Datong, Taipei
Encyclopedia
Datong District is a district of Taipei City
, Taiwan
. It is located between the Taipei Metro Red Line
and eastern shore of the Tamsui River, and between Civic Boulevard
and the Sun Yat-sen Freeway
. The southern part of this area was previously the site of Dadaocheng
, one of the first settlements in what is now Taipei and for a time the area's commercial center.
in 2006. The north was the site of the village of Dalongdong
.
, the district was initially named Balanbong, which was renamed to Dalongtong in 1844. Following the Second Opium War
, a port was opened in Dadaocheng for international trade. Foreign trade resulted in the economic development of the district. In 1946, the name was changed again to the current Datong. In 1990, the district merged with neighboring Jiancheng and Yanping Districts to create today's Datong District. The district is named after the Confucian
notion of utopia.
(迪化街). It is also famous for the Dihua (Tihua) Street Market during the Lunar New Year
holidays. The market sells dried fruits, nuts, dried meats, dried seafood, snacks, and health drinks.
Other attractions in Datong include the Taipei Confucius Temple
and the Bao-an Temple
in the Dalongdong area, and the Xiahai City God Temple near Dihua Street. Datong also contains the Yongle Market (also on Dihua Street), Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, and Dalong Night Market.
and Orange Line
. It will also be served by the future Songshan Line
.
By road, the district is served by National Highway No. 1
, Provincial Highway No. 1
, and Provincial Highway No. 2
.
It is also the location of the Taipei Bus Station
, the largest bus terminal in the city.
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It is located between the Taipei Metro Red Line
Red Line (TRTS)
The Red Line comprises three lines of the Taipei Rapid Transit System: the Tamsui Line , the Xinbeitou Branch Line, and the Xinyi Line. When completed, it will include a total of 30 stations serving the Tamsui, Beitou, Shilin, Datong, Zhongshan, Zhongzheng, Daan, and Xinyi districts, stretching...
and eastern shore of the Tamsui River, and between Civic Boulevard
Civic Blvd Expressway
The Civic Blvd. Expressway is a 4 to 6-lane highway located in Taipei, Taiwan. It was completed in 1997 as part of a multi-modal reconstruction project to improve transportation networks in congested central Taipei...
and the Sun Yat-sen Freeway
National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...
. The southern part of this area was previously the site of Dadaocheng
Dadaocheng
Dadaocheng , spelled Twatutia before Japanese rule, is an area in the Datong District, part of the Taipei Basin and a historic section of Taipei City. It was known as Daitotei by the Japanese and Tataocheng during the Kuomintang era...
, one of the first settlements in what is now Taipei and for a time the area's commercial center.
Overview
Taipei's commercial center has since shifted south east to Zhongzheng, Daan and Xinyi, and Datong is far less important economically. One of the last vestiges of Dadaocheng's commercial importance disappeared with the closing of the Jiancheng Circle marketChien-Cheng Circle
The Chien-Cheng Circle or Taipei Circle, was once a bustling food market and a city landmark in the Datong district of Taipei. It existed 96 years from its opening during the Japanese colonial era, to its official closing on Sunday, July 2, 2006 after years of decline in resulting from two...
in 2006. The north was the site of the village of Dalongdong
Dalongdong
Dalongdong , or pourompon is an old village in historical Taipei located nears the narrows of the intersection between the Keelung and Tamsui Rivers...
.
History
During the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, the district was initially named Balanbong, which was renamed to Dalongtong in 1844. Following the Second Opium War
Second Opium War
The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war pitting the British Empire and the Second French Empire against the Qing Dynasty of China, lasting from 1856 to 1860...
, a port was opened in Dadaocheng for international trade. Foreign trade resulted in the economic development of the district. In 1946, the name was changed again to the current Datong. In 1990, the district merged with neighboring Jiancheng and Yanping Districts to create today's Datong District. The district is named after the Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
notion of utopia.
Tourism
It is most notable for its Japanese colonial era and Qing dynasty architecture, especially along Dihua StreetDihua Street
Dihua Street is a street located in the Datong District of Taipei winding from the south of the district to close to the north in the old village of Dalongdong . The street, then known as Centre Street , was constructed during the 1850s, when many commercial entities belonging to...
(迪化街). It is also famous for the Dihua (Tihua) Street Market during the Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
holidays. The market sells dried fruits, nuts, dried meats, dried seafood, snacks, and health drinks.
Other attractions in Datong include the Taipei Confucius Temple
Taipei Confucius Temple
The Taipei Confucius Temple is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province of China. It is located on Dalong Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan. Among the Confucius temples in Taiwan, Taipei's is the only one adorned with southern Fujian-style ceramic...
and the Bao-an Temple
Dalongdong Baoan Temple
Dalongdong Baoan Temple also known as the Taipei Baoan Temple is a Taiwanese folk religion temple built in the Datong district of Taipei, Taiwan. The present temple was originally built by clan members in the Tong'an District who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century and gave the...
in the Dalongdong area, and the Xiahai City God Temple near Dihua Street. Datong also contains the Yongle Market (also on Dihua Street), Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, and Dalong Night Market.
Transportation
Datong is served by the Taipei Metro Red LineRed Line (TRTS)
The Red Line comprises three lines of the Taipei Rapid Transit System: the Tamsui Line , the Xinbeitou Branch Line, and the Xinyi Line. When completed, it will include a total of 30 stations serving the Tamsui, Beitou, Shilin, Datong, Zhongshan, Zhongzheng, Daan, and Xinyi districts, stretching...
and Orange Line
Orange Line (TRTS)
The Orange Line consists of three lines of the Taipei Metro in Taiwan : the Zhonghe Line , the Xinzhuang Line, and the Luzhou Line . As of July 2011, two segments of the Xinzhuang Line are still under construction and are expected to completely open by 2014...
. It will also be served by the future Songshan Line
Songshan Line (TRTS)
The Taipei Metro Songshan Line is a high-capacity underground metro line currently under construction in Taipei, Taiwan. It is an extension of the Xindian Line. When completed, it will help ease congestion on the east-west Nangang Line....
.
By road, the district is served by National Highway No. 1
National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...
, Provincial Highway No. 1
Provincial Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
Provincial Highway No. 1 is a 464.693 km-long provincial Taiwanese highway that starts in the north of the country near Taipei Main Station and ends in the south at Fangshan, Pingtung County. It intersects with Provincial Highway No. 9 and No. 26. Before the freeway system is built in Taiwan,...
, and Provincial Highway No. 2
Provincial Highway No. 2 (Taiwan)
Provincial Highway No. 2 is an east-west, 166.6 km-long provincial Taiwanese highway that starts from the border of Taipei and Tamsui and ends in Suao, Yilan. Although designed as an east-west route, the highway actually goes in north-south direction in Yilan County and parts of New Taipei City...
.
It is also the location of the Taipei Bus Station
Taipei Bus Station
Taipei Bus Station is a multi-use complex located next to Taipei Station in Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan. The complex houses the Taipei bus terminal station which was inaugurated on August 19, 2009, as well as recreational and leisure faciltiies. The mall complex was inaugurated on December 11,...
, the largest bus terminal in the city.