The name "Daliao" could be translated as "big hut," thatched huts having indicated the area's long history of cultivation. Daliao has been farmed since the Qing (Ching) Dynasty, though in Qing times it was more of a frontier area, with its own military garrison. 大寮這個地名代表著這地區長久的農業歷史， 大寮的農業發展從清朝開始， 那時候的大寮地區比較像開發的前哨站， 有軍營駐紮。
According the last census, 112,108 people live in Daliao. 上次的人口統計表示 ， 大寮的人口是112,108人 。
This is the first exit off the 88 Expressway, after you cross the Gaoping (Kaoping) River from Pingtung. It's where all the newest factories are. 這是從屏東過高屏溪之後的88快速道路的出口 。 大寮區中最新的工廠都在這附近 。
There's only one train station, Houzhuang, in Daliao. It's not an easy place to find or drive toward. Just a couple streets north of here is Dashu District. 大寮只有一個火車站 : 後庄 。 這裡開車進來很不方便 。 往北過兩條路之後就到大樹區 。
The train station is behind that blue building to the right. There are a few restaurants around here, but nothing to write home about. I will say, however, that the duck I had for lunch across the street was good. 火車站在藍色建築的後面 。 這附近有些餐廳 ， 應該沒有特別好吃的吧 ? 我在大馬路另外一邊吃鴨肉便當 ，我覺得不錯。
Next to the Daliao MRT Station you'll find this terrifying statue. I suppose it represents local agricultural products, but more than anything it reminded me of John Carpenter's The Thing. 你會在大寮捷運站碰到這個恐怖的雕像 ， 它應該是結合了大寮的農特產吧 ! 但是它讓我想到突變第三型那部影片 。
This is the front of the MRT station. Development of this area is well underway, but making a place like Daliao tourist friendly is something of an uphill battle. 大寮捷運站正面 。 大寮是真的在發展中 ，可是要吸引遊客卻是一件困難的事 。
View from the second floor of the MRT station. 捷運站二樓的風景。
This canal is within walking distance of the MRT. Seeing fish somehow alive in these canals never ceases to amaze me. 可以從捷運站散步到這個排水溝 。 每次看到在排水溝裡有魚我都很驚訝 。
This church is a little further up the same street, not far from Zhongyi Elementary School. 同一條路再往前走會經過這座教堂 ， 離忠義國小不遠 。
North of Zhongyi Elementary School, in an area being turned into a park (?), you'll find this old brick kiln. Daliao and Dashu have a long history of brickmaking, though this once thriving local industry is largely forgotten now. 忠義國小北邊應該會變成大公園吧 ? 地的中間會看到這個磚窯廠遺址 。 大寮跟大樹有長久的磚窯歷史 , 可惜現在知道的人不多。
I think it would be fair to say that this kiln is Daliao's only tourist attraction. It often shows up in videos and articles introducing the area. 大寮的觀光景點只有磚窯廠吧 ? 介紹大寮的新聞報導和短片中都會提到這個地點 。
On cloudy days the old smokestack looks very spooky. There is, by the way, another kiln slightly south, closer to the elementary school. This other kiln was all but invisible until recent efforts to clear away plants that had grown over it. 陰天的時候煙囪看起來很恐怖 。 國小附近還有其他的磚窯廠 ， 只是其他磚窯廠都被草遮住了，因為最近割了草 ， 才比較看得到 。
Away from Central Daliao most of the district looks like this: fields between factories. Most of the fields I passed were rice fields, though I did see corn, taro and red beans in places. 大寮市區外面的樣貌都差不多: 工廠跟稻田 。 我經過的農田大部分種米 、玉米 、芋頭跟紅豆 。
Surprisingly, Daliao has a bike trail. This bike trail passes through the north half of the district. It's not exactly scenic, but it's a weird ride if you're looking for something unusual.* 大寮有自行車道 ! 這條自行車道繞著大寮北部， 風景不是很美， 可是有的地點很特別 。
This spot isn't far from the Kaoping (Gaoping) River. Those buildings in the distance are in Wandan Township, in Pingtung County. 這個地點靠近高屏溪 ， 遠處的大樓在屏東縣 萬丹鄉 。
The same location looking south. 同一個地點往南邊看 。
And this is just off Liuqiu Road. There are a lot of old, abandoned brick buildings in this area. Back in the days when brick was king this area undoubtedly looked very different, but that doesn't necessarily mean that life in Daliao was better. Times change, industries come and go, and people move on. It's easy to idealize the past, but the realities of life long ago are always elusive. 這個社區在琉球路附近 ， 這裡老舊的紅磚屋很多 。 磚窯廠還在運作的時候大寮一定很不一樣 ， 只是那時候的生活並不一定比較好 。 時間流動下， 工業型態轉變 ， 人口也跟著移動 ， 人們容易因為不了解當時實際的生活問題，而一味地讚美過去的時代。
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*The Google Map location used is at the other end of the bike trail, which loops around the northern half of the district. There's a map of the bike trail at the bottom of this person's blog entry. The opposite side of the trail passes by the Daliao MRT stop, though many stretches of the trail are hard to distinguish from the local roads.
