is divided up into 36 villages (里) and 722 neighborhoods (鄰). In recent years, the population in the district has been in decline. It also has a higher concentration of mainlanders. Nevertheless, this district continues to be treasured by many as it is representative of some of Taipei's richest historical cultures – for example, the annual temple rituals held at Qingshan Temple, also known as the Qing Shan King Sacrificial Ceremony. This is a grand religious fiesta and celebration that involves a procession within Wanhua District for three consecutive nights.

Etymology

Wanhua is the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of Banka (萬華), a name coined by the Japanese because of its phonetic resemblance to the area's former name in Taiwanese Hokkien. Spellings used in English works circa 1900 include Banka, Manka and Bang-kah. The old Taiwanese Hokkien name possibly derives from bangka (bangka), the Austronesian word from one of the northern Formosan languages for a kind of "outrigger canoe". This is also attributed to the location of Wanhua, which is beside the Tamsui River and was once a prosperous trading port.

History

Qing Dynasty

In the late Qing era, Hobe (modern-day Tamsui District) was the treaty port of northern Taiwan, whereas the trade was conducted at Bangka. Therefore, in 1862, the British Consulate succeeded in extending the limits of the port up the Tamsui River to include Banka, which was more than 10 mi from the port. Bangka was the largest and most important city of northern Formosa, thoroughly Chinese, and, in the initial experience of missionary George Leslie Mackay, intensely anti-foreign.

Empire of Japan

In the early 20th century, with a population of about 27,000, Banka was Taiwan's third most populous city, following the nearby suburb of Daitōtei. Both cities were part of the Taihoku (Taipei) capital area but outside of the city proper, which was occupied mainly by the Japanese official class.

Republic of China

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, the area where Wanhua District covers now used to consist of Longshang District (龍山區) and Shuangyuan District (雙園區). In 1990, the two districts merged and formed Wanhua District.

Tourism and shopping

Wanhua District can be divided into three sections: northern, central, and southern. The northern area, including Ximending, is popular for its large number of shopping centers - which makes it popular among the younger generation. Many historical sites are located in Central Wanhua, including Lungshan Temple, Qingshui Temple, Qingshan Temple and Bopiliao Historic Block. Southern Wanhua is mainly a residential area with a wide city park, also known as the Youth Park. Night markets, a staple of Taiwanese culture, are widespread in the district and include the Huaxi Street Night Market, Xichang Street Night Market, Guangzhou Street Night Market, Wuzhou Street Night Market, and Nanjichang Night Market. Huaxi Street Night Market is a two-block long night market located near Lungshan Temple. The market contains stands that serve local snacks, and restaurants that serve traditional Taiwanese dishes and uncommon delicacies such as: snake blood and meat, turtle blood and meat and deer penis wine. The area is also the site of Taipei's former red-light district. Prostitution was outlawed in the 1990s although prostitutes can still be readily found. Huannan Market is also located in the district. The market is the biggest traditional market in Taipei. There, vendors sell produce, meats, seafood and cooked foods. Other tourist attractions include the Heritage and Culture Education Center of Taipei City, Qingyunge Art, Wanhua Lin's Mansion and Ximending Mazu Temple.

Education

Medical Institutions

High schools

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

Other schools

Transportation

Wanhua is served by Longshan Temple and Ximen metro stations of the Taipei Metro. The Taiwan Railways Administration's Western Line has one station in the district, Wanhua Station. Important roads, highways, and bridges include:

Notable natives