The population of the township consists mainly of the Hakkas with a minority of the indigenous Atayal people.

In 1850, Xinxing Village was again renamed to Xiancaiweng or Kiâm-chhài-àng (鹹菜甕), literally "pickle urn", for several reasons: First, the local Hakka population was skilled at making Chinese pickled vegetables, and second, the town was geographically located at the confluence of two rivers, making the terrain shaped like an urn.

After Japan's defeat in the Second World War in 1945, Kansai was sinicized Guanxi by the Republic of China government, which is the current name used today.

[1][2] It had an area of 125.5 square kilometres (48.5 sq mi) and an estimated population of 27,051 as of February 2023.

[3] Tungxing, Xian, Nanxiong, Beidou, Beishan, Renan, Nanshan, Tungan, Tungshan, Tungguang, Nanxin, Xinfu, Yushan, Jinshan, Jinshan, Datong, Shiguang, Tungping, Shanglin, Xinli and Nanhe Village.