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Tamsui

淡水區

Tansui, Danshuei, Tanshui, Danshui
District
Tamsui District
Skyline of Tamsui District in 2013
Skyline of Tamsui District in 2013
Tamsui District in New Taipei City
Tamsui District in New Taipei City
Country Flag of the Republic of China.svg
Special municipality New Taipei City, Taiwan
Area
 • Total 70.65 km2 (27.28 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2023)
 • Total 189,271
 • Density 2,299/km2 (5,950/sq mi)
Time zone +8
Tamsui
Tamsui 淡水老街 - panoramio (63).jpg
Tamsui District office
Chinese 淡水
Postal Tamsui
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Dànshuǐ
Bopomofo ㄉㄢˋ   ㄕㄨㄟˇ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh Dannshoei
Wade–Giles Tan4-shui3
Tongyong Pinyin Dànshuěi
Yale Romanization Dànshwěi
MPS2 Dànshuěi
IPA [tân.ʂu̯èi̯]
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳ Tham-súi
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping Daam6-sui2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Tām-chúi
Tâi-lô Tām-tsuí
Hobe
Traditional Chinese 滬尾
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Hùwěi
Bopomofo ㄏㄨˋ   ㄨㄟˇ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh Huhwoei
Wade–Giles Hu4-wei3
Tongyong Pinyin Hùwěi
Yale Romanization Hùwěi
MPS2 Hùwěi
IPA [xû.u̯èi̯]
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping Wu6-mei5
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Hō͘-bé

Tamsui District (Hokkien POJ: Tām-chúi; Hokkien Tâi-lô: Tām-tsuí; Mandarin Pinyin: Dànshuǐ) is a seaside district in New Taipei, Taiwan. It is named after the Tamsui River; the name means "fresh water". The town is popular as a site for viewing the sun setting into the Taiwan Strait. Though modest in size (population 189,271), it has a large role in Taiwanese culture.

Name

Historical

Originally settled by the Ketagalan aborigines, the location was called Hoba, meaning "stream's mouth". Hoba was loaned into Taiwanese Hokkien as Hobe. Historical works in English have referred to the place as "Hobe", "Hobé", or "Hobe Village". The Spanish arrived in the 17th century and called this place Casidor and the Tamsui River Kimalon. Dutch records have used the placenames Tamsuy and Tampsui to refer to this area but have also referred to another "Lower Tamsuy" in the south of the island.

In his 1903 book The Island of Formosa, former US diplomat James W. Davidson related that the spelling and pronunciation of the placename (Chinese: 淡水) has been given in many variants by "as many so-called authorities. Tamsui, Tamshuy, Tamshui, Tamsoui, Tan-sui, ...". The first variant "Tamsui" is consistent with Hokkien literary readings, and (possibly by chance) is equal to the Church Romanization of an older pronunciation (Tām-súi) minus tone markings and hyphen. The variant "Tan-sui", with exception of the hyphen, is consistent with the romanization of Japanese. However, the first variant was apparently already well-known circa 1900, and features prominently in two English-language maps of the same era. Furthermore, at that time, the term "Tamsui" was used "in a most liberal way; it may mean the harbor, the river, the village of Hobe, Twatutia, or Banka, and it may mean the whole district."

Modern

From 1950 until the 2010 creation of New Taipei City, Tamsui was officially "Tamsui Township" (Chinese: 淡水鎮; Hokkien POJ: Tām-chúi-tìn; Hokkien Tâi-lô: Tām-tsuí-tìn) in the former Taipei County. The spelling "Danshui" (from Hànyǔ Pīnyīn pinyin: Dànshuǐ), formerly used officially by the Taiwan government, Taipei Metro, and other sources, is based on the Mandarin pronunciation. Meanwhile, the name "Tamsui" is based on the Taiwanese Hokkien pronunciation. Having long used "Tamsui" as the official English name, the local government of the district informed the national government in 2011 that "Tamsui" rather than "Danshui" should be used in English.

History

1626 Map of Keelung and Tamsui Harbor, Formosa-Taiwan by Spanish 西班牙人所繪福爾摩沙基隆港與淡水港
1626 Map of Keelung and Tamsui Harbor

Spanish colony

The Spanish arrived in the area of Tamsui in the 17th century. In the fall of 1629, the Spanish established the first major non-aboriginal settlement comprising the town and mission of Santo Domingo. The Spanish occupied northern Taiwan for the purpose of securing Spanish interests in the Philippines against the Dutch (who were already established in the South of Taiwan by then), the British, and the Portuguese, as well as for facilitating trade with China and Japan.

In 1642, the Spanish were expelled from Taiwan by the Dutch. The Spanish had already abandoned their settlement in Tamsui in 1638 and the Dutch built a new fort which they named Fort Anthonio (after the Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company Anthonio van Diemen). It is today known as Angmo Siaa (Chinese: 紅毛城; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Âng-mn̂g-siâⁿ; literally "red-hair fortress") and is the main building of the Fort San Domingo museum complex. In addition to "pacifying" the aboriginal tribes in the area, the Dutch also encouraged the immigration and settlement of the area by Han Chinese, as well as expanding the production and trade of sulfur, animal skins, and other indigenous resources.

The Dutch left Fort Zeelandia in Taiwan in 1662 following their defeat by Koxinga at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia, who continued the policy of increasing Han Chinese immigration until the surrender of his grandson Zheng Keshuang to the Qing Dynasty in 1683. In 1668, the Dutch left Keelung after getting harassed by aboriginals from Tamsui.

Qing dynasty

Fujian quan tu LOC 96685903
Tamsui (淡水)

Because of its proximity to mainland China, as well as its location in a natural harbor, Tamsui quickly became a major fishing and trade port. The Qing naval patrol also established an outpost in Tamsui in 1808. In 1862, the Qing government opened Tamsui to foreign trade under the terms of the Treaty of Tientsin, exporting tea, camphor, sulfur, coal, and dyes. By the mid-19th century Tamsui had become the largest port in Taiwan, boasting a sizable foreign population as well as a British consulate at Fort Santo Domingo.

1895Tamsui
Tamsui in 1895.

Canadian medical doctor and missionary George Leslie Mackay arrived in Tamsui on 9 March 1872, proceeding to establish Taiwan's first hospitals in Western medicine and formal educational facilities, including Oxford College (now part of Aletheia University), the oldest European-style higher-education institution in Taiwan by some measure.

During the Sino-French War the French attempted an invasion of Taiwan during the Keelung Campaign. Liu Mingchuan, who was leading the defence of Taiwan, recruited Aboriginals to serve alongside the Chinese soldiers in fighting against the French. The French were defeated at the Battle of Tamsui, and the Qing forces pinned the French down at Keelung in an eight-month-long campaign before the French withdrew.

In 1884, the harbour of Tamsui was blockaded by the French Navy under the command of Admiral Amédée Courbet, during the Sino-French War. The French were defeated at the Battle of Tamsui by the Chinese and, according to traditional accounts, with the divine assistance of the Goddess Mazu.

Japanese rule

Txu-pclmaps-oclc-6550512-tansui-2322-i
Map of Tamsui (labeled as Tansui) and surrounding area (1944)

By the time Taiwan was ceded to Japan following the end of the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Tamsui's position as a seaport was beginning to wane due to the accumulation of sediments in the Tamsui River. By the 20th century, most of Tamsui's port operations had moved to Keelung, and the local economy had switched primarily to agriculture. However, public infrastructure construction projects by the Japanese led to Tamsui's rise as a local administrative and cultural center.

In the early years of Japanese rule (1895–1945), the population of the city was nearly 6,000. From 1920, under the prefecture system, Tamsui was called Tamsui Town (淡水街), and was governed under Tamsui District of Taihoku Prefecture.

Post-war

Txu-oclc-6557994-index-457
Map including Tamsui (labeled as Tan-shui (Tansui) 淡水) (1950)

Following the end of World War II in 1945, Tamsui reverted to being a small fishing town as township of Taipei County. With the expansion of nearby Taipei City, Tamsui slowly became a center for tourism along Taiwan's northwest coast. In the last ten years, the city has become popular as a suburb of Taipei in the local real estate market.

Following the completion of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui Line in 1997, the town experienced a sharp increase in tourist traffic, reflected in the completion of several riverside parks, the growth of open-air markets specializing in traditional handicrafts and street-stall snacks, the construction of a fisherman's wharf, and the increase in passenger ferries traversing across and along the river.

Administrative divisions

Tamsui District administers forty-two urban villages ().

Division Chinese Romanization
(from Tongyong Pinyin)
Romanization
(from Hanyu Pinyin)
Romanization
(from Wade–Giles)
Population (2010)
Urban
villages
中和 Jhonghe Zhonghe Chung-ho 693
屯山 Tunshan Tunshan 1,229
賢孝 Siansiao Xianxiao Hsien-hsiao 1,736
興仁 Singren Xingren Hsing-jen 1,749
蕃薯 Fanshu Fanshu Fan-shu 1,076
義山 Yishan Yishan I-shan 2,820
忠山 Jhongshan Zhongshan Chung-shan 1,026
崁頂 Kanding Kanding K’an-ting 2,632
埤島 Pidao Pidao P’i-tao 1,312
新興 Sinsing Xinxing Hsin-hsing 6,547
水碓 Shueiduei Shuidui Shui-tui 6,304
北投 Beitou Beitou Pei-t’ou 5,779
水源 Shueiyuan Shuiyuan Shui-yüan 2,516
忠寮 Jhongliao Zhongliao Chung-liao 1,354
樹興 Shusing Shuxing Shu-hsing 1,165
坪頂 Pingding Pingding P’ing-ting 1,411
福德 Fude Fude Fu-te 6,574
竹圍 Jhuwei Zhuwei Chu-wei 6,322
民生 Minsheng Minsheng Min-sheng 6,774
八勢 Bashih Bashi Pa-shih 4,374
竿蓁 Ganjhen Ganzhen Kan-chen 7,890
鄧公 Denggong Denggong 6,355
中興 Jhongsing Zhongxing Chung-hsing 4,613
長庚 Changgeng Changgeng 1,686
清文 Cingwun Qingwen 1,320
草東 Caodong Caodong 901
協元 Sieyuan Xieyuan 1,749
永吉 Yongji Yongji 1,018
民安 Min-an Minan/Min'an 930
新生 Sinsheng Xinsheng Hsin-sheng 999
文化 Wunhua Wenhua 2,133
油車 Youche Youche Yu-ch’e 5,628
沙崙 Shalun Shalun Sha-lun 3,499
新義 Sinyi Xinyi Hsin-i 4,658
新春 Sinchun Xinchun 6,870
新民 Sinmin Xinmen Hsin-min 4,960
正德 Jhengde Zhengde Cheng-te 4,482
北新 Beisin Beixin Pei-hsin 2,907
民權 Mincyuan Minquan Min-ch’uan/Min-ch’üan 3,940
幸福 Singfu Xingfu Hsing-fu 4,742
學府 Syuefu Xuefu 4,357
大庄 Dajhuang Dazhuang 4,451

Climate

Climate data for Tamsui District (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 28.4
(83.1)
29.0
(84.2)
31.9
(89.4)
33.6
(92.5)
35.8
(96.4)
37.3
(99.1)
38.8
(101.8)
38.5
(101.3)
37.4
(99.3)
35.8
(96.4)
32.8
(91.0)
30.5
(86.9)
38.8
(101.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.8
(65.8)
19.3
(66.7)
21.6
(70.9)
25.4
(77.7)
28.8
(83.8)
31.3
(88.3)
33.3
(91.9)
33.1
(91.6)
30.9
(87.6)
27.1
(80.8)
24.4
(75.9)
20.6
(69.1)
26.2
(79.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.4
(59.7)
15.7
(60.3)
17.7
(63.9)
21.4
(70.5)
24.7
(76.5)
27.3
(81.1)
29.0
(84.2)
28.7
(83.7)
26.9
(80.4)
23.6
(74.5)
21.0
(69.8)
17.3
(63.1)
22.4
(72.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.7
(54.9)
13.0
(55.4)
14.7
(58.5)
18.3
(64.9)
21.6
(70.9)
24.2
(75.6)
25.7
(78.3)
25.5
(77.9)
23.8
(74.8)
20.9
(69.6)
18.3
(64.9)
14.6
(58.3)
19.4
(66.9)
Record low °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)
3.2
(37.8)
3.1
(37.6)
6.7
(44.1)
13.4
(56.1)
15.4
(59.7)
20.4
(68.7)
19.6
(67.3)
15.5
(59.9)
10.6
(51.1)
7.6
(45.7)
4.2
(39.6)
2.3
(36.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 105.9
(4.17)
148.0
(5.83)
153.4
(6.04)
157.6
(6.20)
239.8
(9.44)
257.4
(10.13)
119.8
(4.72)
218.3
(8.59)
290.1
(11.42)
165.8
(6.53)
104.2
(4.10)
112.4
(4.43)
2,072.7
(81.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 13.9 13.8 15.2 13.6 12.6 12.2 8.3 10.9 11.8 12.3 12.4 12.5 149.5
Average relative humidity (%) 80.8 82.4 81.0 79.9 79.2 79.9 75.0 76.0 76.1 77.8 78.5 79.0 78.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 83.1 80.4 92.7 105.9 135.6 155.9 226.9 208.6 171.7 127.5 101.9 84.1 1,574.3
Source: Central Weather Bureau

Education

  • Aletheia University
  • St. John's University
  • Tamkang University
  • Taipei University of Marine Technology
  • New Taipei Municipal Tam-Shui Vocational High School
  • New Taipei Municipal Zhuwei High School
  • Tamshui Junior High School

Tourist attractions

Danshui 080120 3
Fort San Domingo
  • Drop of Water Memorial Hall
  • Former British Merchant Warehouse
  • Fort San Domingo
  • Hobe Fort
  • Museum of Tamsui Fishiegoodies
  • Tamsui Art Gallery
  • Tamsui Church
  • Tamsui Customs Officers' Residence
  • Tamsui Customs Wharf
  • Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf
  • Tamsui Fuyou Temple
  • Tamsui Historical Museum
  • Tamsui Lover's Bridge
  • Tamsui Lungshan Temple
  • Tamsui Meteorological Observatory
  • Tamsui Old Street
  • Tamsui Qingshui Temple
  • Tamsui Qingshui Deity's Grand Procession, on 6th day of 5th lunar month, an important fiesta for Tamsui District
  • Tamsui Red Castle
  • Teng Feng Fish Ball Museum

Transportation

MRT Tamsui Station 20070709
MRT Tamsui Station

Taipei Metro

  • Tamsui Station
  • Hongshulin Station
  • Zhuwei Station

Light rail

  • Danhai light rail

Sister city

Notable natives

  • Joe Hung, representative to Italy (1993–2000)
  • Tu Tsung-ming, former physician

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tamsui para niños

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