The name, which means "central port" in Chinese, aptly describes the reason for its early success. In early maps, Chungkang is the closest port on the west coast of Taiwan to Chuanchow in Fukien, and it stood halfway between the major ports now called Tamshui and Lukang. It drew both its name and settlers from the mainland from its geographical centrality.
攤開古地圖，中港是泉州與台灣西北海岸距離最近的港口，又居滬尾（今淡水）與鹿仔港（今鹿港）二大港口中心，因地理位置得名，也因地理優勢成為先民來台的登陸點之一。