shih (municipality) and seat of T'ai-chung hsien (county), west-central Taiwan, situated about 7 miles (11 km) north of T'ai-chung city, in the western uplands. The city was developed during the reign of Ch'ien-lung (the 4th emperor of the Manchu 【Ch'ing】 dynasty; reigned 1735–99) and was originally known as Hulutun. It grew as the marketing centre for rice, sugar, bananas, and tobacco produced in the nearby fertile plains of the Ta-chia River. Sawmilling and rice milling, pineapple and other food canning, hemp processing, and sack making are the major industries. Feng-yüan is noted for its high-grade rice and tobacco production. The city is an important junction on Taiwan's West Line railway and is also served by the north-south Chungshan freeway. P'i-lu Temple is about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Feng-yüan. Pop. (1989 est.) 148,439.