Guangfu, Hualien
Guangfu Township
光復鄉 Fata'an (馬太鞍) | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 23°38′6.23″N 121°25′21.94″E / 23.6350639°N 121.4227611°E | |
| Country | Taiwan |
| Region | Eastern Taiwan |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| Area | |
• Total | 157.1100 km2 (60.6605 sq mi) |
| Population (February 2023) | |
• Total | 11,975 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (CST) |
| Post code | 976 |
| Subdivision | 14 Villages |
| Website | www.guangfu.gov.tw (in Chinese) |
Guangfu Township (Chinese: 光復鄉; pinyin: Guāngfù Xiāng) is a rural township located in the mid-Huatung Valley of Hualien County, Taiwan. The indigenous Amis people make up about half of the population. The main economic activity is agriculture.
History
In 2001, Guangfu was hit by Typhoon Toraji. 21 people are killed and about 30 persons are missing in the town of Kuang Fu, in eastern Hualien County, Taiwan.[1] Nantou's mountainous central district and Guangfu were the two most badly affected areas in Taiwan by Toraji. Mudslides and floods swept houses, bridges, and mountain highways clear.[2] The Agriculture Council of Taiwan reported that there could be $4 million in damage to land, livestock, and agricultural districts.[3]
In 2025, the Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake, which formed following a massive landslide caused by Tropical Storm Wipha in July, overflowed due to the increased rainfall caused by Typhoon Ragasa, sweeping away a bridge and several vehicles along Provincial Highway 9 and causing flooding in Guangfu, Fenglin and Wanrong Townships.[4][5] Several areas were buried in up to 5 m (16 ft) of mud. At least 19 people were killed,[6] 107 were injured, six were missing[7] and 300 were stranded by this event.[8] Authorities said that 60 million tonnes of the lake's total water volume of about 91 million tonnes was discharged, while 60% of Guangfu's population, equivalent to 5,200 people, were forced to seek shelter in the higher floors of their residences.[9] The extent of the disaster led to it being characterised as "a typhoon from the mountains".[10] Around 4,000 people in the area lost access to water supply.[11]
Geography
The township is located at the Huatung Valley.
Administrative divisions
The township has 14 villages with a population of 11,975 inhabitants. Dahua, Daan, Daping, Dama, Datong, Tungfu, Xifu, Nanfu, Beifu, Dajin, Daquan, Daxing, Dafu and Dafeng Village.
Politics
In February 2011, town mayor Huang Rong Chen 黃榮成 was arrested along with two other mayoral election candidates, all three were of Kuomintang (KMT), for election fraud and collusion during the 2010 mayoral election in Guangfu.[12] Huang was alleged to have bribe villagers at NT1000 per vote to vote for him with several villagers confirming receiving the bribe.[12] The 2010 township mayoral election was then declared invalid.[13]
In March, a by-election was held to vote in a new mayor for the vacated seat.[13] Xie Chong Yuan 謝忠淵 of KMT was voted in with 26.25% of the votes.[13]
Transportation
- Taiwan Railway Guangfu and Dafu Station (Taitung line)
- Provincial Highway No.9 (Hualien-Taitung Provincial Highway)
- Provincial Highway No.11A (Guangfu-Fengbin)
- County Road No.193
Notable natives
- Lin Chiung-ying, football and futsal player
References
- ^ "Taiwan mops up after deadly storm". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "TIMELINE-Major typhoons to hit Taiwan (Reuters)". Reuters. 14 August 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "Timeline – Major typhoons to hit Taiwan". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "Hualien township swamped by flooding from lake; vehicles swept away". Focus Taiwan. September 23, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
- ^ "EXPLAINER: Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake overflow". Focus Taiwan. September 24, 2025.
- ^ "Super Typhoon Ragasa death toll climbs to 19 - Taipei Times". Taipei Times. 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ "Recovered body in Hualien confirmed as missing farm worker - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2025-09-29. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
- ^ "2 dead, 3 missing after barrier lake overflow in Hualien". Focus Taiwan. September 23, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
- ^ "New flood fears spook evacuees after Super Typhoon Ragasa kills 15 in Taiwan". CNA. September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ "Typhoon Ragasa: Typhoon makes landfall in China after 17 killed in Taiwan". BBC News. September 24, 2025.
- ^ "Taiwan lake flood victims spend second night in shelters". France 24. September 25, 2025.
- ^ a b "花蓮縣涉嫌賄選 光復鄉長黃榮成遭聲押 - 2011年08月02日 ｜ 公視新聞網 PNN". 公視新聞網 PNN (in Traditional Chinese). 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ a b c "謝忠淵險勝 當選花蓮光復鄉長". www.libertytimes.com.tw. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-09-08. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
External links
- Guangfu Township Administration Office
- Guangfu travel guide from Wikivoyage