Huatan

Huātán (花壇) is a rural township along the foothills of Baguashan (八卦山) with approximately 44,000 residents. Originally known as Ka-tang-kha (茄苳腳), the name was changed in 1920 because the original Taiwanese pronunciation sounded similar to the Japanese word for “lower class”. The township developed diverse industries, including rice production, jasmine tea, and a once-thriving brick industry exemplified by the Jinshuncheng Brick Kiln. Huatan’s religious heritage is exemplified by Hushanyan Temple (1747), recognized as a city monument and dedicated to Guanyin, and the historic Baishakeng Wende Temple.