Yunlin County

Yunlin is a place in western Taiwan.

It sits by the sea. Most of the land is flat.

This flat land is good for farms. Many people grow food there. They grow things like melon and tea.

Some parts of the land are green hills. There are also rivers in the county. These rivers can help make power.

Douliu is a very big city there. It is the main city for the area.

Many people visit the beautiful temples. Some people also go to see the mountains.

It is a very busy place for sports too. You can see baseball games there.

Yunlin County is in western Taiwan.

It sits on the Chianan Plain. This is a large, flat area. Most of the land is flat. About 80% of the county is plains. The rest is made of hills.

To the west is the Taiwan Strait. To the north is the Zhuoshui River. To the south is the Beigang River.

Yunlin is a great place for farming. Farmers grow tea, melon, and papaya. They also grow peanuts and sesame. Many people fish along the coast. The weather is tropical and warm. The average temperature is 22.6 °C.

Douliu is the largest city. It is also the county seat. Douliu is home to the local government. The county has many sports fans. You can see baseball games at the Douliu Baseball Stadium.

People also visit beautiful temples. The Beigang Chaotian Temple is very famous. Over a million people visit it each year. You can also see the view from Yunling Hill.

It is a high spot with great views.

Yunlin County is a special place in western Taiwan.

It sits at the northern tip of the Chianan Plain. This large area is very flat and good for growing things. To the west, the county meets the Taiwan Strait. To the north, the Zhuoshui River marks the border with Changhua County. To the south, the Beigang River separates it from Chiayi County. Nantou County sits just to the east.

The land is mostly plains, covering about 80% of the area. The other 10% is made of hills.

Life in Yunlin is closely tied to the land and sea. Most of the area is used for farming, forestry, and fishing. Farmers grow many tasty things like papaya, melon, and tea leaves. You can also find peanuts, sesame, and even coffee here. Along the coast, people work in fishing ports like Boziliao and Taixi. The weather stays tropical and warm all year. The average temperature is 22.6 °C. This warm weather helps many different plants grow well.

Yunlin has a long and interesting history. During the time of Dutch Formosa, the town of Beigang was an important castle. Later, during the Qing Dynasty, the area was part of Zhuluo County. A leader named Liu Mingchuan suggested making Yunlin a new county. He wanted to make it easier to manage the land.

In 1887, it became part of the Taiwan Prefecture. Later, during Japanese rule, the name was changed to Unrin. After 1945, it became a separate county again.

There are many important places and numbers to know about Yunlin. Douliu is the largest city and the county seat.

It is the only county in Taiwan without a city of the same name. As of 2022, the county has 664,963 people. The area covers 1,290.83 square kilometers.

Sports are also a big part of life here. The county has large stadiums for baseball and other games. It even hosted the 2005 National Games.

Visitors often come to Yunlin to see its beautiful sights. The Beigang Chaotian Temple is very famous for its architecture. More than a million pilgrims visit it every year.

You can also climb Yunling Hill for a great view. It is about 1,650 meters high. From there, you can see the sunrise or the sea of clouds. Another famous spot is the Xiluo Bridge.

When it was finished in 1952, it was the second longest bridge in the world.

Yunlin County is a significant administrative division located in the central-south portion of western Taiwan.

It sits at the northern tip of the Chianan Plain, a vast and flat region. The county is bordered by the Taiwan Strait to the west. To the east lies Nantou County. The northern boundary is defined by the Zhuoshui River, which separates Yunlin from Changhua County. To the south, the Beigang River marks the border with Chiayi County. The total area of the county is 1,290.83 square kilometers.

The geography of Yunlin is defined by its low-lying terrain. Approximately 80% of the county consists of plains, while the remaining 10% is composed of hills. This flat landscape is part of the Chianan Plain, which is highly valued for agriculture. The climate is tropical, maintaining an annual average temperature of 22.6 °C. The region also receives an average annual rainfall of 1,028.9 mm. However, the land faces environmental challenges. In 2015, Yunlin experienced 75% of Taiwan's total land subsidence. This sinking of the land occurred over an area of 600 square kilometers due to the overuse of groundwater.

History has shaped the administrative boundaries of the region through several eras. During the Dutch Formosa period, Ponkan, known today as Beigang, served as an important coastal castle. Later, during the Qing Dynasty, the area was part of Zhuluo County. A leader named Liu Mingchuan recognized that mountains made communication between Changhua and Chiayi difficult. He suggested creating Yunlin County to allow for easier management. In 1887, it became one of the four counties of the new Taiwan Prefecture. During Japanese rule, the county was renamed Unrin and briefly abolished. It was combined with Tainan Prefecture due to local resistance. After the handover to the Republic of China in 1945, the area initially remained under Tainan County. It was officially separated as Yunlin County on 16 August 1950.

The economy of Yunlin is deeply rooted in the natural environment. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery production account for about 66.45% of the land use. Farmlands cover roughly 68% of the county's total area. Farmers produce a wide variety of crops, including coffee, papaya, melon, tea leaves, and peanuts. The county also produces specialty items like soy sauce, pickled cabbage, and sesame oil. Along the coast, fishing is a vital industry. Leading fishing ports include Boziliao, Santiaolun, Taixi, Taizicun, and Jinhu. To support these industries, several research centers exist, such as the Seawater Fish Farming Research Center.

Infrastructure and energy also play key roles in the county's development. The Mailiao Power Plant, located in Mailiao Township, is a major facility. Commissioned in July 1999, it has a capacity of 4,200 MW. This makes it the third largest coal-fired power plant in Taiwan. For water, many residents traditionally used groundwater. To address water needs, the Hushan Dam was opened in Douliu City in 2016. The dam's reservoir provides a steady water supply for the residents. Transportation is also supported by significant structures like the Xiluo Bridge. This Warren-style truss bridge connects Yunlin to Changhua. When completed in 1952, it was the second longest bridge in the world.

Culture and tourism provide many ways for people to experience Yunlin. The Beigang Chaotian Temple is a major site, attracting more than a million pilgrims every year. For nature lovers, Yunling Hill offers views of the sea of clouds at an altitude of 1,650 meters.

The county also features unique food traditions. Visitors can try eel noodles in Sihu or carrot cake in Xiluo. Sports are also prominent, with the Douliu Baseball Stadium hosting international events. The county has hosted several major competitions, including the 2005 National Games and the 2007 Baseball World Cup.

Administratively, Yunlin is organized into one city, five urban townships, and 14 rural townships. Douliu City serves as the county seat and the location of the county government. Douliu is the largest city in the county. Interestingly, Yunlin is the only county on the main island of Taiwan that does not have a city with the same name. As of 2022, the population of the county reached 664,963 people. The county is also home to several educational institutions. These include the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology and the National Formosa University.