Taichung

Taichung, officially known as Taichung City, is a special municipality in central Taiwan. It is Taiwan's second-largest city, with over 2.86 million people living there, making it the biggest city in Central Taiwan. The city is the heart of the Taichung–Changhua metropolitan area, which is Taiwan's second-largest area.

Taichung is located in the Taichung Basin. It began as small villages led by Taiwanese indigenous peoples. The city was planned to be the new capital of Taiwan Province. When Japan ruled Taiwan, they helped design and build the city as it looks today. In 1945, after ROC rule began, Taichung was organized as a provincial city. On December 25, 2010, the original provincial city and Taichung County joined together to form a new special municipality.

Taichung has many important places, such as the National Museum of Natural Science, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, the National Taichung Theater, and the National Library of Public Information. There are also many cultural sites, including Taichung Park, the Lin Family Gardens, and many temples.

History

Early history

The Atayal aborigines and several Taiwanese Plains Aboriginal tribes (including the Taokas, Papora, Pazeh, Hoanya and Babuzas) lived in the area that is now Taichung. They were hunter gatherers who later grew millet and taro. In the 17th century, the Papora, Babuza, Pazeh, and Hoanya made the Kingdom of Middag in the western part of Taichung today.

Qing dynasty

In 1684, Zhuluo County was made, covering much of northern Taiwan. Modern Taichung started with a place called Toatun in 1705. In 1721, a military base was built near where Taichung Park is now. In 1731, people rose up after government workers asked them to work. The uprising spread but was stopped. In 1786, another big revolt tried to change the government back to the old Ming dynasty. It was stopped by many groups working together.

When Taiwan Province became its own province in 1887, Toatun was planned to be the capital. A railway was planned, but the capital was later moved to Taipei.

Empire of Japan

After Japan took control of Taiwan in 1895, the city's name changed to Taichū. The Japanese built new roads, dams, and levees. In 1901, Taichū Chō was set up to help manage the island. By 1904, the town of Taichū had 6,423 people.

Taichū Park was finished in 1903. The first market in Taichū was built in 1908 and is still used today. The Taichū Railway Station opened in 1917 and is still in use. Taichū City was officially started in 1920, and Taichū City Hall was finished in 1924. Kōkan Airport, now Taichung Airport, was built during this time.

Taichū Middle School, now Taichung First Senior High School, started in 1915 to teach children about Taiwan's culture. The city became a center for Taiwanese culture and pride.

From 1926 to 1945, Taichū Prefecture included parts of modern-day Taichung, Changhua County, and Nantou County.

Republic of China

After Japan gave Taiwan to the Republic of China in 1945, Taichung County was created, which included today's Taichung City, Miaoli County, and Taoyuan City. In 1947, the first mayor of Taichung County was chosen. In 1950, Miaoli and Taoyuan became separate areas. In June 2009, plans were approved to combine Taichung City and Taichung County into a larger city. On 25 December 2010, the city and county merged to form a special municipality with over 2.65 million people.

In 2020, Taichung was named a "Gamma" level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

Geography

Taichung City is in the Taichung Basin on the western coast of Taiwan. It borders Changhua County, Nantou County, Hualien County, Yilan County, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County.

The Central Mountain Range is east of the city. Hills roll north toward Miaoli County, and flat plains stretch south toward Changhua County and the Taiwan Strait. The Dadu Plateau is to the northwest.

Climate

Taichung has a warm humid subtropical climate that feels almost tropical. The average yearly temperature is about 23.3 °C (73.9 °F). Summers are warm, and winters are mild but cooler at night. The city gets around 1,700 mm (67 in) of rain each year, less than many other cities in Taiwan. The nearby mountains help protect Taichung from strong storms, but occasional typhoons from the South China Sea can still affect the area.

Demographics

Taichung has about 2.87 million people. There are slightly more girls and women than boys and men. Most people are middle-aged, with some young people and children, and only a few older adults.

In 2017, Taichung became the second-largest city in Taiwan. It grew quickly because more families moved in and the city had new housing.

Politics

Local politics

Taichung is different from other cities in Taiwan. Cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung usually support one political side. But Taichung is more balanced. The city center often supports one party, while the outer areas support another. Both big political parties have won mayoral elections there.

Government

The mayor of Taichung leads the city's government. The City Council has 46 members who are elected to help make laws and decisions for the city.

Administrative divisions

Taichung has 29 different areas, called districts. Most are normal districts, but one is special for indigenous mountain communities.

Before 2010, Taichung had fewer districts. It grew when it combined with nearby Taichung County. Some parts of Taichung are also home to the Atayal people, an indigenous group.

Economy

Taichung is the largest city in Central Taiwan and an important place for jobs. The city is known for making machines and selling goods in shops.

Taichung has many factories and workplaces where people collaborate on big projects. Important items made there include machine tools, parts for machines, solar panels, bicycles, woodworking tools, and airplane parts. Big companies such as Giant Bicycles and TSMC have offices and factories in the city. People also enjoy shopping, and many jobs are in this area.

Taichung is famous for its special foods, like suncakes and the tea drinks called bubble tea, which began at the Chun Shui Tang teahouse.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Taichung

Taichung has many ways to get around, like trains, buses, and roads. Two main railways go through the city: the Taichung Line through the center and the West Coast Line near the coast. The busy Taichung railway station is in the middle of the city, and Taichung International Airport brings travelers from all over the world.

Buses are very popular in Taichung, with many routes all over the city. The city also has an MRT system with one line open now, and more lines planned for the future. Big roads and highways connect different parts of the city and the areas around it.

Education

Main article: List of educational institutions in Taichung

Taichung has a long history of education. In 1915, the first school for young people in Taiwan opened there. Since then, many more schools have been added, including universities.

Today, Taichung has many schools. There are universities, high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools. The city also has special schools and international schools for people to learn.

Romanization

Taichung City is changing its road signs to use a special way of writing names called Hanyu Pinyin. You can still see old signs using different ways of writing names, like Tongyong Pinyin. Unlike Taipei, which starts each part of a name with a big letter, Taichung uses the normal Hanyu Pinyin way on newer signs. The city's website uses the Taipei way. Most big crossroads have at least one sign with a written name, and almost every crossroad in the city center has Hanyu Pinyin signs. But outside the center, many signs still use older ways or have no written names at all.

Culture and recreation

Taichung is a city with many places to visit and things to do. It has museums, temples, night markets, and more.

Museums and cultural centers

The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts has the biggest collection of art from Taiwan in the world. The National Museum of Natural Science is huge and covers science, space, plants, animals, and more. It even has an IMAX theater!

Temples

Taichung has many temples, some very old and important. One famous temple is Jenn Lann Temple, where people start a big yearly walk to Xingang, Chiayi carrying a statue for good luck.

Night markets

Taichung has lively night markets where you can try tasty food and enjoy fun activities. Popular ones include Fengjia Night Market and Yizhong Street.

Hot springs

One famous hot spring in Taichung is Guguan hot spring, located in Heping District.

Performance venues

You can watch shows like music, dance, and theater at places such as Zhongshan Hall and the Fulfillment Amphitheater.

Other annual activities

Every October, the city holds the Taichung Jazz Festival with music performances all around town.

Sports

Taichung is a place where many sports teams and events happen. There was a baseball team called the Sinon Bulls, but it moved to another city. Today, Taichung has soccer teams like Taichung City FC, men's football teams like Taichung Futuro F.C. and Taichung Rock FC, and a women's team called Taichung Blue Whale. The city also has basketball teams, the Taichung Suns and the Formosa Taishin Dreamers.

Every autumn, Taichung hosts a Cup Marathon. The city has also held many important baseball tournaments, such as the 2013 18U Baseball World Cup, the 2015 WBSC Premier12 (with Taipei, Taoyuan, and Yunlin), and the 2023 World Baseball Classic (Pool A).

Hospitals

Taichung has many hospitals that help people stay healthy. Some well-known hospitals are China Medical University Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, and Taichung Veterans Hospital.

Other important hospitals are Cheng Ching Hospital, Jen-Ai Hospital - Dali, Jen-Ai Hospital - Taichung, Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taichung armed force general hospital, and Asia University Hospital.

Notable people

Taichung has been home to many talented people. Some famous people from the city are writer Chen Xue, scholar and politician Lin Hsien-tang, artist Teng Ming-Tun, baseball player Kai Wei Teng who plays for the San Francisco Giants, and photographer Wang Hsin.

International relations

Sister cities

Taichung has friendly agreements with 29 cities around the world since 1965. These agreements help the cities work together and share ideas.

Friendship cities

Besides sister cities, Taichung also has friendly agreements with 14 other cities and one special sightseeing friend, Nagoya in Japan, as of January 2025. These friendships help the cities learn from each other and support one another.

Relative location

Taichung is a big city in the middle of Taiwan. It is the second largest city in the whole country and has millions of people living there. Because of its size and location, Taichung is very important. It is the largest city in the central part of Taiwan. It is also a key part of the Taichung–Changhua area, which is the second biggest group of cities in Taiwan.