“C is for Ceramics. C is for – Yingge? Well, not quite, but 'Yingge is for ceramics' is something almost any Taiwanese can chant.” (Lonely Planet)
YinggeDistrict (鶯歌區) is an urban
district located on the Dahan River in southwestern New Taipei City in northern
Republic of China (Taiwan). It is famous for the production of porcelain and an
abundance of art studios and shops. It covers an area of about 21,000 km2 and
is very densely populated.
There are
several legends about the origin of the name of Yingge and many derive from a
stone which is a part of the rock formation situated on its northern side.
There are the Parrot and Eagle Brother Stones but the name probably comes from
the Warble Brother Stone. The modern name “Yingge” (鶯歌) literally
means "Warbler Song" in Chinese.
According to
legend, by 1684, the Yingge area already had Hakka migrants who specialized in
cultivating tea. The history of ceramics in Yingge began about 200 years ago
when Wu An (吳鞍) immigrated
from Guangzhou to Yingge to become the first potter in the area. Later, Chen
Kun (陳昆), a brick
maker, moved to the area and the two strived to make Yingge into the centre of
Taiwan's ceramics industry. Today, Yingge is the largest centre for ceramic
production in Taiwan, with over 1000 ceramic-related businesses in the area.
However, it’s
not only ceramics that you can admire in Yingge. It is a lively place with a
variety of restaurants and markets, beautiful temples, scenic parks, cycling
paths along the river as well as several hiking trails where you can explore
the natural wonders of the place.
This blog is here for you to discover the charm of Yingge and make it a
must-see spot of Taiwan – the Isla Formosa!
Further useful information about Yingge:
