Taipei City is the capital of the
Republic of China (ROC)The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(commonly known as Taiwan) and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of
TaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of
KeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
, its port on the Pacific Ocean. Another coastal city, Tamsui, is about 20 km northwest at the river's mouth on the
Taiwan StraitThe Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
. It lies in the two relatively narrow valleys of the
KeelungKeelung River is a river in northern Taiwan.The Keelung River originates in the mountains west-northwest of the town of Jingtong in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, flows down to a rift valley and then flows ENE to Sandiaoling...
(基隆河) and
XindianThe Xindian River is a river in northern Taiwan. It flows through New Taipei and the capital Taipei for 82 km. The Feitsui Dam spans the river southeast of Taipei.-Overview:...
(新店溪) rivers, which join to form the Tamsui River along the city's western border. The city proper (Taipei City) is home to an estimated 2,618,772 people. Taipei, New Taipei, and
KeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
together form the Taipei metropolitan area with a population of 6,900,273. However, they are administered under different local governing bodies. "Taipei" sometimes refers to the whole metropolitan area, while "Taipei City" refers to the city proper. Taipei City proper is surrounded on all sides by New Taipei.
Taipei is the political, economic, and cultural center of Taiwan. The
National Palace MuseumThe National Palace Museum is an art museum in Taipei. It is the national museum of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of over 677,687 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of...
which has one of the largest collections of Chinese artifacts and artworks in the world is located in Taipei. Considered to be a
global cityA global city is a city that is deemed to be an important node in the global economic system...
, Taipei is part of a major industrial area.
RailwaysTaiwan has an extensive network of railways . Though no longer as dominant as it once was, Taiwan's high population density continues to make rail transport an extremely important form of transportation, especially along the densely populated western corridor...
,
high speed railTaiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
,
highwaysHighways in the Republic of China are classified into four types:# National highways: 1 - 10 # Provincial highways: 1 - 39, 61 - 88 # County routes: 101 - 205# Township routes-The numbering system:...
, airports, and bus lines connect Taipei with all parts of the island. The city is served by two airports –
Taipei SongshanTaipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
and Taiwan Taoyuan.
Taipei was founded in the early 18th century and became an important center for overseas trade in the 19th century. The
Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
in China made Taipei the provincial capital of Taiwan in 1886. When the Japanese acquired Taiwan in 1895 after the
First Sino-Japanese WarThe First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, they retained Taipei as the capital of the island, and also advanced an extensive
urban planningUrban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
in Taipei. The Republic of China took over the island in 1945 following Japanese surrender. After losing
Mainland ChinaMainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
to the Chinese Communist Party in the
Chinese Civil WarThe Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, the ruling
KuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) resettled
the ROC governmentThe Republic of China was formally established by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1912 in Nanjing under the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China but this government was moved to Beijing in the same year and continued as the internationally recognized government of China until 1928. In the history...
to Taiwan and declared Taipei the provisional capital of the Republic of China in December 1949.
Romanization
The spelling "Taipei" derives from the
Wade-GilesWade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
romanization
T'ai-pei. Under the official New Phonetic System (also known as Hanyu Pinyin) romanization system, which is used to romanize all street signage in Taipei, and the formerly official
Tongyong PinyinTongyong Pinyin was the official Romanization of Mandarin Chinese in the Republic of China between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, when a new romanization system for the Republic of China was being evaluated for adoption. The ROC's Ministry of Education...
system, the city's name is romanized as
Táiběi. However, the familiarity of the longstanding "Taipei" spelling led government authorities to retain it as one of several exceptions to the general standard.
Culture
Memorial Halls and Museums
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument and tourist attractions that was erected in memory of Generalissimo
Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, former
President of the Republic of ChinaThe President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
. The structure stands at the east end of Memorial Hall Square, site of the National Concert Hall and National Theater and their adjacent parks as well as the memorial. The landmarks of Liberty Square stand within sight of Taiwan's Presidential Building in Taipei's Zhongzheng District.
The
National Sun Yat-sen Memorial HallThe National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is located in Taipei, Republic of China . It is a memorial to the Republic of China's National Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and was completed on 1972. The total building area covers in an open space of...
is a memorial to one of the most recognizable founding fathers of the
Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
,
Sun Yat-senSun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, and was completed on May 16, 1972. From the opening of the hall, majority of the exhibits displayed were revolutionary events of the national founding fathers at the end of the
Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. However, recently its function moved toward a multi-purpose
socialThe term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
, educational and cultural center for the Taiwanese public.
The
National Palace MuseumThe National Palace Museum is an art museum in Taipei. It is the national museum of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of over 677,687 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of...
is an
art galleryAn art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
and
museumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
built around a permanent collection centered on ancient Chinese artifacts. It should not be confused with the
Palace MuseumThe Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum...
in
BeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(which it is named after); both institutions trace their origins to the same institution. The collections were divided in the 1940s as a result of the
Chinese Civil WarThe Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. The National Palace Museum in Taipei now boasts a truly international collection while housing one of the world's largest collections of artifacts from ancient China.
The
Taipei Fine Arts MuseumThe Taipei Fine Arts Museum is a museum in Taipei, Taiwan. The museum first opened on December 24, 1983 at the former site of the United States Taiwan Defense Command . It was the first purpose built museum in Taiwan to host modern and contemporary art exhibitions...
was established in 1983. Located in a purpose-built building inspired by Japanese metabolism, is was the first museum in Taiwan dedicated to
modern artModern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
. The artworks in the museum are mostly done by
TaiwaneseTaiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
artists. There are more than 3,000 artworks in the museum. Most of them are done after 1940 by Taiwanese artist, and are organized into 13 groups. In 2001, the first museum dedicated to contemporary art opened as
MoCA TaipeiMoCA Taipei is a museum of contemporary art, located in Taipei, Taiwan.It was built during the period of Japanese rule in 1921 as Jan Cheng Elementary School, which now occupies a new structure on the back of the historical building.After WWII, it hosted the Taipei city government and became an...
or Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (台北當代藝術館), located in the old building of the Taipei City government.
The
National Taiwan MuseumNational Taiwan Museum , established in 1908, is the oldest museum in Taiwan. It was set up by the colonial government during Japanese rule in Taiwan. It is located in Taipei.- History :Established in 1908, the museum is the oldest in Taiwan...
is the oldest museum in
TaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It was established as the Taiwan Governor Museum by the colonial government of Japan on October 24, 1908 to commemorate the inauguration of the North-South Railway during the
Japanese rule in TaiwanBetween 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
. The museum had a collection of over 10,000 items in its initial stages. In 1915, the new building of the museum in Taipei 228 Peace Memorial Park (formerly known as New Park) was inaugurated and became one of the major public buildings during
Japanese ruleBetween 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
. Since 1999, it has been renamed to the "National Taiwan Museum".
Taipei 101
Taipei 101Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...
is a 101-floor
landmarkThis is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
skyscraperA skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
that claimed the title of world's tallest building when it opened in 2004. Taipei 101 is now the world's second tallest building. Designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and constructed by
KTRT Joint VentureKTRT Joint Venture, or abbreviated "KTRT JV" or shorter "KTRT", indicates the organization formed among KUMAGAI GUMI, TAIWAN KUMAGAI, RSEA, and TA-YO-WEI...
, Taipei 101 recently lost the title of the tallest completed skyscraper in the world, measuring 449 m (1,473.1 ft) from ground to roof. (The tallest skyscraper is now the Burj Khalifa in
DubaiDubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
,
UAEThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
). Built to withstand typhoon winds and earthquake tremors, the building incorporates many engineering innovations. Taipei 101 also set new records for ascending elevator speed which has also recently been surpassed by Burj Khalifa. The landmark has won numerous international awards for its innovations. A large mall is located at the base of the tower. Its indoor and outdoor observatories draw visitors from all over the world and its New Year's Eve fireworks display is a regular feature of international broadcasts.
Performing Arts
The
National Theater and Concert HallThe National Theater and National Concert Hall are twin performing arts venues in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. Completed in 1987, they are Taiwan's primary national performing arts venues. The landmarks stand, respectively, on the south and north sides of Liberty Square in front of the...
stand at Taipei's Liberty Square and host a events by foreign and domestic performers. Other leading concert venues include
Zhongshan HallZhongshan Hall is a historical building which originally functioned as the Taipei City Hall. It is located at 98 Yanping South Road in the Ximending neighborhood of the Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei City, Taiwan...
at
XimenXimen is a Chinese compound surname. Ximen literally means "west gate", the origination story says that there was a noble family in Zheng or Qi state live near the west gate, so the descents took Ximen as their family name...
and the
Sun Yat-sen Memorial HallThe National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is located in Taipei, Republic of China . It is a memorial to the Republic of China's National Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and was completed on 1972. The total building area covers in an open space of...
near
Taipei 101Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...
.
A new cultural landmark, the Taipei Performing Arts Center, is slated to open in 2013. The venue will stand near the
Shilin Night MarketThe Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, and is often considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city.-Overview:...
and will house three theaters for events with multi-week runs. The architectural design was determined in 2009 in an international competition. The same design process is also in place for a new
Taipei Center for Popular MusicThe Taipei Center for Popular Music is a performance venue being planned for construction in Taipei, Taiwan. City officials on July 24, 2008 announced plans to conduct an international design competition for the facility in tandem with plans for the Taipei Performing Arts Center....
and
Taipei City MuseumThe Taipei City Museum is a new exhibit hall being planned for construction in Taipei, Taiwan. City officials on July 24, 2008 announced plans to conduct an international design competition for the facility in tandem with plans for the Taipei Performing Arts Center....
.
Shopping and Recreation
Taipei is known for its many
night marketNight markets in Taiwan are street markets in Taiwan that operate in urban or suburban areas. They are similar to those in areas inhabited by ethnic Chinese, such as Southeast Asia...
s, the most famous of which is the
Shilin Night MarketThe Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, and is often considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city.-Overview:...
in the Shilin District. The surrounding streets by Shilin Night Market are extremely crowded during the evening, usually opening late afternoon and operating well past midnight. Most night markets feature individual stalls selling a mixture of food, clothing, and consumer goods.
XimendingXimending is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei, Taiwan. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan.-Overview:...
has been a famous area for shopping and entertainment since the 1930s. Historic structures include a concert hall, a historic cinema, and the
Red House TheaterThe Red House Theater , often called the Red Theater or Red Play House in English, is a historic theater in the Ximending area of Taipei, Taiwan. Built in 1908 during Japanese rule and designed by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, it was originally a market building but was used as a theater from...
. Modern structures house karaoke businesses, art film cinemas, wide-release movie cinemas, electronic stores, and a wide variety of restaurants and fashion clothing stores. The pedestrian area is especially popular with teens and has been called the "
HarajukuHarajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
" of Taipei.
The newly developed Xinyi District is popular with tourists and locals alike for its many entertainment and shopping venues, as well as being the home of
Taipei 101Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...
, a prime tourist attraction famous for being one of the world's tallest buildings. Malls in the area include the sprawling
Shin Kong Mitsukoshiis an international department store chain with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Mitsukoshi Ltd. has amalgamated with Isetan Co.,Ltd ,and changed company name to Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd.- History :...
complex, Taipei 101 mall,
Eslite BookstoreEslite Bookstore is one of the largest retail bookstore chains in Taiwan. It also provides one of the largest English language publications and translation materials in Taiwan. Its headquarters are in Xinyi District, Taipei.-Brief history:...
's flagship store (which includes a boutique mall), The Living Mall, New York New York shopping mall, and the Vieshow Cinemas (formerly known as Warner Village).
The thriving shopping area around
Taipei Main StationTaipei Station, also called Taipei Railway Station or Taipei Main Station , refers to the old downtown region in Taipei City, Taiwan, where different modes of public transport systems converge; the station is at the center of this region...
includes the
Taipei Underground MarketTaipei City Mall , located in at the intersection of the Daan and Zhongzheng Districts in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the first and one of the most popular underground markets in Taipei City. It is located under Civic Boulevard , Section 1.-Structure:...
and the original Shin Kong
Mitsukoshiis an international department store chain with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Mitsukoshi Ltd. has amalgamated with Isetan Co.,Ltd ,and changed company name to Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd.- History :...
department store at
Shin Kong Life TowerShin Kong Life Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Taiwan at 51 stories . The rose-coloured skyscraper topped by a pyramid stands in Zhongzheng District, Taipei. Its first twelve floors and two underground floors house a Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store; the remaining floors provide...
. Other popular shopping destinations include the
Zhongshan Metro MallThe Zhongshan Metro Shopping Mall is an extensive underground shopping mall in Zhongshan District and Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is located at Changan West Rd., No. 52-1. The mall stretches from Taipei Main Station in the south to Shuanglian Station in the north.-Overview:The entire mall...
,
Dihua StreetDihua Street is a street located in the Datong District of Taipei winding from the south of the district to close to the north in the old village of Dalongdong . The street, then known as Centre Street , was constructed during the 1850s, when many commercial entities belonging to...
, the
Guang Hua Digital PlazaThe Guang Hua Digital Plaza is a six-story, indoor technological and electronics market located in Taipei, Taiwan. It is located at the intersection of the Zhongzheng and Daan Districts.- History :...
, and the
Core Pacific CityCore Pacific City, also known as the Living Mall is a shopping center in Taipei, Taiwan, and has a total floor space of 204,190 square meters. Built in 2001, the structure is a complex of two buildings - an L-shaped building which contains specialty boutiques connected to a sphere which contains...
. The
Miramar Entertainment ParkThe Miramar Entertainment Park is a shopping mall in the Dazhi area in Zhongshan District of Taipei, Taiwan.The department store also contains an IMAX theatre. With dimensions 28m × 21m, its movie screen is the largest in Asia for showing commercial films...
is known for its large ferris wheel and
IMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater.
Taipei maintains an extensive system of parks, green spaces, and nature preserves. Parks and forestry areas of note in and around the city include Yangmingshan National Park,
Taipei ZooThe Taipei Zoo , sometimes referred to as the "Muzha Zoo" , is a public zoological garden in Taipei City in Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation...
and Da-an Forest Park.
Yangmingshan National ParkOne of the eight national parks in Taiwan, the Yangmingshan National Park is located between Taipei City and New Taipei City, Taiwan. The districts that house parts of the park grounds include Taipei's Beitou and Shilin Districts; and New Taipei's Wanli, Jinshan, and Sanzhi Districts. During the...
(located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the central city) is famous for its cherry blossoms,
hot springsHot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
, and sulfur deposits. It is the home of famous writer
Lin YutangLin Yutang was a Chinese writer and inventor. His informal but polished style in both Chinese and English made him one of the most influential writers of his generation, and his compilations and translations of classic Chinese texts into English were bestsellers in the West.-Youth:Lin was born in...
, the summer residence of
Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, residences of foreign diplomats, the
Chinese Culture UniversityChinese Culture University is a private, Taiwanese university located on Yang Ming Mountain in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan. CCU was established in 1962 and is one of the largest universities in Taiwan with an enrollment of about 32,000 students...
, the meeting place of the now defunct
National Assembly of the Republic of ChinaThe National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
, and the
KuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
Party Archives. The
Taipei ZooThe Taipei Zoo , sometimes referred to as the "Muzha Zoo" , is a public zoological garden in Taipei City in Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation...
was founded in 1914 and covers an area of 165 hectares for animal sanctuary.
BitanBitan , historically called "Shi-Bitan", is a tourist spot in Xindian District, New Taipei City, Republic of China . Bitan literally means Green Lake, referring to where the Xindian River widens to form the lake. There is a well-known suspension bridge that is used only for people on foot. The...
is known for boating and water sports. Tamsui is a popular sea-side resort town. Ocean beaches are accessible in several directions from Taipei.
Temples
Taipei is rich in beautiful, ornate temples housing
BuddhistBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
,
TaoistTaoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, and
Chinese folk religionChinese folk religion or Shenism , which is a term of considerable debate, are labels used to describe the collection of ethnic religious traditions which have been a main belief system in China and among Han Chinese ethnic groups for most of the civilization's history until today...
deities. The Longshan Temple, built in 1738 and located in the Wanhua District, demonstrates an example of architecture with southern
Chinese influencesChinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in East Asia over many centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details...
commonly seen on older buildings in Taiwan.
Xinsheng South RoadXinsheng Road is a major arterial in Taipei, Taiwan, connecting the Da'an District in the south with the Zhongshan and the Shilin districts in the north...
is known as the "Road to Heaven" due to its high concentration of temples, shrines, churches, and mosques. Other famous temples include
Baoan TempleDalongdong Baoan Temple also known as the Taipei Baoan Temple is a Taiwanese folk religion temple built in the Datong district of Taipei, Taiwan. The present temple was originally built by clan members in the Tong'an District who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century and gave the...
located in historic
DalongdongDalongdong , or pourompon is an old village in historical Taipei located nears the narrows of the intersection between the Keelung and Tamsui Rivers...
, a national historical site, and Xiahai City God Temple, located in the old Dadaocheng community, constructed with architecture similar to temples in southern
Fujian' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
. The
Taipei Confucius TempleThe Taipei Confucius Temple is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province of China. It is located on Dalong Street, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan. Among the Confucius temples in Taiwan, Taipei's is the only one adorned with southern Fujian-style ceramic...
traces its history back to 1879 during the
Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and also incorporates southern Fujian-style architecture.
Besides large temples, small outdoor shrines to local deities are very common and can be spotted on road sides, parks, and neighborhoods. Many homes and businesses may also set up small shrines of candles, figurines, and offerings. Some restaurants, for example, may set up a small shrine to the Kitchen god for success in a restaurant business.
Festivals and Events
Many yearly festivals are held in Taipei, including the Taipei
Lantern FestivalThe Lantern Festival ; is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the Chinese calendar, the last day...
when thousands of sky lanterns are released in
PingxiPingxi District , is a rural district in the eastern part of New Taipei City in northern Taiwan . The source of the Keelung River is in Jingtong, which is inside Pingxi District...
. Common locations for festival celebrations include
Memorial SquareThe National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument, landmark and tourist attractions erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China ....
,
Taipei 101Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...
, and the
Zhongshan HallZhongshan Hall is a historical building which originally functioned as the Taipei City Hall. It is located at 98 Yanping South Road in the Ximending neighborhood of the Zhongzheng District in downtown Taipei City, Taiwan...
in
XimendingXimending is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei, Taiwan. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan.-Overview:...
. On
Double Ten DayDouble Ten Day is the national day of the Republic of China and celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912...
, celebrations are held in front of the Presidential Building.
Other annual festivals include
Tomb-Sweeping DayThe Qingming Festival , Pure Brightness Festival or Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice , usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar...
, the Dragon Boat Festival, the
Ghost FestivalThe Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday celebrated by Chinese in many countries...
, and the
Mid-Autumn FestivalThe Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
. In recent years some festivals traditionally held in Taipei, such as the Double Ten Day fireworks and concerts, have increasingly been hosted by other cities in Taiwan.
One other huge celebration in Taipei is the one on New Year Eve. Every year, thousands of people will gather in front of the Taipei City Hall to celebrate the beginning of a new year. Every time, there will be many famous singers who perform on the stage that is set up for the New Year Celebration. The performance usually starts out around eight o’clock and continues until midnight. Artists and dancers will perform throughout the night and it is just like a concert. Then, thirty minutes before midnight, the Taipei governor and some Taipei politicians will come up the stage and count down with the people. Then, when the clock reaches midnight, there will be firework at
Taipei 101Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...
and every year since, the firework has last longer than the year before.
From November 6, 2010 to April 25, 2011, Taipei held the
garden festivalA garden / flora festival or exposition is a festival and exposition held to celebrate the arts of gardening, garden design, landscaping and landscape architecture. There are local garden festivals, regional garden festivals, National Garden Festivals and International Garden Festivals. The idea...
named
Taipei International Flora ExpositionThe 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition opened on November 6, 2010 and ran until April 25, 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. It is a garden festival recognized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers and is categorized as an A2B1 horticulture exposition...
. It will be the first such internationally recognized exposition to take place in Taiwan, and the seventh of its kind to take place in
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Flora Exposition visitors hit new 1-day high admissions on February 27, 2011 with 110,000 people showing.
Taipei in film
- Ang Lee
Ang Lee is a Taiwanese film director. Lee has directed a diverse set of films such as Eat Drink Man Woman , Sense and Sensibility , Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , Hulk , and Brokeback Mountain , for which he won an Academy...
's Eat Drink Man WomanEat Drink Man Woman is a Taiwanese film directed by Ang Lee and starring Sihung Lung, Yu-wen Wang, Chien-lien Wu, Kuei-mei Yang. Many of the cast had starred in Ang Lee's previous film, The Wedding Banquet with Sihung Lung and Ah Lei Gua once more playing central elderly figures, and Winston Chao...
(drama)
- Edward Yang
Edward Yang , along with Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Tsai Ming Liang, was one of the leading filmmakers of the Taiwanese New Wave and Taiwanese Cinema. He won the Best Director Award at Cannes for his 2000 film Yi Yi .-Biography:...
's Yi Yi: A One and a TwoYi Yi: A One and a Two is a Taiwanese film written and directed by Edward Yang, about the emotional struggles of a businessman and the lives of his middle-class Taiwanese family in Taipei seen through three generations...
(drama)
- Edward Yang's Mahjong
Mahjong is a 1996 Taiwanese Comedy film written and directed by Edward Yang. The film stars Chang Chen, Nick Erickson and Virginie Ledoyen.-Cast and roles:*Tang Congsheng as Red Fish*Chang Chen as Hong Kong*Lawrence Ko as Lun-lun...
(drama/comedy)
- Edward Yang's A Confucian Confusion
A Confucian Confusion is a 1994 Taiwanese comedy film directed by Edward Yang. It was entered into the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Shiang-chyi Chen - Qiqi* Yiwen Chen - Liren* Danny Deng - Larry* Hung Hung - Molly's brother-in-law...
(drama/comedy)
- Edward Yang's A Brighter Summer Day
A Brighter Summer Day is a nearly four-hour long, 1991 Taiwanese drama film directed by Taiwanese director Edward Yang...
(drama)
- Edward Yang's The Terrorizers
-Cast:*Cora Miao as Zhou Yufeng*Lichun Lee as Li Lizhong*Shi-Jye Jin as Xiao Shen*Bao-Ming Gu as Old Gu -Critical reception:The Terrorizers is a part of the New Taiwan Cinema...
(drama)
- Edward Yang's Taipei Story
Taipei Story is a 1985 film by Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang.The film stars Yang's fellow filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien, and singer Tsai Chin, who Yang subsequently married.It is one of the earliest films of the New Taiwan Cinema.-Synopsis:...
(drama)
- Tsai Ming-liang
Tsai Ming-liang is one of the most celebrated "Second New Wave" film directors of Taiwanese Cinema, along with earlier contemporaries such as Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang...
's Rebels of the Neon GodRebels of the Neon God is a 1992 Taiwanese film by Tsai Ming-liang. It is his first full-length film. It tells two stories of Taipei youth. One details alienated buxiban student Hsiao Kang and his troubled interactions with his family...
(drama)
- Tsai Ming-liang's Vive L'Amour
Vive L'Amour is a 1994 Taiwanese New Wave film by Tsai Ming-liang. It is a slow-paced film with sparse dialogue about urban alienation, centering on three people who unknowingly share an apartment in Taipei.-Plot:...
(drama)
- Tsai Ming-liang's The River
The River is a 1997 Taiwanese film directed by Tsai Ming-liang and starring Lee Kang-sheng, Miao Tien, and Lu Yi-ching. The plot centers on a family who has to deal with the son's neck pain...
(drama)
- Tsai Ming-liang's What Time Is It There?
What Time Is It There? is a 2001 film directed by Tsai Ming-liang. It stars Lee Kang-sheng, Chen Shiang-chyi, and Lu Yi-Ching.-Plot:The film tells two parallel stories, one about the life of a street vendor following the death of his father; the other about a woman he meets briefly as she heads...
(drama)
- Tsai Ming-liang's Goodbye, Dragon Inn
Goodbye, Dragon Inn is a 2003 Taiwanese film directed by Tsai Ming-liang about the last feature at a historic Taipei cinema.-Plot:...
(drama)
- Tsai Ming-liang's Face
Face is a 2009 French film directed by Tsai Ming-liang. It was nominated for the Golden Palm at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Fanny Ardant as La productrice et la reine Hérodias* Laetitia Casta as La star et Salomé...
(drama) |
Hou Hsiao-hsien Hou Hsiao-Hsien is an award-winning film director and a leading figure of Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement.-Biography:...
's Dust in the WindDust in the Wind ) is a 1986 critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful movie by Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien.This film is based on co-screenwriter Wu Nien-jen's own experiences, and the final part of Hou's coming-of-age trilogy, the others being A Summer at Grandpa's and The Time...
(drama)
Hou Hsiao-hsien's Daughter of the NileDaughter of the Nile is a 1987 Feature film by Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien.-Background:...
(drama)
Hou Hsiao-hsien's Goodbye South, Goodbye-Plot:Gao is riding the train to Pinghsi to set up a 10 day gambling den with his friend Hsi . He taking his acolyte - Flatty , and Pletzel , Flatty's girl friend, who works part time in a night club....
(drama)
Hou Hsiao-hsien's Millennium MamboMillennium Mambo directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien, is a 2001 film.-Synopsis:The main character, Vicky, portrayed by actress Shu Qi narrates from 2011 about her life 10 years earlier. She describes her youth and story of her changing life at the beginning of the new Millennium. She...
(drama)
Hou Hsiao-hsien's Three TimesThree Times is a 2005 Taiwanese film directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. It features three chronologically separate stories of love between May and Chen, set in 1911, 1966 and 2005, using the same lead actors, Shu Qi and Chang Chen.The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes Film...
(drama)
Leon Dai's No Puedo Vivir Sin TiNo Puedo Vivir Sin Ti is a 2009 Taiwanese film directed by Leon Dai, a professional Taiwanese actor. It was his second film as a director. This film was also selected as the official entry for 82nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film...
(drama)
Chung Mong-hong's Parking-Synopsis:On Mother’s Day in Taipei, Chen-Mo makes a dinner date with his wife , hoping to improve their estranged relationship. While buying a cake on his way home, a car double-parks next to his, preventing his exit...
(drama)
Chen Yin-jung's Formula 17Formula 17 is a 2004 film which was directed by Chen Yin-jung . It stars Tony Yang , Duncan , King Chin , Dada Ji , Jimmy Yang , and Jason Chang . It is a gay romantic comedy film about Chou T'ien-Tsai, a romantic Taiwanese male who takes a trip to visit an online boyfriend in person for the first...
(gay/comedy)
Zero Chou-Life:Chou was born in Keelung, Taiwan in 1969. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy from National Chengchi University in 1992. She worked as a journalist before becoming an indie film director....
's Spider LiliesSpider Lilies is a 2007 Taiwanese lesbian drama film. It is the second feature-length film by director Zero Chou, and stars Rainie Yang and Isabella Leong in the lead roles. Spider Lilies was screened at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Teddy Award for best feature film...
(lesbian/drama)
Chen Hung-I's Candy RainCandy Rain , also known as Huā Chīle Nā Nǚhái , is a 2008 Taiwanese film directed by Chen Hung-I .- Plot :Candy Rain is a romantic drama which combines four intimate, lyrical tales exploring the range of women loving women in contemporary Taiwan...
(lesbian/drama)
Arvin ChenArvin Chen is a Taiwanese American film writer and director best known for his film, Au Revoir Taipei, a Mandarin romantic comedy film set in Taipei.-Early life:...
's Au Revoir TaipeiAu Revoir Taipei is a 2010 Taiwanese romantic comedy film set in Taipei. Au Revoir Taipei is called "One Page Taipei" in Chinese which means one night or one page in Taipei. Au Revoir Taipei is Arvin Chen's feature directorial debut...
(comedy)
Chen Yu-hsun's Tropical FishTropical Fish is a 1995 Taiwanese comedy-drama film written and directed by Chen Yu-hsun . It is an example of New Taiwanese Cinema.-Plot:...
(drama/comedy)
Te-sheng Wei's Cape No. 7Cape No. 7 ) is a 2008 Taiwanese romance comedic music-drama film written and directed by Wei Te-Sheng, his first full-length motion picture. The film is in Taiwanese and Mandarin Chinese with significant lines in Japanese. Before its commercial release, the film was world premiered on June 20,...
(drama/comedy) |
|
Doze Niu "Doze" Niu Chen-Zer is a Taiwanese actor, film director, show host, screenwriter and producer. As a film director, he is best known for the Taiwanese film Monga.-Life and career:...
's MongaMonga is a 2010 Taiwanese gangster film set in 1980s Taipei. The film stars Ethan Ruan from TV series Fated To Love You and Mark Chao, also features Ma Ju-Lung from Cape No.7 and Rhydian Vaughan from Winds of September...
(drama/action)
Hsiao Ya-chuan's Taipei ExchangesTaipei Exchanges is a 2010 Taiwanese comedy film directed by Hsiao Ya-chuan and starring Kwai Lun-mei.-Cast:* Kwai Lun-mei as Doris* Zaizai Lin as Joise* Chang Han as Chun-Ching* Kousuke Atari as Japanese Singer...
(drama/comedy)
Lin Cheng-shengLin Cheng-sheng is a Taiwanese film director.- Director :*A Drifting Life *Murmur of Youth *Sweet Degeneration *March of Happiness *Betelnut Beauty *Robinson's Crusoe...
's Betelnut beauty-Cast:* Chang Chen as Feng* Angelica Lee as Fei-fei* Leon Dai as Tiger* Kao Ming-chun as Guang* Tsai Chen-nan as Ming-Awards:The film premiered in competition at the 51st Berlin International Film Festival. Lin won the Silver Bear for Best Director...
(drama/romance)
Chen Kuo-Fu's The PersonalsThe Personals is a 1998 Taiwanese drama film directed by Chen Kuo-Fu. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Rene Liu - Dr. Du Jia-zhen* Wu Bai* Chao-jung Chen* Bao-ming Gu* Chin Shih-chieh...
(drama/romance)
Fen-fen Cheng's Hear Me (drama/romance)
Huo JianqiHuo Jianqi is a Chinese film director. Like the cinematographer turned director Gu Changwei, Huo Jianqi began his cinematic career in the art department...
's Snowfall in Taipei (drama/romance)
Hsiao-tse Cheng's Miao Miao (romance/comedy)
Sylvia ChangSylvia Chang is a Taiwanese actress, writer, singer, producer and director. In 1992, she was a member of the jury at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.- Actress :...
's 20 30 4020 30 40 is a 2004 Taiwanese film directed by Sylvia Chang. It was Taiwan's submission to the 77th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.-Cast:* Sylvia Chang as Lily...
(romance/comedy)
Hsiao-ming Hsu's Love of MayLove of May is a 2004 Taiwanese film directed by Hsu Hsiao-ming and starring Bolin Chen and Liu Yifei.-Cast:* Bolin Chen as Ah Lei* Liu Yifei as Zhao Xuan* Tien Feng as Zhao Geng-sheng* Mayday...
(romance)
Yee Chin-yen-Biography:Yee Chih-yen attended UCLA between 1983 and 1988.-Filmography:* Dangerous Mind * About Love * Blue Gate Crossing * Lonely Hearts Club -Awards:...
's Blue Gate CrossingBlue Gate Crossing is a 2002 Taiwanese film by writer-director Yee Chin-yen. It was nominated for Best Asian Film at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards held in 2004.-Cast:* Bolin Chen as Zhāng Shì Háo * Kwai Lun-mei as Mèng kè róu...
(romance)
Jay ChouJay Chou is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director who has won the World Music Award four times. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for...
's SecretSecret , is a 2007 Taiwanese romance film. It is the directorial debut feature film of Taiwanese musician Jay Chou, who also stars as the male lead and co-wrote the movie.The Secret Original Soundtrack was released by JVR Music on 13 August 2007....
(romance)
Chen Kuo-Fu's Double Vision (horror/suspense)
Chao-Bin Su's SilkSilk is a 2006 Taiwanese horror film directed by Su Chao-Bin. It was screened out of competition at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
(horror/suspense)
Jia ZhangkeJia Zhangke is a Chinese film director. He is generally regarded as a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, a group that also includes such figures as Wang Xiaoshuai and Zhang Yuan....
's I Wish I Knew (Documentary) |
Wong Kar-waiWong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
's Happy Together (Hong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
studio, filmed in three cities : Buenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Hong Kong, and Taipei)
John WooJohn Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
's A Better TomorrowA Better Tomorrow is a 1986 Hong Kong action film which had a profound influence on the Hong Kong film-making industry, and later on an international scale.Directed by John Woo, it stars Chow Yun-fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung...
(Hong Kong studio, filmed in Hong Kong and Taipei) (action)
Kirk WongKirk Wong Chi Keung is a Hong Kong based film director and actor. He is probably most famous for directing the John Woo produced action comedy The Big Hit.-Filmography as director:...
's Crime Story (Hong Kong studio, filmed in Hong Kong, Taipei) (action)
David Lam's Asian Connection (Hong Kong studio, filmed in Hong Kong, Taipei) (action)
Andrew LauAndrew Lau Wai-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film...
's Young and Dangerous 2Young and Dangerous 2 is a 1996 Hong Kong triad film directed by Andrew Lau. It is the first sequel in the Young and Dangerous film series.-Plot:...
(Hong Kong studio, filmed on location in Taipei)
Turn Left, Turn RightTurn Left, Turn Right is a 2003 joint Hong Kong-Singaporean romance film, filmed in Taipei. Produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, the film stars Takeshi Kaneshiro and Gigi Leung. The story is based on the book A Chance of Sunshine by Jimmy Liao, who makes a cameo appearance in the film...
(Hong Kong studio, filmed on location in Taipei)
One Missed Call 2 (Japanese studio, filmed in Taipei and JinguashiJinguashi is a town in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, notable for its historic gold and copper mines. It is also known as Kinkaseki in Japanese. From 1942-1945 it was used by the Japanese as a prisoner-of-war camp....
)
About LoveAbout Love is a 2005 film.Three stories are told, respectively set in Tokyo, Taipei, and Shanghai. The first two stories are about a Japanese person and a Taiwanese person. The last one is set in Shanghai with a story about a Japanese man and a Chinese woman. Some of the characters can speak...
(Japanese studio, filmed on three cities in Asia: Taipei, Tokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and ShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
)
Mamoru OshiiMamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor 2...
's StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (science fiction/drama)
Takashi Miikeis a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over seventy theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. In the years 2001 and 2002 alone, Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions...
's Rainy DogRainy Dog is a Japanese movie directed by Takashi Miike. Although the movie contains a fair amount of controversial material, the overall theme of the movie is place on the unlikely relationships formed between a hitman and his girlfriend / hooker and son.This movie is the second part of the Black...
(Japanese studio, filmed on location in Taipei) (drama)
Takahisa Zezeis a Japanese film director and screenwriter best known for his soft-core pornographic pink films of the 1990s. Along with fellow directors, Kazuhiro Sano, Toshiki Satō, and Hisayasu Sato, he is known as one of the .-Life and career:...
's Moon Child (Japanese studio, filmed in Taipei, as the futuristic city of Mallepa) (drama)
Robert WiseRobert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
's The Sand PebblesThe Sand Pebbles is a 1966 American period war film directed by Robert Wise. It tells the story of an independent, rebellious U.S. Navy Machinist's Mate aboard the fictional gunboat USS San Pablo in 1920s China....
(Hollywood studio, filmed in Taipei, KeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
, Tamsui and Hong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) (drama)
Håkon Liu's Miss Kicki-Plot:Kicki has, after several years abroad, returned to Sweden. Her 17-year old son - Viktor has been brought up by his grandmother and has a very distant relationship to his mother. In an effort to get reacquainted Kicki invites her son to join her on vacation in Taiwan...
(SwedishSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
studio, filmed in Taipei, Sun Moon LakeSun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan as well as a tourist attraction. Situated in Yuchi, Nantou, the area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu...
) (drama)
Monika TreutMonika Treut is an openly lesbian German filmmaker.In the mid-1970s she began working with video. She founded Hyena Filmproduktion together with Elfi Mikesch in 1984, and began producing, writing, and directing independent feature films....
's Ghosted (GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
studio, filmed in Hamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Taipei) (drama) |
Geography
Taipei City is located in the
Taipei BasinTaipei Basin is a geographic region in northern Taiwan. It is the second largest basin in Taiwan. The basin is bounded by Yangmingshan to the north, Linkou mesa to the west, and the Ridge of Xueshan Range to the southeast. The shape of the basin is close to a triangle...
in northern
TaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It is bordered by the
Xindian RiverThe Xindian River is a river in northern Taiwan. It flows through New Taipei and the capital Taipei for 82 km. The Feitsui Dam spans the river southeast of Taipei.-Overview:...
on the south and the Tamsui River on the west. The generally low-lying terrain of the central areas on the western side of the municipality slopes upward to the south and east and especially to the north, where it reaches 1120 metres (3,675 ft) at
Cising MountainQixing Mountain or Cising Mountain is located on the Datun Volcano Group and is the highest mountain at the rim of Taipei City and Taipei Basin. It is also the highest volcano in Taiwan. It located in the center of Yangmingshan National Park and its main peak is above sea level.It began erupting...
(七星山), the highest (extinct)
volcano2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
in Taiwan in Yangmingshan National Park. The northern districts of Shilin and Beitou extend north of the
Keelung RiverKeelung River is a river in northern Taiwan.The Keelung River originates in the mountains west-northwest of the town of Jingtong in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, flows down to a rift valley and then flows ENE to Sandiaoling...
and are bordered by Yangmingshan National Park. The Taipei city limits cover an area ranked sixteenth of twenty-five among
all counties and cities in Taiwan.
Two peaks,
Cising MountainQixing Mountain or Cising Mountain is located on the Datun Volcano Group and is the highest mountain at the rim of Taipei City and Taipei Basin. It is also the highest volcano in Taiwan. It located in the center of Yangmingshan National Park and its main peak is above sea level.It began erupting...
and Mt. Datun, rise to the northeast of the city. Cising Mountain is located on the
Tatun Volcano Groupthumb|265px|[[Cising Mountain|Chihsingshan]] , the highest peak of these volcanoes, has a height of 1120 m.Tatun Volcanoes , a volcanic group of volcanoes located at northern Taiwan, is located 15 km north of Taipei, and lies to the west of Keelung. It just adjoins the northern coast of the...
and the tallest mountain at the rim of the Taipei Basin, with its main peak at 1120 metres (3,674.5 ft). Mt. Datun's main peak is 1092 metres (3,582.7 ft). These former volcanoes make up the western section of Yangmingshan National Park, extending from Mt. Datun northward to Mt. Caigongkeng (菜公坑山). Located on a broad saddle between two mountains, the area also contains the marshy Datun Pond.
To the southeast of the city lie the Songshan Hills and the Qingshui Ravine, which form a barrier of lush woods.
Climate
Taipei has a
monsoonMonsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
-influenced
humid subtropical climateA humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(
KöppenThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa) which is slightly short of a true
tropical climateA tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
. Summers are very hot, humid, and accompanied by occasional heavy rainstorms and typhoons, while winters are short, mild and generally very
fogFog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
gy due to the northeasterly winds from the vast
Siberian HighThe Siberian High is a massive collection of cold or very cold dry air that accumulates on the Eurasian terrain for much of the year. It reaches its greatest size and strength in the winter, when the air temperature near the center of the high-pressure cell or anticyclone is often lower than...
being intensified by the pooling of this cooler air in the Taipei Basin. Due to Taiwan's location in the Pacific Ocean, it is affected by the
Pacific typhoonA typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. This region is referred to as the northwest Pacific basin. For organizational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern , central , and...
season, which occurs between June and October.
Air quality
Motor vehicle engine exhaust, particularly from motor scooters, is a source of
air pollutionAir pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
in Taipei. The levels of fine particulate matter, including PAHs, are consistently more serious in the mornings as there is less air movement; sunlight helps clear up some pollutants, which tend to be trapped close to the ground. When compared to other
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n cities, however, Taipei has "excellent" capabilities for managing air quality in the city. Occasionally,
dust stormA dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
s from
Mainland ChinaMainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
can temporarily bring poor air quality to the city.
Administrative divisions
Taipei City is divided up into 12 administrative districts (區
qu). Each district is further divided up into villages (里), which are further sub-divided up into neighborhoods (鄰).
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Hanyu Pinyin |
漢字 |
Wade-Giles Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
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as of 2009 |
km² |
|
| ■ Běitóu |
北投區 |
Pei-t'ou |
249,319 |
56.8216 |
112 |
| ■ Shìlín |
士林區 |
Shih-lin |
285,459 |
62.3682 |
111 |
| ■ Dàtóng |
大同區 |
Ta-t'ung |
124,466 |
5.6815 |
103 |
| ■ Zhōngshān |
中山區 |
Chung-shan |
218,551 |
13.6821 |
104 |
| ■ Sōngshān |
松山區 |
Sung-shan |
209,903 |
9.2878 |
105 |
| ■ Nèihú |
內湖區 |
Nei-hu |
267,120 |
31.5787 |
114 |
| ■ Wànhuá |
萬華區 |
Wan-hua |
190,050 |
8.8522 |
108 |
| ■ Zhōngzhèng |
中正區 |
Chung-cheng |
159,464 |
7.6071 |
100 |
| ■ Dà'ān |
大安區 |
Ta-an |
313,371 |
11.3614 |
106 |
| ■ Xìnyì |
信義區 |
Hsin-yi |
227,232 |
11.2077 |
110 |
| ■ Nángǎng |
南港區 |
Nan-kang |
113,462 |
21.8424 |
115 |
■ WénshānWenshan District is the southernmost of the twelve districts of Taipei City. The district was formed in 1990 by combining Jingmei and Muzha. Wenshan previously referred to the region south of Taipei Basin .- Culture :...
|
文山區 |
Wen-shan |
261,523 |
31.5090 |
116 |
City planning
The city is characterized by straight roads and public buildings of grand Western architectural styles. The city is built on a square grid configuration, however these blocks are huge by international standards (500 m (1,640.42 ft) sides). However there is little uniformed planning within these blocks; therefore lanes (perpendicular to streets) and alleys (parallel with street, or conceptually, perpendicular to the lane) spill out from the main throughways. These minor roads are not always perpendicular and sometimes cut through the block diagonally.
Although development began in the western districts of the city from trade, the eastern districts of the city have become the downtown. Many of the western districts, already in decline, have become targets of new
urban renewalUrban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
projects.
History
First Settlements
The region known as the
Taipei BasinTaipei Basin is a geographic region in northern Taiwan. It is the second largest basin in Taiwan. The basin is bounded by Yangmingshan to the north, Linkou mesa to the west, and the Ridge of Xueshan Range to the southeast. The shape of the basin is close to a triangle...
was home to Ketagalan tribes before the eighteenth century.
Han ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
mainly from
Fujian' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province of ChinaA province, in the context of Chinese government, is a translation of sheng formally provincial level divisions, which is an administrative division. Provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and the special administrative regions, make up the four types of province of administrative division...
began to settle in the Taipei Basin in 1709. In the late 19th century, the Taipei area, where the major Han Chinese settlements in northern Taiwan and one of the designated overseas trade ports, Tamsui, were located, gained economic importance due to the booming overseas trade, especially that of
teaTea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
exportation. In 1875, the northern part of Taiwan was separated from Taiwan Prefecture and incorporated into the new Taipei Prefecture as a new administrative entity of the Chinese government (
Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
). Having been established adjoining the flourishing townships of Bangkah,
DalongdongDalongdong , or pourompon is an old village in historical Taipei located nears the narrows of the intersection between the Keelung and Tamsui Rivers...
, and
TwatutiaDadaocheng , spelled Twatutia before Japanese rule, is an area in the Datong District, part of the Taipei Basin and a historic section of Taipei City. It was known as Daitotei by the Japanese and Tataocheng during the Kuomintang era...
, the new prefectural capital was known as Chengnei , "the inner city", and government buildings were erected there. From 1875 (during the Qing Dynasty) until the beginning of Japanese rule in 1895, Taipei was part of Tamsui County of the Taipei Prefecture and the prefectural capital. In 1886, when Taiwan was proclaimed a
province of ChinaA province, in the context of Chinese government, is a translation of sheng formally provincial level divisions, which is an administrative division. Provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and the special administrative regions, make up the four types of province of administrative division...
, Taipei city was made the provincial capital. Taipei remained a temporary provincial capital before it officially became the capital of Taiwan in 1894. All that remains from the old Qing Dynasty city is the north gate. The west gate and
city wallsThe Taipei City Walls were established in 1884. In 1875 the Qing Dynasty established the Taihoku Prefecture. Shortly thereafter, the Taihoku Prefect Chen Xing-ju ordered the foundation of a new prefectural capital, with enclosing wall in 1879. However the soil proved too soft to support so heavy...
were demolished by the Japanese while the south gate, little south gate, and east gate were extensively modified by the
KuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) and have lost much of their original character.
Japanese Rule
As settlement for losing the
First Sino-Japanese WarThe First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, China ceded the island of Taiwan to the
Empire of JapanThe Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
in 1895 as part of the
Treaty of ShimonosekiThe Treaty of Shimonoseki , known as the Treaty of Maguan in China, was signed at the Shunpanrō hall on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of Japan and Qing Empire of China, ending the First Sino-Japanese War. The peace conference took place from March 20 to April 17, 1895...
. After the Japanese take-over, Taipei, called
TaihokuTaihoku Prefecture was created in 1920 under Japanese rule, encompassing what is now New Taipei City, Taipei City, Keelung City and Yilan County. Its office, which is now occupied by the Control Yuan of the Republic of China, was in Taipei City...
in Japanese, was retained as the capital and emerged as the political center of the Japanese Colonial Government. During that time the city acquired the characteristics of an administrative center, including many new public buildings and
housing for civil servantsQidong Street is located in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei, Taiwan. During the Qing Dynasty, Qidong Street was a major lane for transporting rice from the Taipei basin to harbours along the river...
. Much of the architecture of Taipei dates from the period of
Japanese ruleBetween 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
, including the Presidential Building which was the Office of the Taiwan Governor-General.
During Japanese rule, Taihoku was incorporated in 1920 as part of Taihoku Prefecture (台北縣). It included Bangka,
DadaochengDadaocheng , spelled Twatutia before Japanese rule, is an area in the Datong District, part of the Taipei Basin and a historic section of Taipei City. It was known as Daitotei by the Japanese and Tataocheng during the Kuomintang era...
, and Chengnei among other small settlements. The eastern village Matsuyama (松山區) was annexed into Taihoku City in 1938. Upon the Japanese defeat in the
Pacific WarThe Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
and its consequent surrender in August 1945, the
KuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(Chinese Nationalist Party) assumed control of Taiwan. Subsequently, a temporary Office of the Taiwan Province Administrative Governor was established in Taipei City.
Under the Republic of China
On December 7, 1949, the KMT government under
Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, after being forced to flee mainland China by the
CommunistsThe Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
at the
Chinese Civil WarThe Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, declared Taipei as the provisional capital of the
Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, with the official capital at
Nanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
(Nanking).
Taipei
expanded greatlyA military dependents' village is a community in Taiwan built in the late 1940s and the 1950s whose original purpose was to serve as provisional housing for Nationalist soldiers and their dependents from mainland China after the KMT retreated to Taiwan. They ended up becoming permanent...
in the decades after 1949, and as approved on December 30, 1966 by the
Executive YuanThe Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
, Taipei was declared a special
centrally administered municipalityA direct-controlled municipality is the highest level classification for cities used by unitary state, with status equal to that of the provinces in the respective countries...
on July 1, 1967 and given the administrative status of a province. In the following year, Taipei City expanded again by annexing Shilin, Beitou, Neihu, Nangang,
JingmeiJingmei is a neighborhood in Taipei City. Formerly an administrative district, in 1990 it merged with Muzha into Wenshan District.Jingmei is located south of Taipei Main Station, the city's main transportation hub. Jingmei is known for its locally famous night market...
, and
MuzhaMuzha was a district in Taipei City. The historical spelling of the area is Mucha. In 1990, it merged with Jingmei to form the Wenshan District....
. At that time, the city's total area increased fourfold through absorbing several outlying towns and villages and the population increased to 1.56 million people.
The city's population, which had reached one million in the early 1960s, also expanded rapidly after 1967, exceeding two million by the mid-1970s. Although growth within the city itself gradually slowed thereafter — its population had become relatively stable by the mid-1990s — Taipei remained one of the world's most densely populated urban areas, and the population continued to increase in the region surrounding the city, notably along the corridor between Taipei and
KeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
. In 1990, the then 16 districts in Taipei City were consolidated into the current 12 districts.
Economy
As the capital of the Republic of China, Taipei has been at the center of rapid economic development in the country and has now become one of the global cities in the production of high technology and its components. This is part of the so-called
Taiwan MiracleThe Taiwan Miracle or Taiwan Economic Miracle refers to the rapid industrialization and economic growth of Taiwan during the latter half of the twentieth century...
which has seen dramatic growth in the city following
foreign direct investmentForeign direct investment or foreign investment refers to the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor.. It is the sum of equity capital,other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in...
in the 1960s. Taiwan is now a
creditorA creditor is a party that has a claim to the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided some property or service to the second party under the assumption that the second party will return an equivalent property or...
economy, holding one of the world's largest foreign exchange reserves of over US$352 billion as of February 2010.
Despite the Asian financial crisis, the economy continues to expand at about 5% per year, with virtually full employment and low inflation. , the nominal GDP of the core city of Taipei has accrued to an amount of nearly US$160 billion, while the metro region of Taipei has a GDP (nominal) of around US$260 billion, a record that would rank it 13th among
world cities by GDP. The GDP per capita of Taipei is US$48,400, and the second highest in Asia behind Tokyo, which has a GDP per capita of US$65,453. If outskirts, neighboring cities, and townships are taken into account, the GDP per capita would fall to US$25,000.
Taipei and its environs have long been the foremost industrial area of Taiwan, consisting of industries of the secondary and tertiary sectors. Most of the country's important factories producing textiles and apparel are located there; other industries include the manufacture of electronic products and components, electrical machinery and equipment, printed materials, precision equipment, and foods and beverages. Such companies include
Shihlin ElectricShihlin Electric and Engineering Corporation is a company with headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, and is a manufacturer of electrical and power transformers, switchgear, automation, controls and automotive electrical devices. The technology for the manufacturing originally involved technology...
,
CipherLabCipherLab is a company that designs, manufactures and markets automatic identification and data capture products and systems. The company's mobile computers and barcode scanners are integrated into the networks of government and logistics installations worldwide, as well as grocery, manufacturing,...
and
Insyde SoftwareInsyde Software is a company listed on the Gre Tai Market of Taiwan. It is headquartered in Taipei with offices in Westborough, MA and Portland, OR, USA. The company's market capitalization of the company's common shares is currently around $115M...
. Shipbuilding, including yachts and other pleasure craft, is done in the port of
KeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
northeast of the city.
Services, including those related to commerce, transportation, and banking, have become increasingly important. Tourism is a small but significant component of the local economy with international visitors totaling almost 3 million in 2008. Taipei has many top tourist attractions and contributes a significant amount to the US$6.8 billion tourism industry in Taiwan. National brands such as
ASUSASUSTeK Computer Incorporated is a multinational computer technology and consumer electronics product manufacturer headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Its product range includes motherboards, desktops, laptops, monitors, tablet PCs, servers and mobile phones...
,
Chunghwa TelecomChunghwa Telecom is the largest telecommunications company in Taiwan. It has its headquarters in Zhongzheng District, Taipei on the remains of the old Taipei Prison.- History :...
,
Mandarin AirlinesMandarin Airlines, Limited is an airline based in Songshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. The Republic of China-based airline is China Airlines' regional and domestic subsidiary. It also operates charter services...
,
TatungTatung Company , also known as Tatung, is a multinational corporation established in 1918 and headquartered in Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan. Tatung also maintains a regional headquarters in Long Beach, California for the U.S...
, and
Uni AirUNI Air is an airline based in Zhongshan, Taipei, Taiwan. It is a domestic and regional subsidiary of EVA Air. It was known as Makung International Airlines until 1996, when EVA Air took a majority share of the airline...
,
D-LinkD-Link Corporation was founded in June 1986 in Taipei as Datex Systems Inc. It began as a network adapter vendor and has gone on to become a designer, developer, and manufacturer of networking solutions for both the consumer and business markets.In 2007, it was the leading networking company in...
are headquartered in Taipei City.
Government
Taipei City is a special municipality which is directly under the
Executive YuanThe Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
(
Central GovernmentA central government also known as a national government, union government and in federal states, the federal government, is the government at the level of the nation-state. The structure of central governments varies from institution to institution...
) of ROC.The
mayor of Taipei CityThe Mayor of Taipei is elected to a four-year term. Former Presidents Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian have all held this position prior to being elected President.It was an appointed position from 1967 to 1994...
had been an appointed position since Taipei's conversion to a centrally administered municipality in 1967 until the first public election was held in 1994. The position has a four-year term and is elected by direct popular vote. The first elected mayor was
Chen Shui-bianChen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
of the
Democratic Progressive PartyThe Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
.
Ma Ying-jeouMa Ying-jeou is the 12th term and current President of the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, and the Chairman of the Kuomintang Party, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party. He formerly served as Justice Minister from 1993 to 1996, Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006, and Chairman...
took office in 1998 for two terms, before handing it over to
Hau Lung-pin who won the 2006 mayoral election on December 9, 2006. Both Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-Jeou went on to become
President of the Republic of ChinaThe President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
.
Based on the outcomes of previous elections in the past decade, the vote of the overall constituency of Taipei City shows a slight inclination towards the pro-KMT camp (the
Pan-Blue CoalitionThe Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
); however, the pro-DPP camp (the
Pan-Green CoalitionThe Pan-Green Coalition or Pan-Green Camp, is an informal political alliance of the Republic of China, commonly known as "Taiwan", consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party , Taiwan Solidarity Union , and the minor Taiwan Independence Party...
) also has considerable support.
Ketagalan BoulevardKetagalan Boulevard is located in Zhongzheng District in Taipei, Taiwan, between the Presidential Building and the East Gate . The length is 400 m. There are ten lanes for two-way traffic, and no traffic islands.-History:...
, where the Republic of China's Presidential Office Building and other government structures are situated, is often the site of mass gatherings such as inauguration and national holiday parades, receptions for visiting dignitaries, political demonstrations, and public festivals.
Garbage Recycling
Taipei City is also famous for its effort in garbage recycling, which has become such a good international precedent that other countries have sent teams to study the recycling system. After the
Environmental Protection AdministrationEnvironmental Protection Administration is a Cabinet level executive agency responsible for protecting and conserving the environment in the Taiwan Area...
(EPA) established a program in 1998 combining the efforts of communities, a financial resource named the Recycling Fund was made available to recycling companies and waste collectors. Manufacturers, vendors and importers of recyclable waste pay fees to the Fund, which uses the money to set firm prices for recyclables and subsidize local recycling efforts. Until 2008, the recycling rate has increased from 6 percent to 32 percent. This improvement enabled the government of Taipei to demonstrate its recycling system to the world at the
Shanghai World Expo 2010Expo 2010, officially Expo 2010 Shanghai China was held on both banks of the Huangpu River in the city of Shanghai, China, from May 1 to October 31, 2010. It was a major World Expo in the tradition of international fairs and expositions, the first since 1992...
.
Transportation
Public transportPublic transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
accounts for a substantial portion of different modes of transport in Taiwan, with Taipei residents having the highest utilization rate at 34.1%.
Private transportPrivate transport, as opposed to public transport, is transportation service which is not available for use by the general public. Private transport is the dominant form of transportation in most of the world. In the United States, for example, 86.2% of passenger miles traveled occur by passenger...
consists of
motor scootersA scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
, private cars, and
bicycleA bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s. Motor-scooters often weave between cars and occasionally through oncoming traffic. Respect for traffic laws, once scant, has improved with deployment of traffic cameras and increasing numbers of police roadblocks checking riders for alcohol consumption and other offenses.
Taipei Station serves as the comprehensive hub for the subway, bus, conventional rail, and high speed rail.
A
contactless smartcardA contactless smart card is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits that can process and store data, and communicate with a terminal via radio waves. There are two broad categories of contactless smart cards. Memory cards contain non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps...
, known as
EasyCardThe EasyCard is a contactless smartcard system operated by the Taipei Smart Card Corporation for payment on the Taipei MRT, buses, and other public transport services in Taipei since June 2002. Its use has since been expanded to include convenience stores, department stores, supermarkets, and...
, can be used for all modes of public transit and contain credits that are deducted each time a ride is taken. The EasyCard is read via
proximity sensory panelsA proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact.A proximity sensor often emits an electromagnetic or a beam of electromagnetic radiation , and looks for changes in the field or return signal. The object being sensed is often referred to as...
on buses and in MRT stations, and it does not need to be removed from one's wallet or purse.
Metro
Taipei's public transport system, the Taipei Metro (commonly referred to as the MRT), incorporates a
metroA rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
and
light railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system based on advanced VAL and
BombardierBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
technology. In addition to the rapid transit system itself, the Taipei Metro also includes several public facilities such as the
Maokong GondolaThe Maokong Gondola is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on July 4, 2007, the Maokong Gondola runs between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four stations...
, underground shopping malls, parks, and public squares. Modifications to existing
railwayThe Taiwan Railway Administration is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight service on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan...
lines to integrate them into the metro system are underway, as well as a rapid transit line to connect the city with Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Taoyuan County.
Rail
Beginning in 1983, surface rail lines in the city were moved underground as part of the
Taipei Railway Underground ProjectThe Taipei Railway Underground Project is an on-going project in the Republic of China capital Taipei to remove surface railway facilities, replacing them with a tunnel and new facilities outside the city limits...
. The
Taiwan High Speed RailTaiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
system opened in 2007. The bullet trains connect Taipei with the west coast cities of Banciao,
TaoyuanTaoyuan City is the county seat of Taoyuan County in Taiwan, located in the northwestern part of the island. Taoyuan city is the gateway of Taiwan: with the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in vicinity, and is a 30-minute ride to the capital, Taipei....
,
HsinchuHsinchu City is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate.Hsinchu City is administered as a special municipality within Taiwan . The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait...
,
Taichung-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
,
Chiayi-Administration:-City attractions:*Chiayi Park*Sun Shooting Tower *Lantan *Historic Archives Building of Chiayi City*University of Chiayi*Chiayi Museum...
, and Tainan before terminating at
ZuoyingZuoying District is an administrative district of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.-History:Zuoying was established in the mid-seventeenth century as a military fortress, known as Old Fengshan . It is now the site of Tsoying Harbour, known formerly as Port Saei...
(
KaohsiungKaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
) at speeds that cut travel times by 60% or more from what they normally are on a bus or conventional train. The
Taiwan Railway AdministrationThe Taiwan Railway Administration is an agency of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China responsible for managing, maintaining, and running passenger and freight service on 1097 km of conventional railroad lines in Taiwan...
also runs passenger and freight services throughout the entire island.
Bus
An extensive
city bus systemThe Taipei Joint Bus System is a bus system that serves the greater metropolitan area of Taipei, Taiwan. It is administered by the Taipei Joint Bus Service Management Center, the Taipei City Traffic Bureau, and the New Taipei City Traffic Bureau , and is operated by 15 private agencies...
serves metropolitan areas not covered by the metro, with exclusive bus lanes to facilitate transportation. Riders of the city metro system are able to use the EasyCard for discounted fares on buses, and vice versa. Several major bus terminals are located throughout the city, including the
Taipei Bus StationTaipei Bus Station is a multi-use complex located next to Taipei Station in Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan. The complex houses the Taipei bus terminal station which was inaugurated on August 19, 2009, as well as recreational and leisure faciltiies. The mall complex was inaugurated on December 11,...
and
Taipei City Hall Bus StationThe Taipei City Hall Bus Station is a multi-use transportation complex located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. It serves as a transportation hub for bus and metro, with the metro's Taipei City Hall Station incorporated into the basement.-Overview:...
.
Airports
Most scheduled international flights are served by Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in nearby
Taoyuan CountyTaoyuan County is a county of the Republic of China , located in the northwestern part of the island, contiguous with New Taipei City, Hsinchu County, and Yilan County. Taoyuan City is located in this county and serves as the seat of Taoyuan County...
.
Songshan AirportTaipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
at the heart of the city in the Songshan District serves mostly domestic flights, with the exception of some cross-strait and a scheduled flight to
Tokyo International Airport, commonly known as , is one of the two primary airports that serve the Greater Tokyo Area in Japan. It is located in Ōta, Tokyo, south of Tokyo Station....
(also known as Haneda Airport). Now Songshan Airport is accessible by the Taipei Metro
Neihu LineThe Taipei Metro Neihu Line is a medium-capacity rapid transit system and runs on an elevated corridor except near Songshan Airport and Dazhi. The line's service length is and it is joined to the Wenshan Line at Zhongshan Junior High School Station, providing direct service through Neihu, Nangang,...
; Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is not yet accessible by rail but a line is under construction. Both airports are linked to the city by highways.
Demographics
Taipei City is home to 2,607,428 people, while the metropolitan area has a population of 6,776,264 people. The population of the city proper has been decreasing in recent years while the population of the adjacent New Taipei has been increasing. Due to Taipei's geography and location in the
Taipei BasinTaipei Basin is a geographic region in northern Taiwan. It is the second largest basin in Taiwan. The basin is bounded by Yangmingshan to the north, Linkou mesa to the west, and the Ridge of Xueshan Range to the southeast. The shape of the basin is close to a triangle...
as well as differing times of economic development of its districts, Taipei's population is not evenly distributed. The districts of Daan, Songshan, and Datong are the most densely populated.
In 2008, the
crude birth rateCrude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
stood at 7.88% while the
mortality rateMortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
stood at 5.94%. A decreasing and rapidly aging population is an important issue for the city. By the end of 2009, one in ten people in Taipei was over 65 years of age. Residents who had obtained a college education or higher accounted for 43.48% of the population, and the literacy rate stood at 99.18%.
Like the rest of Taiwan, Taipei is composed of four major ethnic groups:
HoklosThe Hoklo people are Han Chinese people whose traditional Ancestral homes are in southern Fujian of South China...
, Mainlanders,
HakkasThe Hakka , sometimes Hakka Han, are Han Chinese who speak the Hakka language and have links to the provincial areas of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian in China....
, and
aboriginesTaiwanese aborigines is the term commonly applied in reference to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Although Taiwanese indigenous groups hold a variety of creation myths, recent research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han...
. Although Hoklos and Mainlanders form the majority of the population of the city, in recent decades many Hakkas have moved into the city. The aboriginal population in the city stands at 12,862 (<0.5%), concentrated mostly in the suburban districts. Foreigners (mainly from
IndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
,
VietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and the
PhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
) numbered 52,426 at the end of 2008.
Education
20 universities have campuses located in Taipei:
- National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
(1928)
- National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University is a prestigious public university at Muzha in Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. It is well-known for its concentration on the social sciences, law, commerce, communication, liberal arts and for its MBA programs....
(1927)
- National Taipei University
National Taipei University is a public university in New Taipei, Taiwan , founded in 1949. Before 2000, the University was named the College of Law and Business, National Chung Hsing University . The University main campus is in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, Taiwan...
- National Taipei University of Education
National Taipei University of Education is a university located in Taipei, Taiwan that predominantly focuses on teacher training...
- National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
The National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, commonly referred to as NTUST or Taiwan Tech, is a public/national technological university located in the Taipei City, Republic of China. Taiwan Tech was established in 1974, as the first and the leading higher education institution of its...
- National Taipei University of Technology
National Taipei University of Technology ', one of the best universities in Taiwan, is located in the Daan District of Taipei City, Taiwan. The university traces its origins to the establishment of the School of Industrial Instruction in 1912.This institution underwent several name changes and...
- National Taiwan Normal University
National Taiwan Normal University is an institution of higher learning operating on three campuses in Taipei, Taiwan . NTNU is widely recognized as one of Taiwan's elite institutions of higher education. The university enrolls approximately 11,000 students each year. The ratio of undergraduate to...
(1946)
- National Yang Ming University
National Yang-Ming University is a public university in Shipai, Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for its academic programs related to Medicine, Life Sciences and Biotechnology...
- Taipei National University of the Arts
The Taipei National University of the Arts is a national university at Kuandu of Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan. This university should not be confused with National Taiwan University of Arts at Banciao City.-History:...
|
Taipei Municipal University of Education
Tamkang UniversityTamkang University is a private Taiwanese university located in Tamsui District, New Taipei City. Founded in 1950 as a junior college of English literature, the college has expanded into a full university with 11 colleges today....
Fu Jen University
Soochow UniversitySoochow University is a private university located in Taipei, Taiwan. Although the Soochow University in Taiwan maintains a church and a Methodist minister in residence, it may be considered a secular institution...
Chinese Culture UniversityChinese Culture University is a private, Taiwanese university located on Yang Ming Mountain in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan. CCU was established in 1962 and is one of the largest universities in Taiwan with an enrollment of about 32,000 students...
Ming Chuan UniversityMing Chuan University is a selective private university founded by Pao Teh-Ming and her husband Lee Ying-Chao. Named after the famous progressive Qing Dynasty governor of Taiwan Liu Mingchuan, it is known for its communication and business programs.-History:The institution was founded as a three...
Shih Hsin UniversityShih Hsin University is a private university in Wenshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Shih Hsin University has named one of the “Teaching Excellence Universities” by the Republic of China's Ministry of Education five years in a row, making Shih Hsin being among the top five schools...
Shih Chien UniversityShih Chien University is a private university in Taiwan，It has two campuses, one in Dazhi, Zhongshan District, Taipei, and the other in Neimen District, Kaohsiung....
Taipei Medical UniversityTaipei Medical University was founded as Taipei Medical College in 1960. It was renamed as Taipei Medical University in 2000. Its campus is in Wuxing Street, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan...
Tatung UniversityTatung University is a private university in Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, with close cooperation with the Tatung Company.- History :...
China University of TechnologyThe privately owned, for-profit China University of Technology was founded in 1965 in Taipei, Taiwan . The original campus is situated in Taipei's Wenshan District on five hectares of land...
|
National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) is Taiwan's oldest university. Originally established in Shanghai in 1896, the University was moved to Taiwan by former Chiao Tung University faculty and alumni in 1958. It is a
public universityA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
with campuses in both Taipei and
HsinchuHsinchu City is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate.Hsinchu City is administered as a special municipality within Taiwan . The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait...
.
National Taiwan UniversityNational Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
(NTU) was established in 1928 during the period of Japanese colonial rule. NTU has produced many political and social leaders in Taiwan. Both
pan-blueThe Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
and
pan-greenThe Pan-Green Coalition or Pan-Green Camp, is an informal political alliance of the Republic of China, commonly known as "Taiwan", consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party , Taiwan Solidarity Union , and the minor Taiwan Independence Party...
movements in Taiwan are rooted on the NTU campus. The university has six campuses in the greater Taipei region (including New Taipei) and two additional campuses in
Nantou CountyNantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan....
. The University governs farms, forests, and hospitals for educational and research purposes. The main campus is in Taipei's Da-An district, where most department buildings and all the administrative buildings are located. The College of Law and the College of Medicine are located near the
Presidential BuildingThe Presidential Office Building houses the Office of the President of the Republic of China. The building, located in the Zhongzheng District in the national capital of Taipei, Republic of China, was designed by architect Uheiji Nagano during the period of Japanese rule of Taiwan . The structure...
. The
National Taiwan University HospitalNational Taiwan University Hospital started operations under Japanese rule in Dadaocheng on June 18, 1895, and moved to its present location in 1898. The Hospital was later annexed to the Medical School of Taipei Imperial University and renamed Taipei Imperial University Medical School Affiliated...
is a leading international center of medical research.
National Taiwan Normal UniversityNational Taiwan Normal University is an institution of higher learning operating on three campuses in Taipei, Taiwan . NTNU is widely recognized as one of Taiwan's elite institutions of higher education. The university enrolls approximately 11,000 students each year. The ratio of undergraduate to...
(NTNU or
Shida) likewise traces its origins to the Japanese colonial period. Originally a teacher training institution, NTNU has developed into a comprehensive international university with demanding entrance requirements. The university boasts especially strong programs in the humanities and international education. Worldwide it is perhaps best known as home of the
Mandarin Training CenterMandarin Training Center is one of the world's oldest and most distinguished programs for Chinese language study. It is run by National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan.-History:...
, a program that offers Mandarin language training each year to over a thousand students from dozens of countries throughout the world. The main campus in Taipei's Gutting district is known for its historic architecture and giving its name to the Shida Night Market, one of the most popular among the numerous night markets in Taipei.
Chinese as a Foreign Language
- International Chinese Language Program (ICLP)
The International Chinese Language Program is one of the world's premier institutions for intensive training in formal Mandarin, Taiwanese, Classical Chinese, and other Chinese languages...
(國際華語研習所) of National Taiwan University
- Mandarin Training Center (MTC)
Mandarin Training Center is one of the world's oldest and most distinguished programs for Chinese language study. It is run by National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan.-History:...
(國語教學中心) of National Taiwan Normal University
- Taipei Language Institute
The Taipei Language Institute was founded in 1956 by a group of missionaries who wished to provide training in Mandarin Chinese for Taiwan-bound missionaries...
(中華語文研習所)
Sports
Due to Taiwan being under American and Japanese influence over the years, the sports of
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in particular and
basketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
have become popular in the city. Taipei, like the rest of the country, has featured most prominently in baseball and has often been the venue for the
Asian Baseball ChampionshipThe Asian Baseball Championship is the main championship tournament between national baseball teams in Asia, governed by the Baseball Federation of Asia . It is held every other year in odd-numbered years and since 1983 it also functions as the qualification games for the Baseball at the Summer...
since the 1960s.
Major sporting events
Below is a list of recent sporting events hosted by the city:
- 2001 Asian Baseball Championship
The Asian Baseball Championship was the 21st installment of the tournament. The championship took place at Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in Taipei County , Republic of China . Chinese Taipei national baseball team won the competition for the fourth time in the competitions history.-Top four:...
- 2001 Baseball World Cup
The XXXIV Baseball World Cup took place in Taiwan from 6 to 18 November 2001. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # # #...
- 2001 AFC Women's Championship
-Third place playoff:-Final:-Awards:...
- 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship
- 2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
- 2009 Summer Deaflympics
The 2009 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 21st Summer Deaflympics, is an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from September 5 to September 15, 2009 in Taipei, Republic of China . It is the third Summer Deaflympics to be held in Asia/Pacific region...
- Upcoming 2017 Summer Universiade
The
Taipei ArenaTaipei Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Taipei, Taiwan. Built in 2005, the large multi-purpose stadium can accommodate major international sport events such as ice skating, ice hockey, gymnastics, handball, basketball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, indoor soccer, boxing, judo,...
is located in the city home to baseball with a capacity of over 15,000. It is located at the site of the former
Taipei Municipal Baseball StadiumTaipei Municipal Baseball Stadium was a baseball park located in the Songshan District of Taipei, Taiwan. It was opened in 1959, and hosted numerous major baseball games over the years, including the CPBL's first game in 1990 between Uni-President Lions and Brother Elephants...
(demolished in 2000). Designed by Archasia, the arena was opened on December 1, 2005. Since opening in 2005, the arena has held more art and cultural activities (such as live concerts) than sporting events, which it was originally designed and built for.
The main arena has an adjustable floor space: its minimum floor space is 60 by 30 m (196.9 by 98.4 ), and can be extended to 80 by 40 m (262.5 by 131.2 ). The
Chinese TaipeiChinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Asian Para Games...
Ice Hockey League (CIHL) plays out of the auxiliary arena, which is a 60 by 30 m (196.9 by 98.4 ) ice skating rink.
Taipei has the only
footballAssociation football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
-
specific stadiumSoccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
in Taiwan, Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, which hosts the
national football teamThe Chinese Taipei national football team is the official name given by FIFA to the national association football team of the Republic of China ....
. It hosts qualifiers for the
FIFA WorldThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and
AFCThe Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
regional cups, and finals of school football tournaments. Since there are no professional football leagues in Taiwan, no other sporting events are held there.
Professional baseball
The
Brother ElephantsThe Brother Elephants are a professional baseball team in Taiwan. It was originally established as an amateur team in 1984 by the Brother Hotel located in Taipei City, and later joined the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 1989...
baseballBaseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
team competes in the
Chinese Professional Baseball LeagueThe Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
(CPBL). Its home games are played in Sinjhuang Baseball Stadium.
Youth baseball
In 2010, a Taipei baseball team — Chung-Ching Junior Little League — won the Junior League World Series, after winning the Asia-Pacific Region, then defeating the Mexico Region and Latin America Region champions to become the International champion, and finally defeating the U.S. champion (Southwest Region), Rose Capital East LL (Tyler, Texas), 9-1.
Media
As the capital, Taipei City is the headquarters for many television and radio stations in Taiwan and the center of some of the country's largest newspapers.
Television
Television stations centred in Taipei include the
CTS Education and CultureCTS Education and Culture is a free-to-air television station in Taiwan, operated by Chinese Television System ....
,
CTS RecreationCTS Recreation is a digital television channel operated by Chinese Television System in Taiwan....
,
CTV MyLifeCTV MyLife is a digital television channel operated by China Television in Taiwan....
, CTV News Channel,
China TelevisionChina Television Company, Ltd. was established on September 3, 1968 by the then-ruling Nationalist Party of the Republic of China . The party owned the majority stake of the network...
,
Chinese Television SystemChinese Television System is a broadcast television station in Republic of China .-History:Founded on October 31, 1971, CTS started off as a joint venture between the ROC's Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Education. At the time of its establishment, CTS was the only VHF-supported...
,
Chung T'ien TelevisionChung T'ien Television , is a nationwide cable TV network based in Taiwan. It belongs to the China Times group, which also owns China Television .-History:...
,
Dimo TVDimo TV is a digital mobile television channel operated by Taiwan Public Television Service Foundation in Taiwan. Dimo TV, whose name stands for "digital mobile", is targeted toward "on-the-go" viewers via mobile TV-enabled mobile handsets or TV systems installed in vehicles....
,
Eastern TelevisionEastern Television is a nationwide cable TV network in Taiwan that is operated by the Eastern Broadcasting Group, which also operates the online news site .-ETTV Channels:Eastern Television operates several channels:*ETTV Variety *ETTV News...
,
Era TelevisionEra Television is a nationwide cable TV network in Taiwan that is operated by the ERA Communications Inc., established on October 1996.-Era TV Channels:Era TV currently operates three commercial cable television channels:*Era News *Much TV *Azio TV...
,
FTV NewsFTV News is a cable news channel operated by Formosa TV in Taiwan, launched on 11 June 1997.-External links:...
,
Follow Me TVFollow Me Television is a digital television channel operated by Formosa TV in Taiwan. It offers realtime traffic information to audiences.-External links:...
,
Formosa TVFormosa TV is a television station based in Taipei, Taiwan. Established on March 27, 1996, FTV began broadcasting on June 11, 1997.The station was wholly owned and operated by the Democratic Progressive Party. Due to this, its news programs are often of a Pan-Green perspective...
,
Gala TelevisionGala Television Corporation is a nationwide cable TV network in Taiwan that is operated by the Gala Television Corporation, established on June 13, 1997.-GTV Channels:GTV currently operates three commercial cable television channels:*GTV One / CH 27...
, Public Television Service,
SET MetroSET Metro is a television channel of the Sanlih E-Television in Taiwan, launched in September 1995. It mainly broadcasts Taiwanese drama and cartoons.-External links:...
,
SET NewsSET News is a 24 hour news channel of the Sanlih E-Television in Taiwan, launched in March 1998-Typical schedule:-External links:...
,
SET TaiwanSET Taiwan is a television channel of the Sanlih E-Television in Taiwan, launched in September 1993. It mainly broadcasts Taiwanese drama.-External links:...
,
Sanlih E-TelevisionSanlih Entertainment Television or Sanlih E-Television is a nationwide cable TV network operated in Taiwan that was founded in May 1983...
,
Shuang XingAstro's Shuang Xing channel is a specialty drama channel offering content primarily sourced from Taiwan, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and Japan. Astro Shuang Xing first started in 2003 broadcasting two channels, i.e., Shuang Xing 1 and Shuang Xing 2. A few years later, both channels...
,
TTV FamilyTTV Family is a digital television channel operated by Taiwan Television in Taiwan, it shares channel with TTV Finance....
,
TTV FinanceTTV Finance is a digital television channel operated by Taiwan Television in Taiwan, launched on September 1, 2004. Now TTV Finance shares channel with TTV Family.-External links:...
,
TTV WorldTTV World is a television channel operated by Taiwan Television in Taiwan, launched on 22 July 2005, but only broadcasts abroad.-External links:...
,
TVBSTVBS is a satellite television channel and nationwide cable TV network in Taiwan, Republic of China, launched on September 28, 1993. It was established by TVBI Company Limited , a subsidiary of Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong, and ERA Group of Taiwan, and became a wholly owned...
,
TVBS-GTVBS Joy Channel is a satellite television channel in the Taiwan, launched on September 12, 1994.TVBS Joy Channel is famous for rebroadcasting Hong Kong dramas from TVB, yet also produces its own dramas since 2003.-Dramas:...
,
TVBS-NEWSTVBS-NEWS or is a satellite cable news television channel in Taiwan, launched on 2 October 1995. TVBS-NEWS is also the first 24 hour nationwide news channel in Taiwan.- External links :...
,
Taiwan Broadcasting SystemTaiwan Broadcasting System , founded July 1, 2006, is a Public broadcasting group that holds 8 television channels in Taiwan. It is also the biggest of five major Taiwan Television Networks by owning 2 of them: Chinese Television System and Public Television Service.-Channels:*Chinese Television...
,
Videoland Television NetworkVideoland Television Network is a cable network program provider in Taiwan, founded in 1983 by Koos Group. Videoland is one of Taiwan's major satellite television providers, offering seven channels of programming...
and
Taiwan TelevisionTaiwan Television Enterprise, Ltd. , commonly known as TTV is launched), is the first television broadcast station in Taiwan...
.
Newspapers
Newspapers include
Apple DailyThe Apple Daily is a tabloid-style newspaper printed in Taiwan and owned by Hong Kong-based Next Media. Next Media is based in Hong Kong and also prints the Apple Daily . The publication is well known internationally for its animated news stories on pop culture outside Taiwan.-History:Apple Daily ...
,
Central Daily NewsThe Central Daily News was the official newspaper of the Kuomintang and is one of the world's oldest Chinese-language newspaper having been in circulation since 1928...
,
The China PostFor the article on the postal system based in the People's Republic of China, see China Post.The China Post is one of the three English-language newspapers published in Taiwan , the other two being Taiwan News and the Taipei Times. It was established by Mr. and Mrs. Y.P. Huang in 1952...
,
China TimesThe China Times is a newspaper published in the Republic of China in Traditional Chinese. It is one of the four biggest newspapers in Taiwan, the other three being the Liberty Times, United Daily News, and Apple Daily ....
,
Kinmen Daily NewsKinmen Daily News is a newspaper owned by the government of Kinmen County , Fukien Province, Republic of China ....
,
Liberty TimesThe Liberty Times is a newspaper published in Republic of China in Traditional Chinese. Founded by Lin Rong-San, it is published by the Liberty Times Group, which also publishes the English language newspaper the Taipei Times...
,
Mandarin Daily NewsThe Mandarin Daily News is a traditional Chinese children's newspaper published daily in Taiwan. The main text of the articles is accompanied by Zhuyin phonetic script to aid identification of difficult characters. The project was founded October 25th 1948....
,
Matsu DailyMatsu Daily is a newspaper owned by the government of the Matsu County, Fukien Province, Republic of China, a East Asian country which is commonly known by its largest island Taiwan....
,
Min Sheng BaoMin Sheng Bao is a tabloid newspaper based in Taiwan, and a sister publication of United Daily News, Taiwan's second biggest selling newspaper....
,
Sharp DailySharp Daily is a free Chinese-language tabloid newspaper, published in Taipei, Taiwan by Next Media.Launched on October 24, 2006 as a rival to Cola , another free tabloid published by United Daily Newspaper , Sharp Daily shares news content with the Taiwanese Apple Daily...
,
Taipei TimesThe Taipei Times is one of the three major English-language newspapers in the Republic of China the other two being the Taiwan News and The China Post...
,
Taiwan DailyTaiwan Daily was a daily newspaper based in Taiwan that began circulation on October 25, 1964 and ended on June 6, 2006.- Features :The Taiwan Daily was usually published as broadsheet in full color, excepting classified ads and extended articles. It was divided into five sections, General News,...
,
Taiwan NewsTaiwan News is one of the three English language newspapers in Taiwan, the other two being the Taipei Times and The China Post...
,
Taiwan TimesThe Taiwan Times is a newspaper based in Taiwan.Wang Hsing-ching worked as one of its reporters.-External links :*...
and
United Daily NewsThe United Daily News is a newspaper published in the Republic of China in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese. It is one of the three biggest newspapers in Taiwan, the other two being the China Times and the Liberty Times.-History:...
.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Taipei is
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Houston, TexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1961) LoméLomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
, TogoTogo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
(1966) ManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, PhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1966) Cotonou-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
, BeninBenin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
(1967) Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, VietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
(1968) Quezon CityQuezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, PhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1968) SeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(1968) San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1970) Santo DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
(1970) GuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1973) Cleveland, OhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1975) TegucigalpaTegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, HondurasHonduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
(1975) IndianapolisIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, IndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1978) JeddahJeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, Saudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
(1978) MarshallMarshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
, TexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1978) Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1979) |
Los Angeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1979) PhoenixPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, ArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1979) Oklahoma CityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, OklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1981) Gold CoastGold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, QueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(1982) JohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(1982) PretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(1983) LilongweLilongwe, estimated population 902,388 as of 2009, is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1.-History:The city started life as a...
, MalawiThe Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
(1984) San JoséSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, Costa RicaCosta Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
(1984) Versailles, FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(1986) AsunciónAsunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, ParaguayParaguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
(1987) Panama CityPanama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
, PanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
(1989) ManaguaManagua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
, NicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
(1992) San SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
(1993) WarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(1995) Ulan-UdeUlan-Ude is the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, located about southeast of Lake Baikal on the Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga...
, RussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(1996) Banjul-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
, Gambia (1997) |
BissauBissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...
, Guinea-BissauThe Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
(1997) BostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1997) DakarDakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, SenegalSenegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
(1997) Dallas, TexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1997) La PazNuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, BoliviaBolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
(1997) Mbabane-References:...
, SwazilandSwaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
(1997) San NicolásSan Nicolás de los Garza, sometimes known only as San Nicolás, is a city and coextensive municipality in the Mexican state of Nuevo León that is part of the Monterrey Metropolitan area. It has become primarily a city for residencies and family houses, although it still has several factories that...
, MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1997) Ulan Bator, MongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
(1997) Guatemala CityGuatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, GuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
(1998) MajuroMajuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
, Marshall IslandsThe Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
(1998) MonroviaMonrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, LiberiaLiberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
(1998) VilniusVilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, LithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
(1998) RigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, LatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
(2001) OuagadougouOuagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, Burkina FasoBurkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
(2008) DaeguDaegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, South KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(2010) |
Friendship cities
PerthPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
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Western AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
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AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(1999)
Orange CountyOrange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
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CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(2000)
See also
External links