# Sanxia District

Sanxia District (traditional Chinese: 三峽區; simplified Chinese: 三峡区; Hanyu Pinyin: Sānxiá Qū; Tongyong Pinyin: Sansiá Cyu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sam-kiap-khu) is a district in the southwestern part of New Taipei, Taiwan. It is the second largest district in New Taipei City by area after Wulai District.

## Name

The old name of Sanxia, Sa-kak-eng (Chinese: 三角湧; pinyin: Sānjiǎoyǒng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Saⁿ-kak-éng; lit. 'triangular surge') refers to the meeting of the Dahan River, Sanxia River, and Horizontal River [zh]. In 1920, Taiwan's Japanese government administratively designated the town as Sankyō (Japanese: 三峽, lit. Three Gorges), Kaizan District, Taihoku Prefecture.

## History

After the first coffee plants on Taiwan were imported by the British to Tainan in 1884, the first significant small-scale cultivation took place in Sanxia District.
On December 25, 2010, Sanxia Township was upgraded to Sanxia District after the upgrade of Taipei County.

## Geography

It has an area of 191.45 km$^2$ and a population of 115,443 (February 2023).

## Government institutions

* National Academy for Educational Research

## Education

University
* National Taipei University Sanxia Main Campus (國立臺北大學三峽校區本部)
Senior High schools
* Mingde High school (市立明德高中)
* BeiDa High School (市立北大高中)
* Tsz-Shiou Senior High school (辭修高中)
Junior High schools
* Sanxia Junior High school (市立三峽國中)
* Anxi Junior High school (市立安溪國中)
Others
* National Academy for Educational Research Preparatory office-Planning Objectives

## Tourist attractions

* Zushi Temple - The most important religious site in Sanxia. Originally built in 1769 by Fukienese immigrants to Taiwan, it has been rebuilt three times, of which the last effort (beginning 1947) is the masterpiece of renown Taiwanese artist Li Mei-shu. It is considered by many to be the most intricately sculpted temple in Taiwan.
* Sanxia Old Street - A business street built during the Japanese rule, it is a very well preserved example of baroque-style architecture of the time. The street features stores selling art, ceramics, and local specialty foods (most notably Bull Horn Croissants).
* New Taipei City Hakka Museum - the largest Hakka cultural center in Taiwan exhibiting the culture, history, and influence of the Hakka people in Taiwan and abroad.
* Li Mei-shu Memorial Gallery
* Sanxia History Museum - preserves artistic and cultural artifacts from Sanxia's past.
* Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area
* National Taipei University Arts Boulevard
* Sanxia Agricultural Specialty Products Museum
* Tourism Factory of Cha-Shan-Fang Soap
* Pigs of God (神豬(Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sîn-ti)) Contest - The largest event held at Zushi Temple around Chinese New Year where farmers compete to raise the fattest pig. The fattest pig is then sacrificed at the temple but not to the main deity, Zushi-Ye (祖師爺(Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chó͘-sai-iâ)) as he was formerly a Buddhist monk. Controversial to animal rights activists, Zushi Temple is one of the few places in Taiwan that still practice this tradition.
* Sanxia Indigo Blue Dye Festival - A celebration of Sanxia's past as a major dyeing center in northern Taiwan.
* Walking along Sanxia Old Street
* Zushi Temple
* Baroque-style architecture along Sanxia Old Street
* Shops along Sanxia Old Street
* Changfu Bridge across the Sansia River
* Street market on Changfu Bridge during Weekend
* Sanxia River viewed from Changfu Bridge
* Bull Horn Croissants, a local specialty
* Sanxia Fu'an Temple
* View from Changfu Bridge in Sanxia

## Transportation

* Car — Sanxia is served by Freeway No. 3. (San-ying Interchange)
* Bus — Sanxia is accessible by bus from Taipei (buses 702, 703, 705, 706,939), Taoyuan District, and Yingge (Blue 19).
* Train — Although Sanxia does not have a train station, it is accessible by bus from Yingge Train Station across the river.
* MRT — Accessible via the Tucheng Line of the Taipei Metro to Yongning (永寧(Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Éng-lêng)). Bus 916 from exit 1 connects to Sanxia on Highway 3. In addition Bus 910 leaves from Fuzhong (府中(Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hù-tiong)) station in Banqiao. Both routes are multi-section tickets, paying on entry or exit.

## Notable natives

* Li Mei-shu, former painter, sculptor, and politician