Miaoli County, Administrative division in western Taiwan
Miaoli County is an administrative division in western Taiwan Province, spanning a mountainous area along the Xueshan Range with valleys carved by rivers flowing toward the coast. The terrain rises steeply from narrow coastal plains, leaving most settlements tucked into hillsides and river basins.
The name emerged in the late 19th century when local officials adapted an indigenous term to match Hakka pronunciation linked to the words for cat and fox. Administrative boundaries shifted several times before the present form of the division took shape.
The county holds a population of 535,011 residents, including Han Chinese communities and indigenous groups such as Hakka, Hoklo, Atayal, and Saisiyat ethnicities.
High-speed trains and two major freeways link settlements across the region with other parts of the island, making access to remote valleys easier. Buses run between larger towns and smaller communities, though travel times vary depending on road routes.
The township of Sanyi is known for its wood-carving workshops, where local craftspeople have been shaping sculptures and furniture for decades. Visitors can walk through streets lined with small galleries and studios displaying finished pieces.
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