Changhua

Changhua 彰化市 Shōka
County-administered city
View of the Great Buddha on Baguashan at Changhua City
Seal
Nickname:  Bamboo Town (半線城)
Coordinates: 24°04′N 120°32′E / 24.067°N 120.533°E / 24.067; 120.533
Country	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Province	Taiwan Province
County	Changhua County
Government
• Type	County-controlled city
• Mayor	Lin Shih-shen
Area
• Total	65.68 km2 (25.36 sq mi)
Population  (March 2023)
• Total	226,564
• Density	3,400/km2 (8,900/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	TW-CHA
Website	www.changhua.gov.tw/english/

Changhua (Hokkien POJ: Chiong-hòa or Chiang-hòa), officially known as Changhua City, is a county-administered city and the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan Province of the Republic of China. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. Changhua city is ranked first by population among county-administered cities. It is part of the Taichung–Changhua metropolitan area, which is the second largest in Taiwan.

Historically, Changhua city was a base for the Han Chinese when they invaded Taiwan against the Taiwanese aborigines, constructing a fortress built out of bamboo. Changhua has a nickname of "Bamboo Town".

Changhua is best known for its landmark Great Buddha Statue of Baguashan. At 26 metres tall, the statue sits atop Bagua Mountain overlooking the city. The main walkway up to the giant is lined with statues of figures from Buddhist lore. Another site of interest is Taiwan's oldest temple honoring Confucius.