# Suao Township

Suao Township (Chinese: 蘇澳鎭; pinyin: Sū'ào Zhèn; Wade–Giles: Su$^1$-ao$^4$ Chen$^4$; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: So͘-ò), alternately romanized as Su-ao or Su'ao, is located in southern Yilan County, Taiwan, is an urban township that is famous for its seafood restaurants and cold springs. It is a terminus of National Highway No. 5, the Suao-Hualien Express Way, and the North-Link Line of the Taiwan Railway Administration. It also has two large harbors: Suao Port, a seaport that also houses a naval base, and Nanfang-ao Port, a major fishing port of Taiwan.

## History

During Japanese rule, the area was established as Suō Town (蘇澳街), Suō District, Taihoku Prefecture. After World War II, the town was converted to a township under Taipei County. In 1950, the township was put under the newly established Yilan County.

## Demographics

As of September 2023, Suao had 14,533 households and a total population of 37,602, including 18,520 females and 19,082 males. The population of Suao Town has been decreasing on average since 1981.

## Villages

The township comprises 26 villages: Aiding, Cunren, Dingliao, Gangbian, Longde, Nanan, Nancheng, Nanjian, Nanning, Nanqiang, Nanxing, Nanzheng, Shengai, Shenghu, Subei, Sunan, Sutung, Suxi, Tungao, Xincheng, Yongchun, Yongguang, Yongle, Yongrong, Zhangan and Zhaoyang.

## Tourist attractions

* Nantian Temple
* Kailu Xianfengye Temple
* Baitul Muslimin Mosque
* Coral Museum
* Nanfang'ao Fishing Port
* Neipi Beach
* Su'ao Cold Spring
* Su'ao Fortress
* Taxi Museum
* Tofu Cape
* Wulaokeng Scenic Area
* Zhu Dayu Culture Museum

## Climate

Suao has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Classification Cfa).
Climate data for Suao (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1982–present） :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.8 (82.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 30.6 (87.1) | 31.9 (89.4) | 33.7 (92.7) | 34.7 (94.5) | 36.3 (97.3) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.9 (94.8) | 32.3 (90.1) | 31.0 (87.8) | 29.2 (84.6) | 36.3 (97.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) | 19.9 (67.8) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.9 (76.8) | 27.6 (81.7) | 30.4 (86.7) | 31.8 (89.2) | 31.5 (88.7) | 29.7 (85.5) | 26.5 (79.7) | 23.8 (74.8) | 20.6 (69.1) | 25.7 (78.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 21.8 (71.2) | 24.6 (76.3) | 27.3 (81.1) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.5 (83.3) | 26.8 (80.2) | 24.0 (75.2) | 21.2 (70.2) | 18.0 (64.4) | 22.8 (73.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) | 14.7 (58.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 19.1 (66.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.6 (76.3) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 21.8 (71.2) | 19.0 (66.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 20.3 (68.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) | 7.2 (45.0) | 5.8 (42.4) | 10.7 (51.3) | 14.8 (58.6) | 18.1 (64.6) | 22.4 (72.3) | 22.1 (71.8) | 17.4 (63.3) | 16.1 (61.0) | 10.1 (50.2) | 6.3 (43.3) | 5.0 (41.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 378.6 (14.91) | 293.7 (11.56) | 193.6 (7.62) | 184.3 (7.26) | 266.6 (10.50) | 229.9 (9.05) | 165.8 (6.53) | 268.5 (10.57) | 450.1 (17.72) | 714.1 (28.11) | 705.7 (27.78) | 584.3 (23.00) | 4,435.2 (174.61) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 20.1 | 19.2 | 18.4 | 16.8 | 19.3 | 14.7 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 16.1 | 20.3 | 20.7 | 21.5 | 208.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79.7 | 80.8 | 79.5 | 80.3 | 81.8 | 80.8 | 76.2 | 77.3 | 78.0 | 79.3 | 82.2 | 80.6 | 79.7 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 60.2 | 63.6 | 86.9 | 96.0 | 116.6 | 164.3 | 247.6 | 222.1 | 153.7 | 93.6 | 69.8 | 55.8 | 1,430.2 |
| Source: Central Weather Bureau ||||||||||||||

## Transportation

* TRA Nan'ao Station
* TRA Su'ao Station
* TRA Su'aoxin Station
* TRA Xinma Station
* TRA Yongle Station
* Port of Su'ao

## Notable people

* Chang Chen-yue, singer
* Cheng Jei-cheng, Minister of Education (2008-2009)
* Chang Yung-fa, founder of Evergreen Group

## Gallery

* View of the Port of Suao
* Port of Suao at night
* Administrative building in the Port of Suao
* Neipi Harbor
* View of Neipi Beach