Shenkeng Township
Encyclopedia
Shenkeng District is a rural district in central New Taipei City in northern Republic of China
(Taiwan). Formerly an agricultural and mining town, it is now famous for its numerous tofu
restaurants and vendors.
period in Taiwan. When Han Chinese
farmers eventually moved in to develop the area, they bought the low-lying land from the aborigines and began cultivation in the main valley. The modern name of the township, Shenkeng, literally means deep pit or deep mine, and indeed the area used to have several active coal mines.
to the west, Nangang District
to the north, and the Shiding District of New Taipei City to the east.
. An exception was in 1996, when several members of the council were arrested on suspicion of connection with organised crime.
. The district is sufficiently well known in culinary circles that it has been a subject of media interest in Japan
and Hong Kong
. The tofu from Shenkeng has an unusual ratio of soybean to gypsum
, giving it a yellowish colour and distinctive flavour. The town has become so readily identified with tofu that it has earned the epithet "The Tofu Capital".
There are also extensive hiking trails, some of which were in use during the Japanese era
by anti-Japanese guerilla fighters.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan). Formerly an agricultural and mining town, it is now famous for its numerous tofu
Tofu
is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...
restaurants and vendors.
History
The area is first recorded as the preserve of a tribe of Pingpu aborigines during the Qing dynastyTaiwan under Qing Dynasty rule
The Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan from 1683 to 1895. The Qing court sent an army led by general Shi Lang and annexed Taiwan in 1683.-History:Qing Emperor Kangxi annexed Taiwan because he wanted to remove the remaining resistance forces against the Qing Dynasty...
period in Taiwan. When Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
farmers eventually moved in to develop the area, they bought the low-lying land from the aborigines and began cultivation in the main valley. The modern name of the township, Shenkeng, literally means deep pit or deep mine, and indeed the area used to have several active coal mines.
Geography
Shenkeng is a rural district which borders Taipei City's Wenshan DistrictWenshan District
Wenshan District is the southernmost of the twelve districts of Taipei City. The district was formed in 1990 by combining Jingmei and Muzha. Wenshan previously referred to the region south of Taipei Basin .- Culture :...
to the west, Nangang District
Nangang district
Nangang District is the largest and most populated district of Harbin, People's Republic of China. It is home to major offices of the provincial government and is the political heart of Heilongjiang province. Other areas of interest within the district are the Harbin Railway Station, Guomao...
to the north, and the Shiding District of New Taipei City to the east.
Transportation
Transportation in Shenkeng is limited to roads only; there is as yet no railway or mass transit service, although proposals have been made to extend the Wenshan Line of the Taipei Metro into Shenkeng.Politics
Politics in Shenkeng have largely been uneventful; the town is considered a safe seat for the KuomintangKuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
. An exception was in 1996, when several members of the council were arrested on suspicion of connection with organised crime.
Education
Shenkeng is home to Tung-Nan University, a private technical university. There is also a Junior High School and an Elementary School in the town.Tourism
The economy of Shenkeng is centred around tourism, and that tourism is based largely on tofuTofu
is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...
. The district is sufficiently well known in culinary circles that it has been a subject of media interest in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The tofu from Shenkeng has an unusual ratio of soybean to gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
, giving it a yellowish colour and distinctive flavour. The town has become so readily identified with tofu that it has earned the epithet "The Tofu Capital".
There are also extensive hiking trails, some of which were in use during the Japanese era
Taiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
by anti-Japanese guerilla fighters.