Cijin District
History
Cijin forms the original core of the Kaohsiung, which was established by the fisherman Hsu Ah-hua (徐阿華) in the mid-17th century. He realized the attractiveness of the location when he was forced to seek shelter from a typhoon in the Taiwan Strait and returned with settlers from the Hung, Wang, Tsai, Lee, Pai, and Pan families and an idol of the Chinese sea goddess Ma-tsu. This was housed in a bamboo and thatch structure that formed the first Cijin Tianhou Temple. The town grew up around the temple grounds.
HMS Reynard was wrecked near Pratas Island on May 31, 1851.
Cijin Island was once connected to the mainland at the southern tip, but in 1967, this link was severed to create a second entry point to the Port of Kaohsiung. Currently Cijin Island is connect to the mainland via tunnel, thus the island is not valid for Offshore Islands Development Act.
Geography
Cijin Island is 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long with an average width of 400 m (1,300 ft).
Two islands and one reef in the South China Sea are administered by Kaohsiung City as part of the districts Zhongxing Village:
- Pratas Island on Dongsha Atoll
- Taiping Island
- Zhongzhou Reef
Administrative divisions
The district consists of Cisia (Qixia), Yongan, Jhensing (Zhenxing), Ciai, Fuxing, Zhonghua, Shijian, Beishan, Nanshan, Shangzhu, Zhongzhou, Anshun and Jhongsing (Zhongxing) Villages.
| Cijin District administrative divisions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a
b
c
d
e
g
f
Beishan
Nanshan
Shangzhu
←– h
←– i
Jhongsing
a: Cisia
b: Yongan
c: Jhensing
d: Ciai
e: Zhonghua
f: Jianshan
g: Fuxing
h: Zhongzhou
i: Anshun
|
Government
The councilor for Cijin District in the Kaohsiung City Council is Lee Chiao-ju.
Economy
Most of its residents are employed by the shipping industry. There is a park on the north western shore.
Education
Universities
Junior high schools
- Kaohsiung Municipal Cijin Junior High School
Elementary schools
- Kaohsiung Municipal Cijin Elementary School
- Kaohsiung Municipal Dashan Elementary School
- Kaohsiung Municipal Zhongzhou Elementary School
Tourist attractions
There are numerous tourist attractions in Cijin District.
Cijin Island proper
- Cijin Old Street
- Cihou Market
- Cijin Tianhou Temple
- Cijin Lingshui Temple
- Cihou Fort
- Cijin Tunnel
- Mount Cihou
- Cijin Shell Museum
- Cijin Wind Turbine Park
- Cijin Beach
- Kaohsiung Lighthouse
- Rainbow Church
- War and Peace Memorial Park and Theme Hall
- YM Museum of Marine Exploration Kaohsiung
Outer Islands
- Dongsha Atoll National Park
- Taiping Cultural Park
Transportation
Cijin Island proper
The "Cross Harbor Tunnel" (Chinese: 過港隧道) connects Cijin Island at the southern tip of the island to the rest of Kaohsiung on mainland Taiwan. Cijin District is also accessible by two ferry piers, the Cijin Ferry Pier at the northern tip of the island and the Zhongzhou Ferry Pier at the middle of the island.
Outer Islands
Dongsha Airport and Taiping Island Airport.