Cijin District is a district of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, covering Cijin Island (旗津島) and islands in the South China Sea. It is the second smallest district in Kaohsiung City after Yancheng District, with an area of 1.4639 square kilometers, or 0.5652 square miles. It has a population of 26,282 as of October 2023, making it the 26th most populated district in Kaohsiung, with a population density of 18,414 people per square kilometer, or 47,692 people per square mile.
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History
Cijin forms the original core of the Kaohsiung, which was established by the fisherman Hsu Ah-hua (徐阿華) 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, Tsai, Lee, Pai, and Pan families and an idol of the Chinese sea goddess Ma-tsu. This was housed in a bamboo and thatch structure that formed the first Cijin Tianhou Temple. The town grew up around the temple grounds.
HMS Reynard was wrecked near Pratas Island on May 31, 1851.
Cijin 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. Currently Cijin Island is connected to the mainland via tunnel, thus the island is not valid for Offshore Islands Development Act.
Geography
Cijin Island is 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long with an average width of 400 m (1,300 ft).
Two islands and one reef in the South China Sea are administered by Kaohsiung City as part of the districts Zhongxing Village:
Pratas Island on Dongsha Atoll
Taiping Island
Zhongzhou Reef
Administrative divisions
The district consists of Cisia (Qixia), Yongan, Jhensing (Zhenxing), Ciai, Fuxing, Zhonghua, Shijian, Beishan, Nanshan, Shangzhu, Zhongzhou, Anshun and Jhongsing (Zhongxing) Villages.
Government
The councilor for Cijin District in the Kaohsiung City Council is Lee Chiao-ju.
Economy
Most of its residents are employed by the shipping industry. There is a park on the north western shore.
Education
Universities
National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology
Junior high schools
Kaohsiung Municipal Cijin Junior High School
Elementary schools
Kaohsiung Municipal Cijin Elementary School
Kaohsiung Municipal Dashan Elementary School
Kaohsiung Municipal Zhongzhou Elementary School
Tourist attractions
There are numerous tourist attractions in Cijin District.
Cijin Island proper
Cijin Old Street
Cihou Market
Cijin Tianhou Temple
Cijin Lingshui Temple
Cihou Fort
Cijin Tunnel
Mount Cihou
Cijin Shell Museum
Cijin Wind Turbine Park
Cijin Beach
Cijin Memorial Park for Women Laborers
Kaohsiung Lighthouse
Rainbow Church
War and Peace Memorial Park and Theme Hall
YM Museum of Marine Exploration Kaohsiung
Outer Islands
Dongsha Atoll National Park
Taiping Cultural Park
Transportation
Cijin Island proper
The "Cross Harbor Tunnel" (Chinese: 過港隧道) connects Cijin Island at the southern tip of the island to the rest of Kaohsiung on mainland Taiwan. Cijin District is also accessible by two ferry piers, the Cijin Ferry Pier at the northern tip of the island and the Zhongzhou Ferry Pier at the middle of the island.
Outer Islands
Dongsha Airport and Taiping Island Airport.