Banqiao District Explained

Banqiao
Official Name:Banqiao District
Other Name:Itahashi, Banciao, Pan-ch'iao
Settlement Type:District
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Banqiao in Taiwan
Coordinates:25.0111°N 121.4458°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Republic of China (Taiwan)
Subdivision Type2:Special municipality
Subdivision Name2:New Taipei City
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1846
Leader Title:District Chief
Area Total Km2:23.1368
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:551221
Population As Of:February 2023
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:220
Area Code:02
Footnotes:
Child:yes
Banqiao District
P:Bǎnqiáo Qū
Tp:Bǎnciáo Cyu
W:Pan3-ch'iao2 Ch'ü1
Poj:Pán-kiô-khu

Banqiao District Banciao, Panchiao or Pan-ch'iao is a district and the seat of New Taipei City, Taiwan. It has the third-highest population density in Taiwan, with over 24000pd/sqkm. Until the creation of New Taipei City, Banqiao was an incorporated county-administered city and the former seat of Taipei County.

Name origin

The district's old name was Pang-kio, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1735–1796 AD); thusly derived Hokkien-based spellings Pankyu, Pankio, and Pankyo were common in English before 1945.[2] [3] A wooden bridge, locally called Pang-kiô-thâu (枋橋頭), was built for pedestrians to cross a brook located in the west of today's Banqiao, the modern day Nanzih Creek (湳仔溝).

In 1920, the Japanese government modified the name to .[4] The same characters are still used today, but are read Bǎnqiáo in Mandarin. However, in Taiwanese Hokkien, the old name Pang-kiô is still the norm.

History

In the early 20th century, Pankyo (Pankyu) was a walled city and said to be owned by a landlord who had lived there "in feudal style", surrounded by armed retainers.[2]

From 1920 to 1945, during Japanese rule, the area was administrated as, Kaizan District, Taihoku Prefecture.

Banqiao was upgraded from an urban township to a county-administered city as Pan-ch'iao or Banciao City of Taipei County on 1 July 1972. The city became Banqiao District on 25 December 2010.

Geography

Banqiao is located in western part of the Taipei Basin of northern Taiwan, in the subtropical climate zone. Banqiao is surrounded by Taipei to the east, Sanchong to the north, Xinzhuang to the northwest, Shulin to the southwest, Tucheng to the south, and Zhonghe to the southeast. Banqiao is also bordered by two rivers, Xindian River to the northeast and Dahan River to the northwest.

Economy

Agriculture sector thrived in Banqiao in the 1950s. In the 1960s, manufacturing sector started to appear in the region and in the 1970s industries and commerce have developed. In the 1980 and '90s, finance and commerce grew in the area.[5]

Education

Banqiao is home to several universities, including the National Taiwan University of Arts. The National Banqiao High School is considered one of the top high schools in New Taipei City.

Universities and colleges

High schools

Tourist attractions

Sports facilities

Banqiao has several sports facilities (including Banqiao Stadium,) and the annual New Taipei City sports game is hosted in the district.

Transportation

Banqiao is well served by multiple public transportation services. Banqiao station is served by THSR bullet trains, conventional rail TRA trains, and the Taipei Metro.

Since beginning of 2020, the Circular line of the Taipei Metro also runs through the district. The Taipei Metro serves the district via the following stations:

Bus lines connect Banqiao with downtown Taipei and nearby districts.

Provincial Highway 3 and Provincial Highway 64 run through the district.

Infrastructure

Sister cities

Notable residents

Notable natives

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://w3.cpami.gov.tw/statisty/101/101_pdf/02_urban/32020.pdf. zh:表 2-2. 都市計畫區面積及人口-按都市計畫區別分. zh-tw. 2012. 5 October 2019. Chinese: 中華民國內政部營建署全球資訊網 Construction and Planning Agency Ministry of the Interior,R.O.C. Chinese: 2板橋 Panchiao 13.60 570 000.
  2. Book: J. Murray . London . 25302448M . A Handbook for Travellers in Japan . 1903 . Chamberlain . B. . Basil Hall Chamberlain . Mason, W.B. . 7th . 551 . Pankyo (Pankyu).
  3. Book: Davidson . James W. . James W. Davidson . The Island of Formosa, Past and Present : history, people, resources, and commercial prospects : tea, camphor, sugar, gold, coal, sulphur, economical plants, and other productions . 1903 . Macmillan . London and New York . 6931635M . 1887893 . Index p.28 . Pankyu. See Pankio.
  4. Web site: http://www.banqiao.ntpc.gov.tw/_file/2990/SG/39254/D.html . zh:細說板橋 . Banqiao District Office . 2011-08-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110808165549/http://www.banqiao.ntpc.gov.tw/_file/2990/SG/39254/D.html . 2011-08-08 .
  5. Web site: New Taipei City Government - Banqiao . 2014-03-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140329014913/http://foreigner.ntpc.gov.tw/_file/2968/SG/45992/D.html . 2014-03-29 .