Mini Cultural Trips in Taipei

Formerly known as "Mangka," the name is a transliteration of the Ketagalan term for canoe (Mankah). In its early days, the area was a hub for trading local produce such as sweet potatoes with Han settlers, who referred to the gathering place of indigenous boats as "Mangka." Benefiting from its commercial port, it flourished during the Qing era, ranking alongside Tainan and Lukang as one of Taiwan’s three major cities. In 1920, the Japanese renamed it "Wanhua," meaning "eternal prosperity." Beyond its historic streets and the Ximending entertainment district, the area hosts diverse industries, including light manufacturing such as printing and glasswork, as well as agriculture in southern Wanhua (Ka-la̍h-á), where jasmine flowers and bean sprouts are cultivated.