Houlong
Introduction '''Houlong Township''' is an urban township in western Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is bordered by the Taiwan Strait on the west and Zaoqiao Township on the east. It lies at the mouth of the Houlong River. Miaoli HSR station is located in Houlong.
Name The township's name originates from that of a Taiwanese Plains Aborigines settlement. During the Kingdom of Tungning, the area was called ''Aulangsia'' (). Other variants of ''Aulang'' existed (e.g., ). In 1920, during Japanese rule, the place was renamed , under , Shinchiku Prefecture. This name closely matched the Japanese pronunciation of the previous names but with different ''kanji'' (Chinese characters). This written form was retained after the Kuomintang takeover of Taiwan in 1945; the characters are pronounced ''Hòulóng'' in Mandarin Chinese. The Taiwanese Hokkien pronunciation remains ''Āu-lâng'', based on the pre-1920 name.
Geography Map of western Houlong area (1944)* Area: * Population: 34,355 (January 2023 estimate)It lies at the mouth of the Houlong River.
Administrative divisions The township comprises 23 villages: Beilong, Dashan, Dazhuang, Dongming, Fengfu, Funing, Fuxing, Haibao, Haipu, Jiaoyi, Longjin, Longkeng, Nangang, Nanlong, Puding, Shuiwei, Waipu, Wanbao, Xinmin, Xiushui, Xizhou, Zhonghe and Zhonglong.
Politics The township is part of Miaoli County Constituency I electoral district for Legislative Yuan.
Education * Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management
Tourist attractions Chinghai Temple* Ciyun Temple* Chinghai Temple* Guogang Shell Fossils* Hakka Round House* Haowangjiao* Houlong Art House* Maling Temple* Waipu Fishing Port* Xihu Wetland* Yingtsai Academy
Transportation Houlong StationHoulong Township is accessible from Dashan Station, Houlong Station, Longgang Station and Fengfu Station of the Taiwan Railways. Taiwan High Speed Rail has one station in the township, which is Miaoli Station.
Notable natives * Liu Cheng-hung, Magistrate of Miaoli County (2005-2014)
References
External links *