Taipei

Taipei
Name	Taipei
Official name	Taipei City
Settlement type	Special municipality
Coordinates	25, 02, N, 121...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Taiwan
Established title	Settled
Established date	1709
Established title2	Chartered as provincial city
Established date2	1887
Established title3	Chartered as special municipality
Established date3	1967
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Chiang Wan-an
Leader party	Kuomintang
Area total km2	271.80
Population total	2,494,813
Population as of	2023
Population density km2	auto
Population metro	9,078,000 (Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area)
Timezone	National Standard Time
Utc offset	+8
Postal code type	Postal code
Postal code	100–116
Area code	(0)2
Website	https://english.gov.taipei/

Taipei. Situated at the northern tip of the island of Taiwan, it is the political, economic, and cultural heart of the Republic of China. The city is a vibrant metropolis renowned for its modern skyscrapers, bustling night markets, and deep-rooted cultural heritage, seamlessly blending traditional Chinese culture with global influences. As a major hub in East Asia, it is governed as a special municipality and forms the core of the expansive Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area.

History

The area was originally inhabited by Ketagalan plains Austronesians before significant Han Chinese settlement began in the early 18th century during the Qing dynasty. In 1887, the island was made a separate province, and the settlement was chartered as a prefectural capital named Taipeh Prefecture. Following the First Sino-Japanese War, the Treaty of Shimonoseki ceded Taiwan to the Empire of Japan in 1895, and the city, then known as Taihoku Prefecture, became the colonial administrative center, undergoing significant modernization. After World War II and the retrocession of Taiwan to the Republic of China, the city's importance grew, especially after the Kuomintang government relocated to the island following the Chinese Civil War. It was officially declared the provisional capital in 1949 and elevated to a special municipality in 1967 under Chiang Kai-shek.

Geography

The city is located within the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed bordered by the two relatively short rivers, the Keelung River and the Xindian River, which converge to form the Tamsui River along the city's western edge. The basin is nearly surrounded by rugged mountains, most notably the Yangmingshan National Park to the north, which is part of the Datun Volcano Group. This topography contributes to a humid subtropical climate with hot, wet summers and short, mild winters, and the basin location can sometimes trap air pollution and moisture, leading to high humidity and occasional typhoon impacts.

Government and politics

The city is administered as a special municipality under the direct administration of the Executive Yuan. The Taipei City Government is headed by a directly elected mayor, a position currently held by Chiang Wan-an of the Kuomintang. The city's legislative body is the Taipei City Council. As the national capital, it hosts the central government institutions, including the Presidential Office Building, the Legislative Yuan, and the Judicial Yuan. The city is a major political battleground between the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party, and its mayoral election is often seen as a key national political bellwether.

Economy

It is a major global hub for technology and finance, with its economic strength anchored by the Hsinchu Science Park located to the southwest and a dense concentration of corporate headquarters. The city is home to the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the headquarters of numerous multinational corporations and leading Taiwanese conglomerates such as ASUS, Acer Inc., and TSMC. Key industrial sectors include information technology, electronics, financial services, and wholesale trade, supported by world-class infrastructure like the Taipei World Trade Center. The Xinyi District is the premier central business district, marked by the iconic Taipei 101.

Culture

The city's cultural landscape is a dynamic fusion of traditional Chinese, Japanese colonial, indigenous Taiwanese, and modern global elements. It is famed for its lively night markets such as Shilin Night Market and Raohe Street Night Market, and its culinary scene ranges from beef noodle soup to bubble tea. Major cultural institutions include the National Palace Museum, which houses one of the world's largest collections of Chinese art, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The city hosts major events like the Taipei International Book Exhibition and the Taipei Film Festival, and its LGBT-friendly atmosphere is showcased during the annual Taipei Pride parade.

Transport

The city is served by an extensive and efficient public transportation network centered on the Taipei Metro, a rapid transit system renowned for its cleanliness and reliability. The main gateway for international air travel is the nearby Taoyuan International Airport, with Taipei Songshan Airport handling domestic and regional flights. The city's main railway station, Taipei Main Station, is a major hub for the Taiwan High Speed Rail and the conventional rail network operated by Taiwan Railways Administration. An extensive network of buses and a public bicycle-sharing system called YouBike provide comprehensive last-mile connectivity throughout the metropolitan area.

Category:Taipei Category:Capitals in Asia Category:Special municipalities of Taiwan