County (Republic of China)

This article is part of
a series on the
Administrative divisions
of the Republic of China
(Taiwan)
In effect
1st Provinces
(省 shěng)
(streamlined)
Special municipalities
(直轄市 zhíxiáshì)
2nd Counties
(縣 xiàn)
Provincial cities
(市 shì)
3rd Districts
(區 qū)
County-controlled cities
(縣轄市 xiànxiáshì)
Urban townships
(鎮 zhèn)
Rural townships
(鄉 xiāng)
4th Urban villages
(里 lǐ)
Rural villages
(村 cūn)
5th Neighborhoods
(鄰 lín)

Counties (Traditional Chinese: 縣, Pinyin: Xiàn), are one of administrative divisions within the Republic of China (Taiwan). They are officially found at the second level. However, the streamlining of Taiwan Province and Fukien Province has effectively promoted the county the first level below the Republic of China central government's rule. There are currently 14 counties administered by the Republic of China, 12 in Taiwan Province and 2 in Fukien Province.

In older context, "prefecture" and "district" are alternative terms to refer to 縣 (xiàn) before the establishment of the Republic of China. The English term "county" was adopted following the establishment of the ROC. Counties in older documents are sometimes romanized to Sien or Hsien.

In ROC law, counties with a population of over two million can become a quasi-municipality (準直轄市). Taipei County (now New Taipei City) had used this rule since October, 2007 until its elevation to municipality status, while Taoyuan County will also become a quasi-municipality from 2011.

Taiwan Province

Currently there are 12 counties under Taiwan Province.

Romanization Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Wade-Giles Pe̍h-ōe-jī Pha̍k-fa-sṳ Capital Capital in Chinese
Changhua County 彰化縣 Zhānghuà Chang1-hua4 Chiong-hoà Chông-fa Changhua City 彰化市
Chiayi County 嘉義縣 Jiāyì Chia1-i4 Ka-gī Kâ-ngi Taibao City 太保市
Hsinchu County 新竹縣 Xīnzhú Hsin1-chu2 Sin-tek Sîn-tsuk Zhubei City 竹北市
Hualien County 花蓮縣 Huālián Hua1-lien2 Hoa-liân Fâ-lièn Hualien City 花蓮市
Miaoli County 苗栗縣 Miáolì Miao2-li4 Biâu-le̍k Mèu-li̍t Miaoli City 苗栗市
Nantou County 南投縣 Nántóu Nan2-t'ou2 Lâm-tâu Nàm-thèu Nantou City 南投市
Penghu County 澎湖縣 Pénghú P'eng2-hu2 Phêⁿ-ô͘ Phàng-fù Magong City 馬公市
Pingtung County 屏東縣 Píngdōng P'ing2-tung1 Pîn-tong Phìn-tûng Pingtung City 屏東市
Taitung County 臺東縣 or 台東縣 Táidōng T'ai2-tung1 Tâi-tang Thòi-tûng Taitung City 臺東市
Taoyuan County 桃園縣 Táoyuán T'ao2-yuan2 Thô-hn̂g Thò-yèn Taoyuan City 桃園市
Yilan County 宜蘭縣 Yílán I2-lan2 Gî-lân Ngì-làn Yilan City 宜蘭市
Yunlin County 雲林縣 Yúnlín Yun2-lin2 Hûn-lîm Yùn-lìm Douliu City 斗六市

Fujian Province

Fujian has various romanizations: Fuchien in Wade-Giles,and Fukien in Postal Romanization. Currently there are 2 counties under Fujian Province

Romanization Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Wade-Giles Pe̍h-ōe-jī Pha̍k-fa-sṳ Capital Capital in Chinese
Lienchiang County (Matsu) 連江縣 Liánjiāng Lien2-chiang1 Liân-kang Lièn-kông Nangan Township 南竿鄉
Kinmen County 金門縣 Jīnmén Chin1-men2 Kim-mn̂g Kîm-mùn Jincheng Township 金城鎮

See also