SANSHIA

sansia's Early Development
From From the late Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, people from China immigrated across the Taiwan Strait to come and start cultivating land in Taiwan. Because of the convenience of irrigation and land fertility, most started their farms along riversides, and as such the earliest stages of Sansia’s development was along the Dahan, Heng, and Sanxia Rivers. From there, development gradually moved inland toward the mountains.

Because the mountain areas in Sansia are large, the pioneers took to planting daqing (a plant used for its dyeing properties), and this was complemented by tea plantations, since the climate was agreeable to its growth. The area was also home to rich stocks of camphor, and so in the earliest periods of Sansia’s growth, camphor, dyed cloth, and tea were the primary products.
	Ship carrying cargo in ancient times

Urban Development

　 The earliest stages of Sansia Township’s development was along the coastline and river banks, and this made the town a major transport hub in the early days. However, gradually the land started eroding, and this made Sansia’s portside position untenable.

　 The developing township started to gather together, due in part to the geographical features of the region. Developing in those early days was focused mostly around the Zushi Temple, and over time it expanded out from there.

　 Minquan Road, known in the past as Sanjiaoyong (“where the three rivers pour”) Street, was the center of Sansia’s early growth, and was home to a thriving trade in agricultural products. Sansia enjoyed a continued period of growth until the mid 19th century, and the industries of cloth dyeing and mountain-based agriculture continued expanding.

　After Taiwan was ceded to the Japanese in 1895, the new rulers widened and straightened the then-crooked streets and set up a number of civic facilities, including the Town Administration Office, schools, and the like. By the time the Japanese relinquished sovereignty, a fully functioning political center in the Zhongshan Road area.

　 The streets that once were the focus of earning a livelihood had evolved into a lively shopping area. After the mid-20th century, the old streets with their red brick paving in the township were made historic sites in an attempt to maintain some of their local history and culture.