According to the last census, 8382 people live in Nanhua. 南化的人口於上次的人口統計是8382人 。
Most tourists' first stop in Nanhua will probably be the Nanhua Visitor's Center, which isn't far from Central Nanhua. I don't know how long this place has been open, but it seemed very new to me. A woman working inside said they'd recently won the bid to operate in that building. 大部分旅客的第一站大概是南化遊客中心 ， 它離南化市區很近 。 我不知道這遊客中心開多久了 ， 建築物很新 ，裡面的工作人員說他們得標後才在裡面賣東西 。
Inside this visitor's center is an information booth and several exhibits introducing local attractions. Many of these local attractions are very hard to get to. 遊客中心裡有服務台，還有些展示介紹南化的景點 。 很多當地的景點很難開車到達。
Honey is one of Nanhua's two big agricultural products. You can buy samples inside the visitor's center. 南化有兩個主要農特產 ， 蜂蜜是其中一個 ， 你可以在遊客中心品嘗購買 。
Mangoes are the other big agricultural product. The weather around Nanhua, which tends towards "hot" and "dry," is very good for growing mangoes. The hills between Neimen (in Kaohsiung), Nanhua and Yujing are full of mango orchards. 另一主要農特產是芒果 。 南化熱乾的天氣適合種芒果 ， 高雄市的內門區 、 南化區和玉井區間的山丘有許多的芒果園。
This is the view from the visitor's center parking lot, looking east. The more distant mountains are in Kaohsiung. 從遊客中心停車場往東邊看 ， 遠方的山是在高雄 。
Have you heard of "Yiguandao?" It can be described as a "Chinese folk religion" with roots stretching all the way back to pre-revolutionary China. Its adherents were persecuted by both the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT, and many still think of it as a cult. 聽說一貫道嗎 ? 它是一種中國民間宗教 ， 民國前就已經開始流傳， 一開始它的信徒受中國共產黨和台灣國民黨迫害 ， 覺得一貫道是一種邪教 。
This is an Yiguandao temple not far from the Nanhua Reservoir. It's one of the most impressive temples I've ever seen in Taiwan. 這是靠近南化水庫的一座一貫道廟宇 ， 很宏大的一座廟 。
At the time of writing it's still under construction, and likely to be under construction for years into the future. We climbed from the bottom to the top of it and this climb took us a long time. 它目前還有工程進行中 ， 可能要很久的時間才蓋的完吧 ! 我們從山下走到上面花了不短的時間 。
At the time we seemed to be the only visitors. I can only assume that this is because the place isn't ready yet. Whenever it's finished, with all of its stores, lodging and restaurants, it will be a still more impressive thing to see. 我們參觀的時候好像只有我們兩個 ， 是因為還沒完成嗎 ? 這座廟蓋完以後，裡面的商店 、 香客大樓 和餐廳都會很大 。
These "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys were in the temple, but I saw similar rabbit statues outside the Visitor's Center. Maybe the Yiguandao faith has an outsized influence in Nanhua? 這群猴子在廟宇裡面 ， 也有類似主題的兔子在遊客中心 ， 一貫道在南化很有影響力嗎 ?
Unlike some other local religions, Yiguandao has a missionary component. Today Taiwan, tomorrow the world? 一貫道跟有的當地信仰不一樣 ， 它們的傳道者會出國勸人皈依 ， 今日台灣 ， 明天全世界 ?
There is a whole other back half to this temple (complex) that we didn't visit. The thought of going back up these stairs made my legs ache. 這座廟宇有廣大的後山 ， 我們沒去 ， 因為不想再爬樓梯回來 。
The views of the surrounding mountains are stunning. This close to the reservoir less of the local landscape has been denuded by mango farming. 四周的山景令人心曠神怡， 且越靠近水庫，芒果園越少。
These enormous dragons might be the most interesting feature of the temple. I couldn't get a good picture of them from the front because most of the ongoing construction is on that side. 這所廟宇最特別的部分是這些巨大的龍 ， 我沒辦法正面拍它們，因為廟宇的另外一邊還搭有鷹架。
I believe these three goats are a symbol of prosperity. 這三隻羊應該是"三陽開泰"的寓意。
Five minutes further east is the Nanhua Reservoir. Pictured above is the main entry point for visitors. There are no concessions here, just a parking lot, a monument and a viewing platform. It's the quietest place I've been in a long time. 繼續開車往東邊走五分鐘會到南化水庫 。 上面的照片是水庫的主要入口 ， 這裡沒有小販與商店， 只有停車場 、地標跟觀景台 。 我很久沒有到過那麼安靜的地方了。
And this is another overlook further east. 東邊還有其他的眺望點。
We had lunch in Central Nanhua. Not much going on here, but there's a 7-11 across from the Queen of Heaven Temple. For those touring the area it's probably the most practical place to stop for lunch. We ate in another restaurant near there, and it wasn't very good. 我們在南化市區吃午餐 ， 天后宮對面有一家Seven。 來南化玩的遊客應該會來市區吃飯吧 ? 我們在附近的小吃攤吃飯 ， 這個地區的選擇不多 。
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