Lukang, Changhua

Lukang (Chinese: 鹿港; pinyin: Lùgǎng; Wade–Giles: Lu-kang; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lo̍k-káng; literally: "deer harbour") is an urban township in northwestern Changhua County, Taiwan. The township is on the west coast of Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait. The township's name came from the port's trade of deerskins during the Dutch colonial period. Lukang was an important sea port in the 18th century and 19th century. It was the most populous city in central Taiwan until the early 20th century. In March 2012, it was named one of the Top 10 Small Tourist Towns by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan.

Names

The township's name came from the port's trade of deerskins during the Dutch colonial period. Its old Taiwanese name was Lo̍k-á-káng (鹿仔港) and its shortened version is seen in English texts and maps as variants such as "Lok-kang", "Lokang", and "Lo-kiang".

In 2011, the Ministry of Interior decided to keep the historical Wade-Giles spelling (Lukang), and abandon the change to the Pinyin spelling (Lugang) that had been gradually taking place since Taiwan switched to Pinyin in 2009.