It is Taipei's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as the Bangka Lungshan Temple , an iconic historic temple, and the Red House Theater , the first and largest teahouse and playhouse in Taiwan. Taipei's oldest garment district is also located in the district.
Wanhua was the first district in Taipei to undergo economic development; as such many of the buildings and cultural sites in the region are older than those in surrounding districts. The large number of temples in this area is attributed to its prosperous past originating from the Qing era.
The district can be divided into three sections: northern, central, and southern. Southern Wanhua is mainly a residential area with a wide city park, also known as the Youth Park. In recent years, the population in the district has been in decline. It also has a higher concentration of mainlanders. This is a grand religious fiesta and celebration that involves a procession within Wanhua District for three consecutive nights.
This is also attributed to the location of Wanhua, which is beside the Tamsui River and was once a prosperous trading port. In the late Qing era , Hobe modern-day Tamsui District was the treaty port of northern Taiwan, whereas the trade was conducted at Bangka. Therefore, in , the British Consulate succeeded in extending the limits of the port up the Tamsui River to include Banka, which was more than 10 miles 16 km from the port.
In , the two districts merged and formed Wanhua District. The market once served snake and turtle delicacies, but changed its focus to seafood upon protest from animal rights groups and environmental groups. The area is also the site of Taipei's former red-light district. Prostitution was outlawed in the s although prostitutes can still be readily found.
