Taoyuan, Taiwan

Taoyuan 桃園市
Special municipality
From left to right, top to bottom: China Airlines passenger plane on the Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan district , Yongan Fishing Port, HSR Taoyuan Station, Daxi Old Street of Baroque architecture, Shihmen Reservoir, Small Wulai Waterfall
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 24°59′28.6″N 121°18′51.58″E / 24.991278°N 121.3143278°E / 24.991278; 121.3143278Coordinates: 24°59′28.6″N 121°18′51.58″E / 24.991278°N 121.3143278°E / 24.991278; 121.3143278
Country	Republic of China
Region	Northern Taiwan
City Seat	Taoyuan District
District-divisions	13 districts
Government
• Mayor	Cheng Wen-tsan (DPP)
• Deputy Mayor	Chiu Tai-san[1]
Area
• Total	1,220.9540 km2 (471.4130 sq mi)
Area rank	14 of 22
Population (January 2016)
• Total	2,108,786[2]
• Rank	5 of 22
Time zone	CST (UTC+8)
Website	www.tycg.gov.tw
Symbols
Bird	Formosan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea)
Flower	Peach blossom
Tree	Peach tree

(video) Taoyuan, looking down from the air.

Taoyuan (Chinese: 桃園市; pinyin: Táoyuán Shì), is a special municipality in northwestern Taiwan, neighboring New Taipei, Hsinchu County, and Yilan County. Taoyuan District is the seat of the municipal government and that which, along with Zhongli District, forms a large metropolitan area, home to many industrial parks and tech company headquarters. Taoyuan developed from a satellite city of Taipei metropolitan area to be the fourth-largest metropolitan area, and fifth-largest populated city in Taiwan. Since commuting to the Taipei metropolitan area is easy, Taoyuan has seen the fastest population growth of all cities in Taiwan.

"Taoyuan" means "peach garden," since the area used to have many peach blossom trees. Taoyuan is the native home to the Pingpu tribe of aborigines. It is also one of Taiwan's important industrial regions. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, which serves the capital, Taipei and the rest of northern Taiwan, is located in this city.

The current city of Taoyuan achieved its current form in 2014 when the former Taoyuan County was elevated to special municipality status. At the same time, the original county-controlled city of Taoyuan became Taoyuan District within the new municipality.^[3]

History

Early History

Anciently, the Taoyuan plateau was the home of the Taiwanese plains aborigines. In prehistory, the Ketagalan people settled in Nankan (南崁). In the early years of Dutch colonization, Spanish colonization, and Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty, there were no large-scale cultivation or industrial activities. During the Qing era, a number of people from Fujian Province and Guangdong province began to immigrate into present-day Taoyuan to develop and farm the land. They planted peach trees, which, when fully bloomed in spring, were so beautiful that the people named the land Toahong (桃仔園; pinyin: Táozǐyuán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thô-á-hn̂g; literally: "peach orchard").

Empire of Japan (1895–1945)

Taoyuan Station during Japanese occupation Era.

In November 1901, under Japanese rule, a local administrative office, Toshien Cho (桃仔園廳), was established in the area. In 1909, the number of Cho were reduced and the local unit was renamed Tōen Chō (桃園廳). In 1920, the Tōen area was incorporated into Shinchiku Prefecture.

During the Japanese era, the staged migration policy caused Taoyuan to develop into a city with a variety of cultures. For example, temples and worship paths (currently the Taoyuan Martyrs Shrine) symbolized cultural systems. Wude Temple (武德殿) was used to represent military systems, and the old Taoyuan City Office signified political systems.

Republic of China (1945–present)

In 1950, Taoyuan County was established by the Republic of China government. On 21 April 1971, Taoyuan City was made the capital of Taoyuan County. At the edge of the Greater Taipei region, this caused some structural and lifestyle changes within Taiwanese society. Trade prosperity in recent years and the proliferation of job opportunities helped Taoyuan develop into a major economic district in northern Taiwan and the population has increased ever since.

On December 25, 2014, Taoyuan County was reorganized from a county to become a special municipality named Taoyuan City (桃園市).

Geography

Overview of downtown Taoyuan

Taoyuan is located approximately 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Taipei, in northern Taiwan, and occupies 1,220 km² (470 sq mi). It is made up of low-lying plains, interconnected mountains and plateaus. Its shape has a long and narrow southeast-to-northwest trend, with the southeast in the Xueshan Range and the far end on the shores of the Taiwan Strait.

There are many irrigation ponds at Taoyuan Plateau, which caused Taoyuan to earn the nickname "Thousand-pond Township" (千塘之鄉).^[4]

Climate

Taoyuan has a humid subtropical climate, with mild to warm winters and hot summers, typical of northern Taiwan.

(The climate data of Taipei City is shown below for reference due to the city's proximity to Taipei.)

Ethnic composition

Han Chinese

Hoklo

As of the rest of Taiwan, the Hoklos is one of the largest ethnic groups of Taoyuan, most of whom lives in northern Taoyuan (北桃園), which comprises most northern districts of the city, including Bade, Daxi, Dayuan, Guishan and Luzhu, and the city seat, Taoyuan District.

Hakka

The Hakkas are the second-largest ethnic group in the city after the Hoklos, most of them residing in southern Taoyuan (南桃園), which includes Zhongli, Pingzhen, Pingzhen, Longtan, Guanyin and Xinwu districts. With more than 785,000 Hakka people, Taoyuan holds the largest Hakka population among all of Taiwan's administrative divisions.

Waishengren

After the Chinese Civil War, many people from mainland China (unaffectionately referred to as "Waishengren") settled in the then-Taoyuan County after the retreat of the nationalist government in 1949. Most of them live in Military dependents' villages in Zhongli, Pingzhen and Guishan. Longgang is well known for its immigrants from Yunnan, featuring many Yunnan-style restaurants.

Aborigines

Most Taiwanese aborigines in the city live in Fuxing District, with most of them belonging to the Atayal people.

Economy

Taoyuan is one of the Taiwan's top industrial and technology city. High-tech companies including Quanta, MiTAC, Inotera, Nanya Technology, HTC, CPT and AU Optronics have all opted to build or expand their factories in Taoyuan. Taoyuan has now become a bastion of global electronics, optoelectronics display and semiconductor manufacturing. Over 200 of Taiwan's top 500 manufacturing companies have factories in Taoyuan. Taoyuan has also led Taiwan in terms of industrial output for nine straight years.

There are now 29 (registered) industrial areas with 3,696 ha (9,130 acres) of non-urban industrial land and 3,131 ha (7,740 acres) of urban industrial land. There are over 6,827 ha (16,870 acres) of land available for factories and industrial use in the city, representing the fact that Taoyuan's development bureau is based on industry and commerce. There are also 9 sites (57 ha; 140 acres) for mixed industrial-commercial use, the most of any county and city in Taiwan.^[6]

On March 26, 2010, China Airlines moved into its new headquarters on the grounds of Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and in Dayuan Township in Taoyuan County (now Dayuan District, Taoyuan).^[7][8] EVA Air maintains its headquarters in Luzhu District.^[9] Evergreen Airlines Services Corporation, Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp., and Evergreen Air Cargo Services Corporation, subsidiaries of Evergreen Group, are headquartered in Dayuan.^[10][11][12]

Administration

Taoyuan City Administrative Divisions

Taoyuan City is divided into 12 districts and 1 mountain indigenous district.

Prior to its upgrade to become municipality on 25 December 2014, Taoyuan County used to have 6 county-controlled cities (Bade, Luzhu, Pingzhen, Taoyuan, Yangmei, Zhongli), 1 urban township (Daxi), 5 rural townships (Dayuan, Guanyin, Guishan, Longtan, Xinwu), and 1 Mountain indigenous township (Fuxing).

Tourism

Shimen Reservoir

Shihmen Reservoir (traditionally spelled "Shihmen") (石門水庫) is one of Taiwan's major reservoirs. Once the largest water conservancy project in Southeast Asia, visitors may find many restaurants open near the reservoir serving fresh reservoir fish delicacies. There is also a three km-long (1.9 mi) bicycle track surrounding the back pond. Shimen Reservoir provides almost all of the water in Taoyuan, as well as to New Taipei City's Xinzhuang, Banqiao, and Linkou districts.

Daxi Old Street

Daxi Old Street is one of the more famous Taiwanese old streets. It used to be a bustling hub for camphor and the tea trade, filled with diverse stores with façades designed in a Baroque style.

Cihu Mausoleum

Cihu Mausoleum (慈湖陵寢) is the final resting place of the former president of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-Shek.

Window on China Theme Park

The Window on China Theme Park (小人國主題樂園) is one of Taiwan's earliest theme parks, established in 1984. The park consists of three areas: Mini World, Water Park, and Amusement Park. The park features numerous small-scale replicas of many famous world landmarks.

Lalashan

Lalashan (拉拉山) is one of Taiwan's "natural protection zones," including 500- to 2,800-year-old divine trees and the "No. 5 Divine Tree," which predates Confucius.

Taoyuan Martyrs' Shrine

Taoyuan Martyrs' Shrine (桃園忠烈祠) is one of the best-kept Shinto shrines outside Japan.

Longgang Mosque

The Longgang Mosque (龍岡清真寺) in Zhongli District is Taiwan's fifth mosque. It was originally built in 1967 to serve an area with many Taiwanese Muslims.

Shihmen Reservoir

Window on China Theme Park

Cihu Mausoleum of Chiang Kai-Shek

Longgang Mosque

Government and Politics

Taoyuan City Government

Taoyuan City Council

Leaders

Cheng Wen-tsan, the incumbent Mayor of Taoyuan.

In 2001, Eric Chu of the Kuomintang defeated Democratic Progressive Party incumbent Peng Shao-Chin in the race for Taoyuan County magistrate. Peng had inherited the magistrate position after Annette Lu vacated the post to serve as vice president. Chu ran for re-election in 2005 and defeated DPP challenger Pao-Ching Cheng, CEO of the Taiwan Salt Company.

In 2009, John Wu of the KMT defeated his DPP opponent, Cheng Wen-Tsan and became the Magistrate of Taoyuan County.

After the upgrade of Taoyuan County to Taoyuan City, Cheng Wen-Tsan of the DPP won the 2014 Taoyuan City mayoralty election, on November 29, 2014, and became the city's first mayor, starting December 25, 2014.^[13]

Presidential elections

1996 presidential election

A majority of Taoyuan County residents voted for eventual winner Lee Teng-hui and vice president Lien Chan.

2000 presidential election

2004 Presidential election

2008 presidential election

2012 presidential election

Education

National Central University

Chung Yuan Christian University

Yuan Ze University

National Defense University

Army Academy R.O.C.

Public universities

• Central Police University
• National Central University
• National Defense University
• National Taiwan Sport University

Private universities

• Chang Gung University
• Ching Yun University
• Chung Yuan Christian University
• Kainan University
• Lunghwa University of Science and Technology
• Vanung University
• Yuan Ze University

Military Academies

• Army Academy R.O.C.
• Republic of China Army Communication, Electronics and Information School
• Republic of China Army Chemical School
• Republic of China Army Logistics School
• Republic of China Military Police School

Public high schools

• National Chungli High School
• National Neili Senior High School
• National Taoyuan Senior High School
• National Wu-Ling Senior High School
• National Yangmei Senior High School
• National Yangming Senior High School
• Taoyuan City Dasi Senior High School
• Taoyuan City Dayuan International Senior High School
• Taoyuan City Nankan Senior High School
• Taoyuan City Pingjhen Senior High School
• Taoyuan City Shoushan Senior High School
• Taoyuan City Yungfong Senior High School

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

Industry and environment

A former RCA facility is located in the city. The RCA facility is the source of significant trichloroethylene contamination.

Sports

Taoyuan International Baseball Field.

Taoyuan is home to the Lamigo Monkeys, CPBL, team, which plays its home games at the Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium. The then-Taoyuan County is also the birthplace of Taiwanese professional golfer Yani Tseng and taekwondo athlete Chu Mu-Yen.

Transportation

TRA Taoyuan Station

THSR Taoyuan Station

Taoyuan International Airport

The Skytrain shuttles passengers between Terminals 1 and 2, Taoyuan International Airport.

Rail

• Taiwan Railway Administration Western Line

TRA Western Line（Taoyuan - Neili - Zhongli - Puxin - Yangmei - Fugang）

• Taoyuan Taolin Railroad (Linkou Line)

The Taoyuan Taolin Railroad is a railway branch line in Taiwan run by the Taiwan Railway Administration. It is located in Taoyuan and New Taipei City.

• Taiwan High Speed Rail

Taoyuan Station is located at the Qingpu (青埔) area, in Zhongli District.

Mass Rapid Transit

A rapid transit system is under construction. (See Taoyuan Mass Rapid Transit System.)

• Lines and stations of the Taoyuan MRT System:

Road

National Highway No. 1 and 3 are nearby and connect via local highways to the city itself. National Highway No. 2 connects to Taoyuan International Airport.

Bus

• Taoyuan Bus Co. (Chinese)
• Zhongli Bus Co. (Chinese)

Air

Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at Dayuan District is the largest airport in Taiwan. It serves as the main international hub for China Airlines and EVA Air. Taipei Taoyuan handled a total of 25,114,418 passengers in 2010. It is the fifteenth-busiest air freight hub in the world and thirteenth-busiest airport by international passenger traffic. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport currently has two terminals which are connected by two, short people movers. A third terminal is planned, and a rapid transit system currently under construction will link the terminals together underground.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Relative location

		Taiwan Strait
	Taiwan Strait		New Taipei City
		Taoyuan
		Hsinchu County

See also

• Special municipality (Taiwan)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taoyuan City.

• Taoyuan City Government official website (Chinese)
• Taoyuan City Government official website (English)

Administrative divisions of Taiwan Special municipalities (6) Kaohsiung New Taipei Taichung Tainan Taipei Taoyuan Provincial cities (3) Chiayi Hsinchu Keelung Counties (13) Changhua Chiayi Hsinchu Hualien Kinmen Lienchiang Miaoli Nantou Penghu Pingtung Taitung Yilan Yunlin Free area of the Republic of China Streamlined Provinces Taiwan Fujian List of administrative divisions of Taiwan

Districts of Taoyuan City seat: Taoyuan District Districts Bade Daxi Dayuan Guanyin Guishan Longtan Luzhu Pingzhen Taoyuan Xinwu Yangmei Zhongli Mountain indigenous district Fuxing