Zhongli District, formerly known as “Jianzi-li,” is located in northern Taoyuan City and serves as a key core of the Taoyuan–Zhongli metropolitan area. Covering an area of approximately 76.52 square kilometers and with a population of about 440,000, it is the second most populous administrative district in Taoyuan and ranks among the most densely populated districts in Taiwan. The district is commonly divided into four subareas: Zhongli, Neili, Longgang, and Dalun. Its demographic composition is notably diverse, with Hakka, Hoklo (Minnan), and Mainlander communities having long lived together; Hakka people make up roughly half of the population, shaping a distinctive multicultural character.
Situated in the central Taoyuan Plain, Zhongli has historically been a major transportation hub. Railways, highways, and intercity bus systems converge here, making it an important transit center for southern Taoyuan. Beginning in the 1960s, the establishment of multiple industrial zones spurred rapid economic development, population growth, and commercial prosperity, leading to the rise of large shopping centers and emerging business districts. “Beef noodles, peanut brittle candy, and sickles” are collectively known as the “Three Treasures of Zhongli,” symbolizing the area’s culinary heritage and agricultural traditions.
In terms of religious life, Renhai Temple is the most representative historic temple in Zhongli. Founded in the sixth year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing dynasty (1826), it is dedicated primarily to Mazu and is commonly known as the “Xin Street Temple.” Originally enshrining Guanyin, the temple later shifted its main deity to Mazu due to the increasing flow of merchants and travelers who prayed for safe journeys and prosperous trade. The temple has undergone several renovations and now features a three-hall layout. With its thriving incense offerings, it remains a central place of worship for the local community. Next to the temple stands the “Shengji Pavilion,” a structure used for burning written paper, reflecting the traditional cultural value of respecting written texts and also indicating the once-flourishing scholarly atmosphere of the Xin Street area during the Qing period.
The urban development of Zhongli’s streets also preserves many layers of local memory. “Zhupuzai,” located around present-day Zhongyuan Road, was once an important pig trading market, especially for breeding pigs, which stimulated surrounding commerce and entertainment activities and briefly became a well-known settlement across Taiwan. However, with urban expansion, road widening, and industrial transformation, the former pig market and its associated nightlife culture gradually disappeared and became part of history.
“Fanshushi-zai,” situated near Minsheng Road and Zhongping Road, originated as a marketplace where sweet potatoes—once a staple food and an essential feed for pigs—were widely traded. Farmers would carry sweet potatoes and related products for sale, gradually forming a large trading hub. Over time, the market transformed into a vegetable distribution center, and the once lively calls of sweet potato vendors faded with the passing years.
“Xiazi Lane,” located around Zhongxing Lane, was a police dormitory area during the Japanese colonial period. After World War II, many visually impaired fortune tellers set up shops there, earning it the nickname “Fortune-telling Lane.” The area once enjoyed brisk business and became a unique streetscape. With urban renewal and spatial redevelopment, the old lane was gradually demolished, and this distinctive chapter of urban memory has since receded into history.
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