Country Taiwan Population 28,992 (Jan 2016) | Region Southern Taiwan | |
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Website Official Website (Chinese) Points of interest Cihou Fort, Kaohsiung Lighthouse, Cijin Shell Museum, Cijin Wind Turbine Park, Cijin Star Tunnel | ||
Qijin District (Chinese: 旗津區; Hanyu Pinyin: Qíjīn Qū; Tongyong Pinyin: Cíjin Cyu; Wade–Giles: Ch'i2-chin1 Ch'ü1; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Kî-tin-khu) is a district of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, covering Qijin Island. It is the second smallest district in Kaohsiung City after Yancheng District.
Contents
Map of Qijin District
History
Qijin forms the original core of the Kaohsiung, which was established by the fisherman Hsu Au-hua 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, Cai, Li, Bai, and Pan families and an idol of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. This was housed in a bamboo and thatch structure that formed the first Chi Jin Mazu Temple. The town grew up around the temple grounds.
Qijin 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.
Geography
Two islands and one reef in the South China Sea are administered by Kaohsiung City as parts of Qijin District:
Economy
Most of its residents are employed by the shipping industry. There is a park on the north western shore.
Tourist attractions
Transportation
The "Cross Harbor Tunnel" (Chinese: 過港隧道) connects Qijin Island at the EBC tip to the rest of Kaohsiung on mainland Taiwan. Qijin District is also accessible by two ferries at the northern tip and middle of the island.
Government
The representative for Qijin on the city council is Lee Chiao-Ju.