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Local History
Yong Kang was the pioneer spot of the Han people during the Ming-Cheng era. The Han people crossed the Tai-jiang inlet, traced their way up Hsingang river (present day Yan-Shuei River), and settled on the southern shore of the river. The place gained prosperity as it was along the north-bound route from Jun-Cheng (present day Tainan city). In the earlier days, Yong Kang was referred to as “Pu-Jiang-Tou.” The origin of the name is an interesting one. The late Ming and early Ching dynasty era of Chinese history coincided with the warring states period in Japan, and the armor of the warriors was mostly made of deer leather,, of which Taiwan was a main supplier. The Han people traded rice, salt and other sustenance with the Pingpu tribes for deer. The deer pelts were exported to Japan, and the meat was made into deer jerky and shipped to the mainland. In the southern Jujianese dialect, “Pu” means flatlands and “Jiang” is a type of deer that's relatively smaller in size. “Tou” referred to capes near the sea or the water. Altogether, “Pu-Jian-Tou” meant “a flatland near the sea where deer gather.”
When Cheng Ch'eng-Kung arrived in Taiwan, he first established the Cheng-Tien Court and An-Ping Town, then organized the south and north peripheries of An-Ping town into 24 villages. The Pu-Jiang-Tou at the time was officially recorded as “Yong Kang Village.” In the 23rd year of the reign of Kangxi, Taiwan was incorporated into the domain of the imperial Ching court, and Yong Kang was ruled under the jurisdiction of Tainan court. During the Japanese occupation era, town councilors were stationed at Yong Kang “Pu-Jiang-Tou Quarter”, and the area was ruled by the board of Tainan officials in Tainan State. The place was subsequently renamed as “Yong Kang Upper-Middle Village” and “Yong Inner District”, and “Yong Kang Quarter.” After the recovery of Taiwan, the province-town-village-city structure was implemented, and “Yong Kang Quarter” was renamed as “Yong Kang Village” and organized into 15 communities. However, due to the rapid growth of population, the area was restructured into 29 communities in 1982. By 1993, the population had exceeded 150,000, and the status was raised to county-controlled city. The administrative structure was revised to 39 communities in the subsequent year, but some of the communities have more people than the population sum of Tsocheng township and Lungchi township, so there is the need for reconfiguration.
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City Development Plans
Yong Kang city is a young and newly developed city. It was raised to the status of county-controlled city in 1993 when the population exceeded 150000. The population and population density of the city both top the Tainan county charts.
The city planning for Yong Kang city began with the reconfiguration of Liujiading urban area in 1972. Later in 1978 and 1979, Yong Kang freeway connector project, Yong Kang Liujiading urban project, and Yong Kang Sifenzi urban project were announced, and 96% of all city land was included in various urban projects. |
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Amongst the various plans, the Yong Kang freeway connector district takes up 3867.63 hectares and has an estimated population of 151,200. The Yong Kang Liujiading (Sifenzi area) urban project takes up 184.52 hectares with an estimated population of 27,700. The Yong kang Liujiading (Liujiading area) project takes up 74.25 hectares with an estimated population of 6500. The Liujiading city reconfiguration area is 97.61 hectares with an estimated population of 13, 000. The total land area of the four projects is 4224.01 hectares (including parts of Jente township), and the total estimated population is 198,400. The current population in the city planning districts have already reached 200,000. In the land division by usage per city planning, there are 1075.02 hectares of residential area, 39.96 hectares of commercial area, 833.29 hectares of industrial area, 936.71 hectares of public facility land, and 1293.13 hectares of agricultural land.
The development of Yong Kang city is deeply influenced by the traffic dynamics. With National Freeway No.1 passing through the center of Yong Kang city and the vertical-crossing railroad cutting through the north side of Yong Kang city, there are points of disjunctions in the city development.
In terms of spatial distribution, the area north of the railway is mainly the industrial area. Yong Kang city has mainly mid to small sized businesses, and the main industries are metal parts construction and mechanical repairs. The #1 Taiwan Provincial Rd. is the main connecting route.
The business developments in the city takes place mostly along the main traffic routes, of which the areas along Chunghua road is the most vibrant. Local commercial circles have also formed around other areas such as those near the Kun Shan University of Technology, Tainan Woman's College of Arts and Technology, and Chimei Foundation Hospital.
As for residential developments, the residential communities develop along Chunghua road, Yongda road, Fuguo road, and Dawan road.
Because the overall development project of the Tainan county positions Yong Kang city as the 2nd capital of the Tainan metropolitan and the R&D center of southern manufacturing industry, the configuration of city planning mainly aims to satisfy the needs of industrial development and residential functions. This particular position is also the current development status of Yong Kang city.
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Agricultural Profile
Yong Kang city is located on the Jianan plain. With a mild climate and an excellent irrigation facilities, the area is ideal for both farming and agriculture. The farmland area is 1369.22 hectares. In the earlier days of agriculture prosperity, they produced vast quantities of rice and sugar cane. There was once a Yong Kang sugar factory, and the quality of its cane sugar was considered the best in the nation. In recent years, the sugar industry had withered, and the industrial progress boomed instead. The agriculture of the place also changed accordingly. Aside from the original crops of rice, corn and turnips, local farms also began to develop refined agriculture of high-economical value crops. The miniature tomatoes of the Niaosong area have unique flavours and are renown both locally and abroad. The cantaloupes and yellow watermelons of the Sanmin area are excellent in quality. And the newly developed floricultural industry also brings in new and profitable business opportunities to local farmers
The farming industry covers large-scale pig farms, cattle ranches, sheep farms, deer farms, and poultry farms that raise everything including chickens, ducks, geese and turkey. Dawan's peanut candies are made by traditional methods that result in a unique texture. They make excellent gifts and have taken on significant fame.
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Education & Culture
Education is the foundation of the nation, and it is also the main shortcut in the development of professionals.
Yong Kang city has 11 elementary schools, which are Yong Kang, Dawan, Sanchun, Fusing, Longtan, Sishi, Daciao, Kunshan, Wuwang, Yungshin, Shengli. The high schools are: Yong Kang, Yung Jen, Da Ciao, and the Tainan county Dawan Senior high school (with a junior high school division), the Affiliated Senior High school of National Tainan Teachers College, the National Tainan Industrial Vocational High School. In addition to these, there are also post-secondary institutes such as the Tainan Women's College of Arts & Technology, the Kun Shan and Southern Taiwan University of Technology which help to build a stronger education in the city and foster countless excellent students. These schools are truly the pride of Yong Kang.
To achieve the educational goals of diversified teaching and applicable learning Yong Kang city actively strive to build more schools, enrich the curriculum so as to foster a more dynamic and fun learning experience.
The city library has an excellent collection, and regularly hosts all sorts of cultural events year-round to encourage residents to keep learning. The results have been wonderful. The city also pays attention to the well rounding of youths' physical and mental development. Parent-child 3-on-3 basketball games are held during the summer vacation to provide local adolescents with proper leisure activities. |
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Health & Medicine
Yong Kang city has the Chimei Medical Center, the Veterans Hospital, and several hundred medical clinics. The city is also close to the Provincial Tainan Hospital of the Department of Health, Executive Yuan and the National Cheng Kung University Hospital. The region is considered to have abundant medical resources to ensure quality medical access for local residents.
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Business & Industry
Yong Kang city is next to the major metropolis of Tainan city. With over 200000 people, convenient traffic, and factories coming in from Tainan city, large numbers of employees and employers move to Yong Kang and boost Yong Kang's commercial and industrial development. It is now the prime district of Tainan county. Currently, there are 2721 factories, 19 financial institutes, and 12727 businesses. Fully facilitated organizations, including Yong Kang Industrial Area, Asia-Pacific Industrial Area, international corporations, President Corporations, DaChan Greatwall Group, Catcher Technology, Ton Yi Industrial Corporation, Carrefour, and Geant are all set up in this city. In terms of traffic and transportation, there are courier services and various major shipping companies throughout the city to help the local residents and businesses to strive for economic success.
The vast Yong Kang industrial area is supported by a well-designed traffic network, railroads, and highways, which work together to provide businesses with a great environment for company establishment and growth. These advantages make Yong Kang the industrial hub of the greater Tainan region, and the number of factories in Yong Kang make up 39% of the factories in Tainan county. This gives Yong Kang a solid potential for future development and makes it the source of over 1/3 of the tax revenues. |
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Social Welfare
Relief and Welfare
With the city population exceeding 200000, the problems and demands related to people also increases accordingly. And the Taiwanese society is currently permeated with topics of democratization and rights and benefits for each and every person. Although the different sectors of government organization all feel financial difficulties, they continue to do all that they can to promote policies of social welfare. Consequently, the welfares and relief services of this city improves accordingly. |
In Yong Kang city, there are currently more than 20000 seniors of age 65 or above, over 5000 people with physical/mental disabilities, nearly 40000 unemployed people under type 6 health insurance, and over 800 applications for single parent child support. These numbers consistently show that Yong Kang city carries the important duty of facilitating the welfare policies of the central and county government.
Aside from working with the Tainan county government in handling living stipend assistance for low-income families, mid-to-low income elders, single parent families, and people with mid-to-low level disabilities, the city also provides various welfare and relief for seniors, people with physical/mental disabilities, women, and children. Moreover, it also processes applications for the senior citizen allowance in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Insurance.
Establishment of Volunteer Teams to Care for Lonely Seniors
The city government understands the difficulties of seniors who must live on their own. Without the care of family members and often lacking interaction with the neighbours, their illness and sufferings often become unnoticed. It is truly disheartening when one hears the news of lonely seniors who pass away in solidarity for days before a neighbour notices the death. In view of such tragedies, the city hall established the Yong Kang Volunteer Team on October 1, 1998 with the main goal of providing care and service to the seniors who live alone in this city. Regular phone calls are made to keep in touch, and monthly visits are made to check on their wellness. Based on their needs, the city also provides assistance in the maintenance of their living environment and the provision of medical care. It is our hope that while these lonely seniors have no family members, they can still feel the care and warmth of people in the society.
Community Development Committee and the Care Centers
Facilitation and Setup of the All-Purpose Counter
In view of the complicated duties and the increase in the number of enquiries, the city hall had begun integrating the tasks of various social departments to form an all-purpose counter (one-stop service desk) to provide better service to the people and elevate the administrative efficiency.
The various tasks of the Social Affairs Department are integrated into two major categories: “Type 5&6 Health Insurance” and “Welfares and Reliefs.” This way, when residents visit the city hall, they would not have to go to different representatives for different questions. The old segregated system not only wastes time, it also sometimes prevent problems from being solved. The all-purpose counter will provide a one-stop solution for all questions. The representative will help to locate the best strategy to complete the application, clarify to the people their rights and benefits, and explain the services that the government can provide.
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Traffic Network & Parks
A fast and efficient traffic network serves as the arterial veins of a city's vibes. A thoughtfully planned traffic network provides city living with canals for interactions and exchange to ensure smooth urban operation. The parks and green spaces are the most important leisure spots in a city. The greeneries in parks not only improve the city's appearance, they also purify the air. These two public constructions are intimately linked with the lives of the residents, and they are also major indices of urban living quality.
Roadways make up the majority of the Yong Kang city traffic network, and the railways take on a supporting role. In regards to the roadway system, National Freeway No.1 penetrates the city from north to south while the railroad crosses the city from the northeast to the southwest as the axle of inter-county transportation. There is one Yong Kong highway interchange and two train stations – Yong Kang and Daciao – along the railway, which are the main stations for commuting to work and school. |
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The roads in Yong Kang city can be categorized by function into the following levels:
1. Main external connection system: the main roads in the city make up a rough grid structure. The east and west bound ones are Chungcheng North (South) Road, the Chungshan South (North) Road, and Fusing (Dawan) Road. The north and south bound routes consist of Chunghua Road, Yongda Road, and Fuchiang Road (Wanghsing Road), and the road widths are between 12 to 30 meters. These serve mainly the crossover traffic flows.
2. City road system: The street width of these are approximately between 12 and 20 meters, such as Fuguo Road, Chunghsiao Road, Chungshan Road, Chungcheng Road, and Chengshing Road. These serve as internal connector routes between parts of the city.
3. Base entrance/exit road system: This consists of the numerous paths in the city that are narrower than 10m in width. They serve as the entrance or exit for various bases.
Over the past few years, the city hall has invested a substantial amount of resources on the development of roads. In the future, we will continue to actively fight for construction funding from the central and county government so that the Yong Kang traffic can be all the more smooth and convenient.
Knowing the shortage of parks and green space in Yong Kang city, Mayor Lee has placed much emphasis on the planning and building of parks ever since he came into office. Because of the previous city development as an industrial town and a satellite city of the Tainan metropolis, the acquisition and construction of parks and green space did not receive sufficient attention that would be proportional to the population increase. As a result, the park space per person ratio in Yong Kang is only 0.16 square meters, which is quite a discrepancy from the 1.77 meter square of the neighbouring. Tainan city, not to mention the standards of advanced nations. In view of this, city hall is now actively promoting the establishment of parks and green areas. Softball field, basketball field, and a croquet field are now being built at the Tiyi Sports park (6.4 hectares) on the north side of #1 Taiwan Provincial Rd. By schedule, the work would be completed by end of 2003. Waterfront recreational facilities will also be added later. The tri-functional public property (4.62 hectares) at the end of Fuguo 1st Road still retains the original hill appearance of old Yong Kang city and contains a fascinating wetland habitat. With some simple landscaping, the park would provide an excellent location for public recreation, as soon as the issues of land usage is resolved. This will not only break the stereotype of Yong Kang not having a major park, it would also more than triple the park area in the city.
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Public Facilities
The facilities funding obtained by Yong Kang city in the past 5 years exceeds the combined funding acquired over the past 20 years. This is the most important factor behind the city's rapid development. The currently completed projects include the pump station, and the columbarium that belongs to public construction, the Chunghua parking tower, the Institute of Social Education, and the 3D rail and Chungcheng road crossover project. The projects still under construction are the Shinan incinerator, the road connector to the Shalun station of the high-speed rail, and the building of Dawan Road and other outer routes along 2nd Freeway . The additional Daciao junior high school is currently being built, and will start its enrolment in 2003. Moreover, the city is currently striving for the construction of various projects, such as Yanhang junior high school, Wuwang junior high school, Wenshisan elementary school, the sports complex (Tiyi sports park and Gongsan Tier), and an activity center and park for each community. After the completion of these public facilities, Yong Kang city will become the most brightest star in Tainan county with the most convenient traffic, the most vibrant business circle, and the best education quality. |
The city's first switch-type demonstrative parking tower was officially opened on August 5, 1998. The public quality committee of the Executive Yuan had performanced onsite survey of the parking tower and given high praises for implementation of international standard facilities throughout the parking tower. This parking tower has one underground level and 7 levels above ground. There are 289 parking spots. There are computerized monitoring and payment systems inside, and the parking tower helps immensely to relieve the parking pressure in the nearby shopping centers.
The columbarium was completed and opened on April 15, 1998. It is a modern architectural structure with one underground level and 6 above-ground levels. The columbarium can accommodate 87458 urns. The construction of the columbarium not only resolves the problem of insufficient burial spaces, it also opens up a source for local income, corrects inappropriate funerary customs, and provides an afterlife paradise. To facilitate the worshippper going up and down, another elevator was added and doors renovated in September 2003 in providing convenient services.
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| Public Construction
The columbarium was opened on April 15, 1998 after a ritual ceremony. It is a modern building with one underground level and 6 above-ground levels. The columbarium can accommodate 87458 urns. The construction of the columbarium not only resolves the problem of insufficient burial spaces, it also opens up a source for local income, corrects inappropriate funerary customs, and provides an afterlife paradise. |
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Environmental Protection
We have only one earth. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the city actively promotes garbage reorganizing, reduction and recycling, to maintain its reputation as one of the 10 cleanest cities in the nation. To pave the way for the proposed construction of the incinerator, Mayor Lee asks the village councillor and village secretaries to form environmental protection volunteer teams and reminds all residents to be guardians of the environment. The cleanliness of the environment will start with each and every community so that the city will take on a refreshing glow.
The city puts 100% of its effort into maintaining the outlook of the city. An inspection team makes ticketing illegal vendors a part of their routine tasks, and trees are incorporated in the design of new streets. These details work together to present a beautiful city view. The addition of community parks and greeneries have also taken effect in providing the residents with a superior living environment and recreational spaces. |
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Cultural Events
The hardware of the city has met the demands of the trend, but the cultural and spiritual establishments must make a leap in time to meet the technical advancements, so that the society, families, and individuals can reclaim their lost sense of balance. Therefore, the city regularly hosts annual Father's day, Mother's day and Outstanding Youths awards, and all sorts of cultural events and dinner parties are held in accordance with festivals. These events help to enrich the spiritual life of the residents. |
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The planning of future events shall strive to be more all-inclusive by taking into consideration children, women, youths, seniors, labors, single parents, and the physically disabled. We will try our best to promote the culture of the city and refine our souls with the arts. It is our hope that the tacit influence of arts and culture will teach the residents and the youths proper values and behaviours so that Yong Kang can be a kind and prosperous community.
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Major Routes
1. Chungcheng South (North) Road
Starting north from the boundaries of Hsinshih township and ending at Chunghua Road, this road is part of the #1 Taiwan Provincial Rd. In terms of its connectivity to the external routes, it is one of the major routes for others to access Yong Kang city and Tainan city from other towns and cities in the north and the Tainan county. It is also a major connector to the Yong Kang interchange of National Freeway No.1. As a regional route, it serves the residents, large warehouses, the Yong Kang industrial area, the Chungcheng indusrial area, and the trailer trucks in the Asia-Pacific Industrial site along the way as a connector between the highway and Tainan city. This is the main south and northbound road on the west side of Yong Kang city.
2. Chungshan South (North) Road
This road connects to Chungshan Road of Shinhua Town on the north and Kaiyuan Road of Tainan city in the south. It is the major route of #20 Taiwan Provincial Rd. that penetrates the city. As an external connector route, the north-bound traffic can access Shinhua, Yuching, Nanshi, and the towns along the southern EW Cross-Island Highway of Kaohsiung county. The southbound traffic can enter the Tainan city center through Kaiyuan Road. In terms of its function as a local communter's route, it serves as a major route for Wanliao, Erwang, and Nannong new village to access Tainan city and Shinhua. In regards land usage along the way, there is a mix of residential and commercial activity, and there are also major administrative centers and schools, including the city hall, National Tainan Industrial Vocational High School, the Affiliated Senior high school of Tainan Teachers College, and the Army Shell and Missile School.
3. Chunghua Road
On the north side, Chunghua Road connects to Chungcheng South Road. And to the south, it connects to Chunghua East Road of Tainan city. It extends from the #1 Taiwan Provincial Rd. (Chungcheng South Road) as a major path that crosses the city. In addition to the aforementionied northbound connections, it also connects with the terminal of the #19 Taiwan Provincial Rd. to allow access to the Tainan county townships along the coast. Southbound, the road leads to the east side of Tainan city and the townships along the Kaohsiung county provincial road. There are commercial towers along the way, and it is considered the business center of the city.
4. Yongda Road
Yongda road begins from the #1 Taiwan Provincial Rd. and connects to Chungcheng Road of Jente township in the south. Aside from serving as a major connector route to Jente township, it is also an important alternative path to the Yong Kang and Tainan (Jente) interchanges to the freeway.
5. Fusing Road (Dawan Road)
This road is part of the #180 county road. It extends from the eastern tip of Tainan city's Shiaodong Road, heads straight east from Yong Kang city's Chonghsiao Road, cuts through the tunnel of National Freeway No.1 and connects to Dawan Road. Continuing eastbound, it enters the Dawan areas and leads to Shinhua town. In addition, because Kun Shan University of Technology is located along the way at Dawan Road and because the residential development in the Dawan area is surging, there is busy work traffic along the way to and from Tainan city on top of the regular commuter traffic. This makes Fusing Road a major connector path between Yong Kang city and Tainan city.
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Yong Kang Profile
