Miaoli County is a county

County (Republic of China)

Counties , are one of administrative divisions within the Republic of China . They are officially found at the second level. However, the streamlining of Taiwan Province and Fukien Province has effectively promoted the county the first level below the Republic of China central government's rule...

 in western 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...

. The name Miaoli was coined using two Hakka words, cat

Cat

The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...

 (貓) and raccoon dog

Raccoon Dog

The raccoon dog , also known as the magnut or tanuki, is a canid indigenous to east Asia. It is the only extant species in the genus Nyctereutes...

 (狸), which phonetically approximate Pali (Bari), a community of Taokas people

Taokas people

Taokas is one of a number of indigenous ethno-linguistic groups that inhabited the plains of western Taiwan. The Taokas were located in the areas around today's Hsinchu City/Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taichung City region. Several Taokas groups have been historically linked to many revolts...

. Miaoli city is the capital of the county, and is also known as "Mountain Town", owing to the number of mountains nearby, making it a destination for hiking.

Urban townships

1. Houlong Township
   Houlong, Miaoli
   Houlong Township is an urban township in western Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is surrounded by the Taiwan Strait on the west and Zaoqiao Township on the east.*Area: 75.809 km²*Population: 39,860 people -External links:*...
   
    (後龍鎮)
2. Tongxiao Township (通霄鎮)
3. Toufen Township
   Toufen, Miaoli
   Toufen Township is an urban township in northern Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is surrounded by the Taiwan Strait on the west and mountains on the east.*Area: 53.3029 km²*Population: 97,150 people -External links:*...
   
    (頭份鎮)
4. Yuanli Township
   Yuanli, Miaoli
   Yuanli is an urban township in Miaoli County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 48,989 and an area of 68.2473 square kilometres.-External links:*...
   
    (苑裡鎮)
5. Zhunan Township (竹南鎮)
6. Zhuolan Township
   Zhuolan, Miaoli
   Zhuolan is an urban township in Miaoli County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 18,423 and an area of 75.3153 square kilometres.- External links :*...
   
    (卓蘭鎮)

Rural townships

1. Dahu Township
   Dahu, Miaoli
   Dahu is a township in the south of Miaoli County, Taiwan. As of June 2007, it had 16,350 inhabitants. Its area is 90.8396 km². -Transport:*Provincial Highway No.3*Provincial Highway No.6*Provincial Highway No.72: form Houlong to Wenshui-Education:...
   
    (大湖鄉)
2. Gongguan Township
   Gongguan, Miaoli
   Gongguan is a township near the center of Miaoli County, Taiwan. Its climate is sub-tropical, mild and very rainy. The yearly average humidity is 80%.-Statistics:*Area: 71.4523 km2.*Household: 9,479 households...
   
    (公館鄉)
3. Nanzhuang Township
   Nanzhuang, Miaoli
   Nanzhuang is an urban township in Miaoli County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 11,280 and an area of 165.4938 square kilometres.-External links:*...
   
    (南庄鄉)
4. Sanwan Township
   Sanwan, Miaoli
   Sanwan Township is a rural township in northern Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is surrounded by the Taiwan Strait on the west and mountains on the east.*Area: 52.2964 km²*Population: 7,406 people -External links:*...
   
    (三灣鄉)
5. Sanyi Township
   Sanyi, Miaoli
   Sanyi Township is a township in southern Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is famous for its mudiao industry earning it the name the woodcarving kingdom of Taiwan .-Geography:Sanyi is located in the mountains of northwestern Taiwan...
   
    (三義鄉)
6. Shitan Township (獅潭鄉)
7. Tai'an Township
   Tai-an, Miaoli
   Tai-an Township is a rural township in eastern Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is surrounded by the Taiwan Strait on the west and mountains on the east.*Area: 614.5127 km²*Population: 5,817 people -External links:*...
   
    (泰安鄉)
8. Tongluo Township
   Tongluo, Miaoli
   Tongluo is a rural township in Miaoli County, Taiwan.* Area: 78.38 km²* Population: 20,639 people...
   
    (銅鑼鄉)
9. Touwu Township
   Touwu, Miaoli
   Touwu Township is an urban township in north-western Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is surrounded by the Taiwan Strait on the west and mountains on the west.*Area: 52.45046 km²*Population: 11,668 people -External links:*...
   
    (頭屋鄉)
10. Xihu Township
    Xihu, Miaoli
    Xihu townships is a township near the center of Miaoli County.East neighbour Miaoli City, north neighbourHoulong,West the neighbour Tongxiao, south meets Tongluo....
    
     (西湖鄉)
11. Zaoqiao Township (造橋鄉)

External links

• Miaoli County Government Website