Taipei County, located in the central point of the west Pacific Basin, is intersected by Japan, the West, China, and the Southern Pacific culture. During the period between the seventeenth and eighteenth century, numerous foreign immigrants finally shaped what we are right now. With so many historical relics and abundant cultural heritages, Taipei County has become a beautiful shining gem of the Eastern hemisphere.
When Europe entered the age of discovery, adventuring eastward for Europeans was extremely enticing. Portuguese sailors, when sailing to the Taiwan Strait and witnessing the glorious, beautiful, and mountainous island, has sighted “lha Formosa”(“Beautiful island”) in about 1550. Aafterwards, Taiwan, the beautiful island, had gone into the world history.
Until the 17th century, the west Europe was searching the midway stations for their business vessels. Taiwan, therefore, became their perfect choice. The Spanish built a colony in Tamsui, Taipei County, which was famous for their Fort San Domingo(Hong-Mao-Cheng,“Fort of the Red Haired Foreigners” is prioritized by local people and used until now). Dutch forces, then, attacked northern Taiwan and expelled the Spanish. Both the Dutch and the Spanish colonized Taiwan for 37 years. Meanwhile, trying to find the overseas base for the hope of restoring the sovereignty of the Ming dynasty, JHENG Cheng-Gong coming from China also favored Taiwan and expelled the Dutch. Since the politically raging early periods, Taiwan has experienced the a dministration of Ming-Jheng, the Chin dynasty, the Japanese, and, now, Taiwan, R.O.C.. Because of ying in the top of the north Taiwan, Taipei County is the door to wards the whole world, which presents its prosperous trading phenomena and exotic alternate cultures in many places.
The world was experiencing a big change in the 18th century, which witnessed the French revolution, founding of the United states of America, Washington becoming the first people-elected president. On the other hand, in the east hemisphere, Singjhuang of Taipei County was the most bustling port in northern Taiwan in which the port was crowded for merchants, and many well-parceled ships were harboured waiting to set off. River transport was also convenient. In the opening of the Tamsui River, Bali and Tamsui were the big business port for the overseas trading.
Except the European culture and the Han culture coming from China, Taipei County is originally inhabited by the aborigines of the Kaidagelan tribe and the Taiya tirbe. Like other places in Taiwan, this beautiful island has been inhabitated for more than 20 different ethnical groups of cultures. Therefore, all these heterogeneous cultures and ethnical groups enrich the multifaceted human landscapes of Taipei County.