Ershui
23°49′N120°37′E/ 23.817°N 120.617°E
Ershui Township
Nhị vùng sông nước Erhshui | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Ershui Township in Changhua County | |
| Location | Changhua County,Taiwan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29 km2(11 sq mi) |
| Population (March 2023) | |
| • Total | 14,080 |
| • Density | 490/km2(1,300/sq mi) |
| Website | town |
Ershui Township(Chinese:Nhị vùng sông nước;pinyin:Èrshuǐ Xiāng) is a ruraltownshipin southeasternChanghua County,Taiwan.
Geography
[edit]Ershui is bordered on the north byTianzhong Township,to the east byMing gian TownshipinNantou County,and to the west byXizhou Township.Its name means, literally, "Two Waters", which is a reference to the two irrigation canals constructed in the township,Babao canal1 and 2, linking the waters from the nearbyZhuoshui Riverto the fertileChanghua Plain.[1]Ershui is known for its picturesque scenery and the nearbyBagua Mountain Range,and offers many biking and hiking trails. The bulk of Ershui's population lives near its central plaza in front of the Ershui railway station, on the Western Line on theTRA's railway network.
Ershui encompasses 29.44 square kilometres (11.37 sq mi) and a population of 14,080, including 7,421 males and 6,659 females as of March 2023.[2]
History
[edit]The township's former name (Chinese:Nhị bát thủy;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Jī-pat-chuí;lit.'two 'Pat' waters') refers toBabao canals1 and 2, which take water from theChoshui Riverto irrigate the farmlands ofChanghua.[3]The canals are known as the "Mother Rivers of Changhua", spreading out in a fan-shaped distribution throughout Changhua county and creating a fertile plain for agriculture. DuringJapanese rule,the name was changed to Nisui Village(Japanese:Nhị thủy trang),which was modified to Ershui Township after Taiwan's handover to theRepublic of Chinain 1945.[4]
Records of habitation at Ershui has been documented all the way back to 1621, in theMing dynasty[citation needed].The first inhabitants first came fromFu gian,mainland ChinatoLukang,Changhua County, and then to the foothills of theBagua mountain range.The settlers co-existed with the indigenous people, and began farming, irrigated by spring water from the mountains. The population at that time was roughly 300.
After the construction of Babao canal 1 duringQing rule,the population spread outwards from the Bagua foothills towards the canal itself. Farms emerged on both sides of the canal, and this farming boom increased the population to 1700 people, or around 300 households. With the construction of the passenger and freight station, local businesses emerged on 1 km of the station front street, which was accelerated by the formal construction of theTRANisui Station in 1918. Finally, the construction of a pineapple canning plant in 1932 began an economic boom for Nisui, making it the most prosperous town in theChoshui Riverregion at the time.[4]
Administrative divisions
[edit]The township comprises 17 villages: Changhe, Dayuan, Ershui, Fu xing, Gehe, Ge xing, Guanghua, Guozun, Huimin, Shangli, Shenghua, Shiwu, Wenhua, Wuba, Xiuren, Yuanquan and Yumin.
Tourist attractions
[edit]
A popular spot for tourists and locals alike is the nearby Songboling Recreational Area. The recreational area consists of hiking trails in the Bagua Mountain range, and stretches from Ershuei township into Tianzhong township to the north of it, as well as Ming gian township in Nantou.
The various trails in Songboling, known for their beauty and breathtaking scenery, are also known for the rock macaque monkeys which inhabit the woods along the trails. The population of these macaque monkeys have boomed after tourists began feeding them. However, the local rock macaque preservation society has urged people not to feed them, since it reduces their ability to forage on their own, and overpopulation can also cause starvation.
Transportation
[edit]
TheErshui Stationwas established in 1918.[4]The Ershui station is on theTRAWestern Line,and it is the transfer station for theTRABranchJiji Linerailroadoperated by theTRA.It is designated as a second-tier train station in the TRA system.[5]
Notable natives
[edit]- Hsieh Tung-min,Vice President of the Republic of China (1978–1984)
- Timothy Yang,Secretary-General of thePresidential Office(2012-2015)
References
[edit]- ^Lại tông bảo (2001).Hảo sơn hảo thủy hảo nhị thủy(in Chinese). Chương hóa huyện lại hứa nhu văn giáo quỹ hội. p. 10.ISBN9789579852470.
- ^Thống kê tư liệu | một tháng | biểu bốn[Statistics|January|Table 4].accounting.chcg.gov.tw(in Chinese). Changhua County Government. 10 February 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 19 November 2021.Retrieved11 February2017.
- ^"Điền viên hưu nhàn hương ~ chương hóa huyện nhị vùng sông nước công sở".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-22.Retrieved2008-02-02.
- ^abc"Điền viên hưu nhàn hương ～ chương hóa huyện nhị vùng sông nước công sở".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-02-28.Retrieved2008-02-02.
- ^"Đài trung vận vụ đoạn".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-02-23.Retrieved2008-02-01.
