1. Natural environment:
This district is located in the heartland of Tainan City at the south of the Zengwun River. Guantian District and Jiali District lies to the east and west respectively. To the south of Madou is Shanhua, Anding, and Sigang districts, while Siaying District and Syuejia District border the north. The entire district covers a total area of 53.9744 square kilometers and is divided into 29 villages and 392 neighborhoods. Madou District is very accessible, with Jhongshan Freeway connected to the Madou interchange passing through western side of the district and a 30-meter wide external circuit expressway to the north that is connected to Provincial Highway 1 as well as the north-south TRA railway line.
2. Population and industry:
Madou is flat with gentle topography and productive lands located in the heartland of Tainan City. The district has a population of 45,037 (data from April, 2015.) The residents in Madou District are affectionate folks whose ancestries hail from Jhangjhou and Cyuanjhou regions in Fujian Province.The region is largely engaged in traditional farming, aquaculture, and animal rearing. About 61% of the population is engaged in farming, aquaculture, and animal rearing. Leading crops include rice, sweet potatoes, and sugarcane. Top produce include Madou pomelos, white pomelos, avocados, and watermelon seeds. Most animal farmers tend to chickens, ducks, and pigs. A lot of them also keep aquaculture ponds for rearing freshwater fish. Madou is most famous for its Madou pomelos and watermelon seed processing facilities, both of which have earned considerable amount of wealth for the District.
There are 450 registered industries and companies in Madou. Most of these businesses are involved in textiles, steel, plastics, and food processing, adopting a ribbon development model along the roads. Industries and businesses occupy a total of 12.1 hectares in the district, including malls, convenience stores, eateries, shops selling household appliances, jewelry, and watches, Chinese and Western medicine dispensaries, and the entertainment centers. In order to support rural industrial development, the Madou Industrial Park, covering 216 hectares, has been planned. Development is still an ongoing process, with a total of 64.52 hectares of land developed to date. Since the region is highly accessible from the highway, industrial development is expected to benefit local prosperity significantly.
3. Traffic conditions:
Madou District lies in the center of Tainan City and is therefore extremely accessible. National Highway No. 1 passes through the west side of the district and connects to Madou interchange for northbound and southbound travelers. The east-west Expressway No. 84 from Beimen to Yujing passing through the northeastern part of this district has just recently opened up as well. Madou's traffic network to other areas also includes a 30-meter wide circuit-way connected to Provincial Highway 1 at the east. This road passes through north-south TRA railway line, and ends at the National Highway to the west.
City Expressway 171 starts from Guantian, passes through Madou and arrives at Syuejia. City Expressway 173 goes from Madou through Sigang to Cigu. City Expressway 176 starts from Longtian through Madou to Jiali. For district roads, South 24 starts from Dashanjiao and ends at Jiangjyun. South 49 expressway starts from Haipu and ends at Siecuoliao. South 57 goes from Madou to Datunliao. Provincial 19A and Mashan Bridge has been widened to become a 4-lane road connected to Shanhua and Shinshih Technology Park, serving as a major commuting channel linking the regions north and south of the Zengwun River.
4. Flowers in March and Pomelos in August
Madou is Taiwan's leading producer of Wundan Pomelos, which gives rise to its other name - Pomelo City. When the spring breezes arrive in spring, the pomelo trees will be in full blossom, laden with pristine white pomelo flowers, giving off a refreshing fragrance that permeates through the entire town. A se-ries of promotional events and activities are organised to welcome visitors of all ages to appreciate these pomelo blossoms and experience the alluring fragrance as people look forward to the bountiful harvest of pomelos during mid-autumn. The perfect time to harvest Wundan pomelos is around the 15th solar term of Bailu (white dew, approximately 7th-23rd of September). In Madou, almost every family grows pomelo trees. Pomelo farmers would construct a small warehouse for storing the pomelos, which they would sell directly to the customers. Consumers only need to check for the warehouse labels to verify that the pomelos have been grown in Madou instead of secondrate replacements from other districts. Before mid-autumn, many buyers will flock to Madou District. Traffic jams can extend up to 2 kilometers during public holidays.