Jiji, Nantou

23.83°N 120.783°E / 23.83; 120.783

Jiji Township
集集鎭
Shūshū, Chi-Chi
Urban township
Rail tracks of the Jiji Line
Rail tracks of the Jiji Line
Jiji Township in Nantou County
Jiji Township in Nantou County
LocationNantou County, Taiwan
Area
 • Total50 km2 (20 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2023)
 • Total10,056
 • Density200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Downtown Jiji
For other topics named jiji, see Jiji (disambiguation).

Jiji (Chinese: 集集; pinyin: Jíjí; Wade–Giles: Chi2-chi2; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chi̍p-chi̍p) or Chichi is an urban township located in the west central portion of Nantou County, Taiwan. Jiji is the smallest of Taiwan's townships by area.

The township is a popular destination on the Jiji Railway Line. In March 2012, it was named one of the Top 10 Small Tourist Towns by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan.[1]

History

Han Chinese from Zhangzhou began arriving in the area in 1771.[2] The name originates from "Chiv-Chiv", a phrase in the Formosan languages.

During the Japanese era (1895–1945), Jiji was a collection and shipping export point for camphor produced in the surrounding areas. By 1940, it was administrated as Shūshū Town (集集街), Niitaka District (新高郡), Taichū Prefecture (now Taichung.) Jiji township then encompassed a much larger area that included the present-day Shuili Township.

In 1946, Niitaka District was renamed Yushan District (玉山區), Taichung County, and Jiji contemporaneously became a township. In 1950, Shuili Township was separated from Jiji.[3] During World War II, a U.S. bomber was shot down by Japanese artillery, killing four airmen.

The township was the epicenter of the eponymous and devastating 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake.

Demographics
Jiji Township Office

As of February 2023, Jiji was home to a total population of 10,056, including 5,745 males and 5,290 females.[4] Historically, the population peaked at 16,395 in 1970, and has fallen steadily since then. By contrast, the number of households grew from 2,772 in 1970 to a high of 4,376 in 2014, falling slightly to 4,308 by 2016.[5]

Geography
Map of Jiji (labeled as SHŪSHŪ) and surrounding area (1944)
Map including Jiji (labeled as Chi-chi (Shūshū) 集集) (1951)

Jiji is bordered by Zhongliao to the north, Mingjian to the west, Zhushan and Lugu to the south, and Shuili to the east. The Zhuoshui River flows westward along the south border of the township. Jiji Township has a total area of 49.72 square kilometers. The lowest point in the township is 230 m above sea level and its highest point is Big Jiji Mountain (集集大山) at 1392 m above sea level. The township is rather mountainous and is surrounded by mountains on all sides.[6]

Administrative divisions

Jiji is divided into 11 villages: Ailiao, Bazhang, Fushan, Guangming, Heping, Jiji, Linwei, Tianliao, Yongchang, Yuying and Wucuo.

Politics

The 2014 mayoral election was won by 29-year-old Chen Chi-heng of the newly formed Trees Party, in what was characterized by the media as a surprise.[7]

Tourist attractions
Jiji Rail Station
The collapsed Wuchang Temple (武昌宮) which serves as a reminder of the Jiji earthquake

Transportation

Jiji Township is served by Jiji Station and Longquan Station of the Taiwan Railways Administration Jiji line.

References
  1. Wong, Maggie Hiufu (30 March 2012). "Taiwan names its 10 top small tourist towns". CNN Go. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  2. "About Chichi(關於集集)" (in Chinese). 22 February 2007. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007.
  3. "集集鎭". zh:集集鎮#歷史. Wikipedia (Chinese). {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. 村里鄰人口數 [Population figures by rural village/urban village/neighborhood]. jijihr.nantou.gov.tw (in Chinese). Jiji Township Household Registration Office. December 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  5. 歷年人口數 [Historical population figures]. jijihr.nantou.gov.tw (in Chinese). Jiji Township Household Registration Office. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  6. 地理氣候 [Geography & climate]. chi-chi.gov.tw (in Chinese). Jiji Township Office. December 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  7. 集集鎮長陳紀衡當選，太陽花學運如何改變一個人 (in Chinese), Commonwealth Magazine, 7 December 2014
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