Tsoying District

Zuoying District (zh-tptwp|t=左營區|hp=Zuǒyíng Qū|tp=Zuǒyíng Cyu|w=Tsuo³-ying² Ch'ü|poj=Chó-iâⁿ-khu) is a district in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

Zuoying was established in the mid-seventeenth century as a military fortress, known as Old Fengshan (also Old Fongshan). It is now the site of Zuoying Harbour, known formerly as Port Saei. 'Sa-ei' is the Japanese On'yomi (Chinese reading) of the city's name in Chinese characters, but was romanized as 'Zuoying' after World War II by American Naval Consultants.

Zuoying hosts the Zuoying Naval Airfield (22°42′16″N, 120°16′48″E) and the Republic of China Navy's Zuoying Naval Yard, Taiwan's largest naval base. Villages near the naval base are composed of single-story houses, uncommon in most Taiwanese cities. The villages were first populated by soldiers of the Chinese Nationalist Party who came from different provinces of mainland China and gathered here after losing the Chinese Civil War between Communist Party of China and the Chinese Nationalist Party. The ROC National Government provided these veteran serviceman with these single-story houses. These residential areas belonged to the navy and were under military control at that time. Therefore, people outside could not enter villages without martial permission. Without interference from outside, the culture of villages embodies that of different provinces of mainland China.

Zuoying's Lotus Lake is one of the major tourist attractions of southern Taiwan. This beautiful man-made lake is situated between Kueishan (Turtle Mountain) and Panpingshan (Half-screen Mountain). The Spring and Autumn Pavilions, Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and Confucius Temple dot its shoreline. The Confucius Temple is the largest Confucius temple in Taiwan. The historic gates of the Old Fengshan city wall are also nearby.

There is a Mountain "Chai-Shan" (Mt. Monkey), full of Rhesus Monkeys and many tropical plants, and a good training base of marine corps.

* Area: 19.39 km²
* Population: 176,565 people (2003)

Transportation

Currently a stop on the Western Line of the Taiwan Railway Administration.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) serves the city with passenger services while also functioning as the lines terminal station within Kaohsiung. The Zuoying HSR Station Area now serves as a transportation hub for the greater Kaohsiung metropolitan area.

Attractions

*Lotus Lake

External links

* [http://w4.kcg.gov.tw/~english/index.php?strurl1=tourism&strurl=itin02.htm Kaohsiung City Government Official site (The Old Gate)]
* [http://www.thsrc.com.tw/emain/construct/building/tsoying_c.htm Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (HSR Zuoying Station)] | [http://www.thsrc.com.tw/emain/construct/building/tsoying.htm (English)]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/tsoying.htm GlobalSecurity.org (Tsoying Naval Base)]
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/world/taiwan/facility/tsoying.htm Federation of American Scientists (Tsoying Airfield)]