Pinglin Township is situated in rural southern Taipei County. Being relatively remote, the area was not developed until the late 18th century. Pinglin is a pocket of level ground set in mountain forests, whence its name, which means "forest on level ground."
台北縣坪林鄉，位於大台北東南端，因地處偏僻，直到清朝乾隆末年才開發，由於是遍地山林中的一方平地，故以「坪林」稱之。