Wanhua District

Wanhua 萬華區
District
Wanhua District
Ximending (Hsimenting) (西門町)
Wanhua District in Taipei City
Country	Taiwan
Region	Western Taipei
Divisions	List 36 villages 720 neighborhoods
Area
• Total	8.8522 km2 (3.4179 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 10th of 12
Population
• Total	194,314
• Rank	Ranked 9th of 12
Postal code	108

Wanhua District, known in Taiwanese Hokkien as Báng-kah khu and historically as "Monga" or "Monka", is a district in Taipei, Taiwan. It is Taipei's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as the Manka Longshan Temple, an iconic historic temple, and the Red House Theater, the first and largest teahouse and playhouse in Taiwan. Taipei's oldest, but decaying, garment district is also here.

As Wanhua District was Taipei's first district to undergo economic development, there are many old buildings and cultural sites. The large number of temples in this area is attributed to its prosperous past originating from the Qing era. The district can be divided into three sections: northern, central, and southern. The northern area, including Ximending, has become home to many shopping centers and is popular among the younger generation. Central Wanhua is known for its historical sites like Lungshan Temple, Qingshui Temple, Qing Shan Gong and Bopiliao Historic Street; traditional shopping; and local snacks. Southern Wanhua is mainly a residential area with a wide city park, also known as the Youth Park.

Wanhua District is divided up into 36 villages (里) and 722 neighborhoods (鄰). In recent years, the population in the district has been in decline. The district also has an older and fatter population than those of other districts. It also has a higher concentration of Mainland Chinese. Nevertheless, this district continues to be treasured by many as it is representative of some of Taipei's richest historical cultures. An example would be the annual temple rituals held at Qing Shan Gong, also known as the Qing Shan King Sacrificial Ceremony. This is a massive event that involves touring Wanhua for 3 consecutive nights.

Wanhua is the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of Banka (Japanese: 萬華^?), a name coined by the Japanese because of its phonetic resemblance to the city's former Taiwanese Hokkien name (Chinese: 艋舺; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Báng-kah). Spellings used in English works circa 1900 include Banka, Manka and Bang-kah. The old name possibly derives from an Austronesian word bangka "outrigger canoe". This is also attributed to the location of Wanhua, which is beside the Tamsui River and was once a prosperous trading port.