Taipei

special municipality and capital city of Taiwan

Taipei City (Chinese: 臺北市) is the capital city of the Republic of China, known by most people simply as Taiwan. It is the largest city in Taiwan. It has a monsoon humid subtropical climate (Cwa in the Köppen climate classification). Its population in 2014 was about 2.7 million people.[5] Its mayor is Ko Wen-je.

Taipei
臺北市
Taipei City
Flag of Taipei
Official logo of Taipei
Etymology: Chinese: táiběi (Taiwan north)
Nickname: 
The City of Azaleas
Taipei's location in the Taiwan islands
Taipei's location in the Taiwan islands
Satellite image of Taipei City
Coordinates: 25°04′N 121°31′E / 25.067°N 121.517°E / 25.067; 121.517
CountryTaiwan[1]
RegionNorthern Taiwan
Settled1709
SeatXinyi District
Districts
Government
 • TypeCapital
 • MayorKo Wen-je (TPP)
 • CouncilTaipei City Council
Area
 • Capital271.80 km2 (104.94 sq mi)
 • Water2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi)  1.0%
 • Urban
1,140 km2 (440 sq mi)
 • Rank16 out of 22
Population
 (October 2024)
 • Capital2,561,374
 • Rank4 out of 22
 • Density9,400/km2 (24,000/sq mi)
 • Urban9,219,471
 • Urban density8,100/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (National Standard Time)
Postal code
100–116
Area code(0)2
ISO 3166 codeTW-TPE
BirdFormosan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea)
FlowerAzalea (Rhododendron nudiflorum)
TreeBanyan (India laurel fig, Ficus microcarpa)
Websiteenglish.gov.taipei (in English)

Taipei is the political, economic, educational, and cultural center of Taiwan island, and one of the major hubs of Greater China. Considered to be a global city,[6] Taipei is part of a major high-tech industrial area.[7] Railways, Taipei Metro, high-speed rail, highways, airports, and bus lines connect Taipei with all parts of the island. The city is served by two airports – Taipei Songshan and Taiwan Taoyuan. Taipei is home to various world-famous architectural or cultural landmarks which include Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Dalongdong Baoan Temple, Taipei Zoo, National Taiwan University, Hsing Tian Kong, Lungshan Temple of Manka, National Palace Museum, Presidential Office Building, Taipei Guest House, Ximending, and several night markets dispersing over the city. Its natural features such as Maokong, Yangmingshan, and hot springs are also well known to international visitors.

History

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Taipei city view

In 1626, Spanish people took over and started to spread their religion. The Dutch moved out Spanish and took over their fortresses than the Dutch started their trading business. In 1661 Koxinga came to Taiwan and expel the Dutch. And he started to reclaim Taiwan, used a system called Tuntian (a state-promoted method of agriculture), it successfully help Taipei to grow more food.[8] Taipei officially became part of the Tianxing county of China.[9]

In 1683 Taiwan got marked as part of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, a lot of Chinese moved into Taipei,[10] so there were many villages and streets formed, like the Mengjia, Shilin Street, Xikou Street and Dadaocheng. Dadaocheng is a place that produces tea, it has an important impact on how Taipei became prosperous. It was the biggest external trade port that . Foreign countries started to set their business stores in Taipei.

Divisions

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Taipei City is divided into 12 districts. Among the notable one is Tamsui.


Air quality

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When compared to other Asian cities, Taipei has "excellent" capabilities for managing air quality in the city.[11] Its rainy climate, location near the coast, and strong environmental regulations have prevented air pollution from becoming a substantial health issue, at least compared to cities in southeast Asia and industrial China. However, smog is extremely common and there is poor visibility throughout the city after rain-less days.

Motor vehicle engine exhaust, particularly from motor scooters, is a source of air pollution in Taipei. There are higher levels of fine particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the mornings because of less air movement; sunlight reduces some pollution.[12]

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References

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  1. Formally known as the Republic of China
  2. 《中華民國統計資訊網》縣市重要統計指標查詢系統網 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. "Demographia World Urban Areas PDF" (PDF). Demographia. April 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  4. "Demographia World Urban Areas PDF" (PDF). Demographia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  5. "Demographic Overview". Taipei City Government. Taipei City Government. December 11, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  6. "The World According to GaWC 2008". Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  7. "Taiwan tech industry faces up to South Korea's Samsung". The Seattle Times. April 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  8. "Taipei's History and Development". Taipei City Government. Taipei City Government. 31 Oct 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  9. "Taipei History". World Travel Guide. World Travel Guide. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  10. "Taiwanese History". Taiwan's History. Taiwan's History. Archived from the original on 2017-05-12.
  11. "Pollution is a major threat for Asian cities, says new report". EarthTimes. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  12. Oung, Angelica (4 May 2007). "Taipei air pollution alarming: scientists". The Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.

Other websites

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