Beigang, Yunlin

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Beigang Township 北港鎮 Hokkō
Urban township
Street leading to Chaotian Temple
Beigang Township in Yunlin County
Beigang Township 北港鎮
Coordinates: 23°34′N 120°18′E / 23.567°N 120.300°E / 23.567; 120.300
Location	Yunlin County, Taiwan
Area
• Total	41 km2 (16 sq mi)
Population  (February 2023)
• Total	37,763
• Density	920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)

Beigang, Hokkō or Peikang is an urban township in Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is primarily known for its Chaotian Temple, one of the most prominent Temples of Mazu on Taiwan.^[2] It has a population of 37,763 as of February 2023.^[3]

The Beigang River borders the town on the east and south.

During the Dutch era, Ponkan (Chinese: 笨港; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pùn-káng) was an important coastal castle.^[4] In 1621, Pedro Yan Shiqi (顏思齊) from Zhangzhou, Fujian and his forces occupied Ponkan (modern-day Beigang) and started to develop Tsulosan (諸羅山; today's Chiayi City), which grew to become the capital of Tsulo County in 1704.

The township comprises 28 villages: Caohu, Dabei, Datong, Fupan, Fuzhao, Gongguan, Gongrong, Gouzao, Guangfu, Guangmin, Haoshou, Hougou, Huasheng, Liucuo, Nanan, Pangou, Renan, Renhe, Shuipu, Shujiao, Sifu, Tunghua, Tungyang, Xincuo, Xinjie, Xishi, Yimin and Zhonghe.

The China Medical University has a branch in Beigang.

Beigang is only a short drive (approximately fifteen minutes by car) from National Chung Cheng University, one of Taiwan's foremost research universities.

• National Beigang Senior High School
• National Pei-Kang Agricultural & Industrial Vocational High School
• Jiu Ren High School

• Peikang Junior High School
• Jianguo Junior High School

• Beigang Sports Park: Beigang Sports Park has a history of 50 years, and was previously a venue for track & field athletics. After renovation, a white sand pit was added for children.^{[citation needed]}

• Zhongshan Road: The old street surrounding Beigang Chaotian Temple, surrounded by many well-known specialty shops and snack bars.^{[citation needed]}

• Nui Hui Morning Market: A gathering place where cows were regularly sold in the morning. Nui Hui Morning Market has a history of more than 100 years and has now become a large vegetable market.^{[citation needed]}

• Beigang Cultural Center
• Beigang Tourist Bridge, connecting the counties of Yunlin and Chiayi, which are separated by the Beigang River.^[5]
• Beigang Chaotian Temple, one of the most important Mazu temples in Taiwan and known for its magnificent temple architecture, visited by more than a million pilgrims every year.
• Beigang Wude Temple, one of the largest temple dedicated to Xuan Tan Zhen Jun (玄壇真君), Martial God of Wealth.
• Museum of Beigang Story
• Beigang Water Tower

• Beigang Wedding Cakes (traditional wedding cakes) are popular souvenirs in Beigang. There are many flavors, both salty and sweet. Many married couples will come to buy wedding cakes, and ordinary tourists will take them home as snacks.
• Peanuts and broad beans

• Festivities around the birthday of Mazu (23rd day of the third month of the lunar year)
• Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage
• Beigang International Music Festival

• Beigang Bus Station

• Alex Tsai, member of Legislative Yuan (2002-2016)
• Su Chih-fen, Magistrate of Yunlin County (2005-2014)
• Wu Se-hwa, Minister of Education (2014-2016)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beigang Township, Yunlin County.

• Yunlin County, Beigang Township Office (in Chinese)
• Introduction of Beigang in the China Post
• National Geographic Traveler Taiwan, ISBN 0-7922-6555-6