History of Taoyuan

Taoyuan is a terrace that neighbors Linkou Terrace at its northwest side. The northern part of the terrace was inhabited by indigenous people. Nankan River and its tribute, Chiedung River, pass the terrace from southeast to the northwest.

Taoyuan was cultivated by Hakka farmers in the late 18th century, led by the pioneer, Shueh Chilung, and was named the “Hu Mao Jhuang”, which means that the terrace was covered by plants whose leaves were as sharp as the teeth of tigers. Immigrants started planting peach trees by their farms, and when the flowers bloom, the neighborhood was covered by pink clouds of peach blossom. Taoyuan was therefore named “Tao Ah Yuan [literal: Peach Garden] ”. Some called the place “Tao Ah Yuan” while others called it “Taoyuan”. In 1888, the Qing Government documented the city as “Taoyuan.