In the early Chia-ch'ing period (A.D. 1796-1820) a group of Fukienese pioneers from Changchow and Chuan-chow, together with some Cantonese, settled on the fertile Ilan Plain under the leadership of Wu Sha. Due to its sparse population and relative isolation, excess rice production was taken to Wushih harbour at Toucheng for shipment to ports in mainland China.
清嘉慶初年（民國前一一五年），吳沙率漳、泉、粵人前來開墾，由於蘭陽平原物產豐富、人口稀少，吃不完的糧食都運到頭城烏石港，再轉運到大陸各岸口。