Wanhua District

Wanhua District (Chinese: 萬華區; pinyin: Wànhuá Qū), known in Taiwanese Hokkien as Báng-kah khu (Chinese: 艋舺區) and historically as "Monga" or "Monka", is a district in Taipei, Taiwan. It is Taipei's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as the Bangka Lungshan Temple and the Red House Theater. Wanhua was the first district in Taipei to undergo economic development; many of the buildings and cultural sites in the region are older than those in surrounding districts. A large number of temples in Wanhua are attributed with originating from the Qing era. Wanhua District is divided up into 36 villages (里) and 722 neighborhoods (鄰). In recent years, the population in the district has been in decline. It also has a higher concentration of mainlanders. Nevertheless, this district continues to be treasured by many as it is representative of some of Taipei's richest historical cultures – for example, the annual temple rituals held at Qingshan Temple, also known as the Qing Shan King Sacrificial Ceremony. This is a grand religious fiesta and celebration that involves a procession within Wanhua District for three consecutive nights.