Yuanlin, Changhua
Encyclopedia
Yuanlin is an urban township
in eastern Changhua County
, Taiwan
. The most populous township in Taiwan, Yuanlin is also the second largest settlement in Changhua County, after the county seat of Changhua City
.
(1723–1735). It was well developed about the 16th year of Qian-Long. At first, people cut down the surrounding forests to build their houses. Gradually, only the round woodland was left, and the town was named 圓林 (Yuanlin), meaning "the round woodland." Later the characters were changed to 員林 (Yuanlin). Yuanlin produces different kinds of fruits, and succade
(fruit cooked in sugar syrup and encrusted with a sugar crystals) is one of its specialties.
, in central Taiwan
. The township is bordered to the north by Dacun
, to the east by Fenyuan
and Nantou City
(the only neighboring settlement outside Changhua County), to the south by Shetou
, and to the west by Yongjing
and Puxin
.
. The division between male and female residents is almost equal, with 63,043 male and 62,433 female registered inhabitants in 36,722 households. At the beginning of the Republic of China
era on Taiwan, the first census in December 1946 showed a population of 37,999, with steady annual increases from then on. The number of inhabitants passed the 50,000 mark in 1953, and first exceeded 100,000 in 1979. Since 1995 the population has fluctuated only slightly, and remained between 125,000 and 128,000.
on the Taiwan Railway Administration
's Western Line. A project is underway to redevelop the station in combination with converting the current at-grade line to an elevated line through the township, a plan designed to improve road traffic flow and promote investment. The elevation of the track will eliminate three level crossings and five underpasses, and the area currently comprising the station will be converted into a mixed-use development with commercial space, parking and green space. This redevelopment is scheduled to be completed in 2013 and has a budget of NT$4 billion.
To travel outside Yuanlin by road, the Provincial Highway 76
, an east-west elevated route, runs through the township and is the most efficient way to reach either of Taiwan's major north-south freeways, the National 1
and the National 3
.
said the scope of Wu's activities was "unprecedented" and that "virtually no construction projects in the town were untainted by corruption".
Township (Taiwan)
The townships are the administrative subdivisions of Republic of China counties, along with County-controlled city. Most of the present townships originates from Towns and Villages in the Japanese era. After the World War II, the ROC government reformed them as urban townships and rural townships...
in eastern Changhua County
Changhua County
Changhua County is the smallest county in Taiwan located on the westside of Taiwan. It is officially governed as a county of the Republic of China .-Urban townships:# Beidou Township # Erlin Township...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The most populous township in Taiwan, Yuanlin is also the second largest settlement in Changhua County, after the county seat of Changhua City
Changhua City
Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha...
.
History
The land around Yuanlin was cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for cultivation since the time of Yongzheng of the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
(1723–1735). It was well developed about the 16th year of Qian-Long. At first, people cut down the surrounding forests to build their houses. Gradually, only the round woodland was left, and the town was named 圓林 (Yuanlin), meaning "the round woodland." Later the characters were changed to 員林 (Yuanlin). Yuanlin produces different kinds of fruits, and succade
Succade
Succade is the candied peel of any of the citrus species, especially from the citron or Citrus medica which is distinct with its extra thick peel; in addition, the taste of the inner rind of the citron is less bitter than those of the other citrus...
(fruit cooked in sugar syrup and encrusted with a sugar crystals) is one of its specialties.
Geography
Yuanlin is located on the eastern border of Changhua CountyChanghua County
Changhua County is the smallest county in Taiwan located on the westside of Taiwan. It is officially governed as a county of the Republic of China .-Urban townships:# Beidou Township # Erlin Township...
, in central Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The township is bordered to the north by Dacun
Dacun, Changhua
Dacun Township is a rural township in Changhua County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 36,552 and an area of 30.78 square kilometres.The township of Dacun is Taiwan's largest producer of grapes.The campus of Da-Yeh University is located in Dacun....
, to the east by Fenyuan
Fenyuan, Changhua
Fenyuan Township is a rural township in Changhua County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 24,999 and an area of 38.0824 square kilometres.-External links:*...
and Nantou City
Nantou City
Nantou City is located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan, Republic of China. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the seat of Nantou County. Freeway No. 3 serves Nantou City...
(the only neighboring settlement outside Changhua County), to the south by Shetou
Shetou, Changhua
Shetou Township is a rural township in Changhua County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 45,013 and an area of 36.1449 square kilometres.-External links:*...
, and to the west by Yongjing
Yongjing, Changhua
Yongjing Township is a rural township in Changhua County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 39,595 and an area of 20.6382 square kilometres.-External links:*...
and Puxin
Puxin, Changhua
Puxin Township is a rural township in Changhua County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 35,364 and an area of 20.9526 square kilometres.-External links:*...
.
Demographics
With a population of 125,476 as of December 2010, Yuanlin is the most populous township in Taiwan, and has a higher population than 10 of the 17 County-controlled citiesCounty-controlled city
A county-controlled city is a third level administrative division of the Republic of China .On the same level as a ROC township, it is the lowest-level city of ROC, below provincial city and special municipality. There are 17 County-controlled cities under Taiwan Province...
. The division between male and female residents is almost equal, with 63,043 male and 62,433 female registered inhabitants in 36,722 households. At the beginning of the Republic of China
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...
era on Taiwan, the first census in December 1946 showed a population of 37,999, with steady annual increases from then on. The number of inhabitants passed the 50,000 mark in 1953, and first exceeded 100,000 in 1979. Since 1995 the population has fluctuated only slightly, and remained between 125,000 and 128,000.
Transportation
Yuanlin has a stationYuanlin Station
Yuanlin Station is a railway station of the Taiwan Railway Administration Western Line located in Yuanlin, Changhua County, Taiwan.- Overview :...
on the Taiwan Railway Administration
Taiwan Railway Administration
The Taiwan Railway Administration is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight service on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan...
's Western Line. A project is underway to redevelop the station in combination with converting the current at-grade line to an elevated line through the township, a plan designed to improve road traffic flow and promote investment. The elevation of the track will eliminate three level crossings and five underpasses, and the area currently comprising the station will be converted into a mixed-use development with commercial space, parking and green space. This redevelopment is scheduled to be completed in 2013 and has a budget of NT$4 billion.
To travel outside Yuanlin by road, the Provincial Highway 76
Provincial Highway No. 76 (Taiwan)
Provincial Highway No. 76 is an expressway, which begins in the border of Puyan, Changhua and Fuxing, Changhua on Jhangshuei Road and ends in Caotun, Nantou on ....
, an east-west elevated route, runs through the township and is the most efficient way to reach either of Taiwan's major north-south freeways, the National 1
National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...
and the National 3
National Highway No. 3 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 3 is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17....
.
Politics
In the early 2010s two mayors of the town were convicted in separate corruption cases. July 2010 saw former mayor Tu Quanchong sentenced to 16 years in prison for soliciting NT$3.5 million in kickbacks from a major construction project dating back to his time in office. In April 2011 the then serving mayor, Wu Zongxian, was impeached on corruption charges similarly related to kickbacks from construction projects. Wu was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison, having been found guilty of exacting bribes in excess of NT$16 million from 81 different projects since 2005. Officials from the Control YuanControl Yuan
The Control Yuan , one of the five branches of the Republic of China government in Taipei, is an investigatory agency that monitors the other branches of government...
said the scope of Wu's activities was "unprecedented" and that "virtually no construction projects in the town were untainted by corruption".