Liouguei District, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ( Taivoan: ''Lakuri''; ) is a rural

district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

of Kaohsiung City,

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. It is the third largest district in Kaohsiung City after Tauyuan District and Namasia District. The place-name is derived from the name of a Taivoan community ''Lakuri'' or ''Lakkuli'', which emigrated from Vogavon in

Tainan Tainan (), officially Tainan City, is a Special municipality (Taiwan), special municipality in southern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on its western coast. Tainan is the oldest city on the island and commonly called the "Taiwan Prefecture, ...

, driven to Kaohsiung by the invasion of Han immigrants and Siraya in the late 17th century. The residents of this district are mainly Hakka (about 44% ) and

Hoklo Taiwanese Hoklo Taiwanese or Holo people ( zh, t=河洛人/鶴老人/福佬人, poj=Ho̍h-ló-lâng) are a major ethnic group in Taiwan whose ancestry is wholly or partially Hoklo. Being Taiwanese of Han origin, their mother tongue is Taiwanese ( or ), ...

, as well as

indigenous peoples There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...

and immigrants from other China provinces. The entire region has been included in the Maolin National Scenic Area. In recent years, the tourism industry has flourished.

History

Due to the invasion of Han in the 17th century, Siraya that originally lived in the plains of

was forced to migrate to Yuchin Basin, which in turn drove Taivoan from Vogavon to Pangliao, Kaohsiung in 1781, reaching nowadays Liouguei in 1799, founding community Lakkuli (), also spelled ''Lakuri'' or ''La-ko-li''. In 1902, during early Japanese rule, the area was administered as "Lakkuli Village" (). In 1910, it was reorganized as , . In 1920, it became , under , Takao Prefecture. In 1932, Rokuki was annexed into under Takao Prefecture. After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

in 1945, Liouguei was incorporated into

Kaohsiung County Kaohsiung County was a county in southern Taiwan between 1945 and 2010. The county seat was located in Fongshan City. History Kaohsiung County was established on 6 December 1945 on the territory of Takao Prefecture () shortly after the end ...

as a rural township. On 25 December 2010, the township became a district of Kaohsiung City. In 1964, Baptist educator and preacher Yang Hsu and his wife Lin Feng-ying formally established the Liouguei Mountain Children's Home for orphans. In August 2019, some residents living in high-risk areas of Liouguei District were evacuated from their homes after heavy rain and flash flooding.

Geology

The district resembles the shape of long gourd with a vertical length of 36 km and a horizontal width of 5 km. The Laonong River passes from north to south through the center of the township.

Administrative divisions

The district consists of Sinwei/Xinwei, Xinxing, Xinliao, Xinfa, Laonong, Liouguei, Yibao, Xinglong, Zhongxing, Baolai, Wenwu and Dajin Villages.

Economy

During Japanese rule, the district was known for the production of Camphor oil. The Japanese government constructed a route and tunnels to facilitate the transportation of the product.

Culture

Liouguei comprises mainly Hakka, Chinese mainlanders, plain indigenous people, and mountain indigenous people. The Hakka community is primarily located in the areas of Xinliao, Xinwei, and Xinxing near the Liouguei Tunnel, with most of them originating from the Meinong area and maintaining close connections and intermarriages with neighboring regions. The population of Chinese mainlanders mostly consists of retired soldiers and their descendants who stayed behind after the construction of the Southern Cross-Island Highway, mainly residing in the areas of Zhongxing and Wenwu. The plain indigenous group Taivoan is scattered across several villages, and the mountain indigenous people have migrated from nearby mountainous areas.

Taivoan

The Night Ceremony and the Public Hall '' Kong-kài'' in Liouguei and Laonong are signigicant markers of the Taivoan people's culture in the district. According to local records, thousands of years ago, when the ancestors of the indigenous people encountered a typhoon during their sea voyage to Taiwan, it was the highest ancestral spirit, ''Hagan,'' who appeared and led them to land safely on the island. This was the beginning of the people's worship of the spirit in Kong-kài.

Tourist attractions

* Baolai Spring Park * Bulao Hot Spring * Jinlongshan Cihui Temple (金龍山慈惠堂) * Liouguei Tunnels * Maolin National Scenic Area * 18 Arhats Mountain * Sinwei Forest Ecological Park * Taivoan Night Ceremony

Agricultural Products

* "Black Diamond" Wax Jambu ('' Syzygium samarangense'') * Jinhuang Mango * Jinxuan Oolong Tea * Jujube

Transportation

* Liouguei Bus Station

References

{{Authority control Districts of Kaohsiung Taivoan people