Wanhua District was the first district in Taipei to undergo economic development; as such many of the buildings and cultural sites in the region are older than those in surrounding districts. The large number of temples in this area is attributed to its prosperous past originating from the Qing era. The district can be divided into three sections: northern, central, and southern.^[2] The northern area, including Ximending, has become home to many shopping centers and is popular among the younger generation. Central Wanhua is known for its historical sites – including Lungshan Temple, Qingshui Temple, Qingshan Temple and Bopiliao Historic Block – traditional shopping, and local snacks. Southern Wanhua is mainly a residential area with a wide city park, also known as the Youth Park.

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

Wanhua is the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of Banka (Japanese: 萬華), a name coined by the Japanese because of its phonetic resemblance to the area's former name in Taiwanese Hokkien (Chinese: 艋舺; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Báng-kah).^[3] Spellings used in English works circa 1900 include Banka, Manka^[4] and Bang-kah.^[5] 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.^{[citation needed]}

Qing Dynasty edit

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 miles (16 km) from the port.^[6] 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.^[7]

Empire of Japan edit

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Republic of China edit

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.^{[citation needed]}

Near the famous Lungshan Temple is the Snake Alley Night Market. The market once served snake and turtle delicacies, but changed its focus to seafood upon protest from animal rights groups and environmental groups. 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.^{[citation needed]} Today, the night markets are famous among both tourists and locals alike as they present a wide array of local delicacies at affordable prices.^{[citation needed]}

Ximending, another main attraction of Wanhua, serves as a fashionable shopping center and as Taipei's main movie theater district.^{[citation needed]}

Night markets, a staple of Taiwanese culture, are widespread in the district and include the Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market, Xichang Street Night Market, Guangzhou Street Night Market, Wuzhou Street Night Market, and Nanjichang Night Market.^[2] In addition, the district has many streets in which traders specialize in items such as herbs, jewelry, hardware, and home furnishings.^{[citation needed]}

The district is also home to the Huannan Market, Taipei First Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, Taipei First Poultry Wholesale Market, and Taipei Fishery Wholesale Market.^[2] It can be said to be Taipei's center for fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats.^{[citation needed]}

Other tourist attractions include the Heritage and Culture Education Center of Taipei City, Qingyunge Art, Wanhua Lin's Mansion and Ximending Mazu Temple.^{[citation needed]}

Medical Institutions edit

• National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch^{[citation needed]}
• Taipei City Hospital, Chinese Medicine and Kunming Branches^{[citation needed]}
• Renji Hospital^{[citation needed]}
• Xiyuan Hospital^{[citation needed]}
• Wanhua Hospital^{[citation needed]}

High schools edit

• Huajiang Senior High School^{[citation needed]}
• Dali Senior High School^{[citation needed]}
• Liren Private High School^{[citation needed]}

Junior high schools edit

• Wanhua Junior High School^{[citation needed]}
• Shuangyuan Junior High School^{[citation needed]}
• Longshan Junior High School^{[citation needed]}
• Dali Junior High School^{[citation needed]}
• Liren Private Junior High School^{[citation needed]}

Elementary schools edit

• Xinhe Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Shuangyuan Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Dongyuan Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Dali Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Xiyuan Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Wanda Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Huajiang Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Ximen Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Laosong Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Longshan Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Fuxing Elementary School^{[citation needed]}
• Guangren Elementary School^{[citation needed]}

Other schools edit

• Taipei Korean Elementary School (타이뻬이한국학교)^[10]
• Wanhua Community College^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Important roads, highways, and bridges include:

• Provincial Highway 1 (台一線)：Zhongxiao Bridge, Zhongxiao Road West (忠孝橋、忠孝西路)^{[citation needed]}
• Provincial Highway 3 (台三線)：Huajiang Bridge, Heping W. Rd, Zhonghua Road (華江橋、和平西路、中華路)^{[citation needed]}
• Zhongxing Bridge (中興橋)^{[citation needed]}
• Wanban Bridge (萬板橋)^{[citation needed]}
• Huacui Bridge (華翠大橋)^{[citation needed]}
• Guangfu Bridge (光復橋)^{[citation needed]}
• Huazhong Bridge (華中橋)^{[citation needed]}

• Hannah Quinlivan, actress and model^{[citation needed]}
• Kingone Wang, actor, singer and host^{[citation needed]}
• Lin Chia-lung, Mayor of Taichung (2014-2018)^{[citation needed]}
• Yang Kuei-mei, actress^{[citation needed]}

• Dust in the Wind (1986), a film by Hou Hsiao-hsien.^{[citation needed]}
• Dust of Angels (1992)^{[citation needed]}
• Rebels of the Neon God (1992), a film by Tsai Ming-liang.^{[citation needed]}
• Exit No.6 (2007)^{[citation needed]}
• Miss Kicki (2009), starring Pernilla August.^{[citation needed]}
• Monga (2010), starring Ethan Juan and Mark Chao.^{[citation needed]}

• District (Taiwan)

• Official website   (in Chinese)

25°02′00″N 121°28′59″E / 25.0333°N 121.483°E / 25.0333; 121.483