Shilin District


Shilin District is a district of Taipei and home to a large foreign population, mainly concentrated in the Tianmu area. It has long been a top choice for expatriates from Europe, US, Canada, Southeast Asia and Japan to live, run businesses, and establish embassies and offices due mainly to the natural environment—sitting at the foot of Yangmingshan—and because the international schools are all located here. The central command of the Republic of China Navy is located in Shilin.

History

The name Shilin was derived from Pattsiran, the Ketagalan word for "hot springs". It was then transliterated into Chinese as "八芝蘭", which has been written as Pat-chi-na or Pachina.
Prior to Han settlement, the area was home to the Kimassauw community of the Taiwanese Plains Aborigines. During the Qing era, a fort was set up, later called Zhilan Yi Bao. By the late Qing dynasty, "many literary talents from Shilin had passed the imperial examination", prompting the local gentry to rename it Shilin, meaning "congregation of scholars and talents".
In 1920 under Japanese rule, the area was organized as Shirin Village and in 1933 Shirin Town, under Shichisei District, Taihoku Prefecture. In 1945 after World War II, it was modified to Shilin Township, Taipei County.
Shilin is foremost a residential district and has several famous neighborhoods, such as Waishuangxi and Tianmu. Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek lived in Shilin after moving the Chinese Nationalist government to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. The district is divided up into 51 villages, which are further divided up into 987 neighborhoods.
The district can be said to be the origin of culture in Taipei. During the Qing Dynasty, many private, public and community schools were opened in the area. During the Japanese era, a national learning center was set up at Zhishanyan.

Education

Shilin has three universities: Ming Chuan University, Soochow University, and the Chinese Culture University. Several international schools, including the Taipei American School, Taipei Japanese School, The Primacy Collegiate Academy and Taipei European School are located in this district. The district is also home to two vocational colleges, four senior high schools, eight junior high schools, and twenty elementary schools.
The National Taiwan Science Education Center also is located in this district, along with the Taipei Astronomical Museum, the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines, and the world-renowned National Palace Museum.

Institutions

The district is home to many national historical sites, including historical temples, markets, and buildings. Tourist attractions include：
The Tatun Volcano Group is located northeast of the district. The district is also the location of the Tianmu Baseball Stadium, Bailing Sport Park, Shilin Fitness Center and Chinese Culture and Movie Center. The Shuangxi Park and Chinese Garden is also located in Shilin.

Transportation

In addition to many bus lines, the district is served by the Taipei Metro Tamsui Line. It is served by Provincial Highway No. 2 and many other main roads through the city.

Sister cities