T'ai-chung

City (pop., 2002 est.: 990,041), west-central Taiwan.

Most of the old town was torn down under the Japanese occupation (1895–1945) and replaced by a planned modern city. An agricultural centre since the early 19th century, it is a major market for the rice, sugar, and bananas produced in the surrounding area. In the 1970s an international seaport was developed west of the city, and T'ai-chung was designated an export-processing zone to encourage foreign investment. It is also a cultural centre, with various institutions of higher education. In 1999 it suffered one of Taiwan's worst earthquakes.

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▪ Taiwan

      shih (municipality), west-central Taiwan, since 1959 the seat of the provincial administration of Taiwan province. T'ai-chung grew in the early 19th century as the collecting centre for a fertile agricultural basin situated between the low west-coast uplands and the central highlands. When in 1891 the provincial capital was moved from T'ai-nan to Taipei, T'ai-chung was considered as an alternative site. Under the Japanese occupation (1895–1945), most of the old town was torn down, and T'ai-chung was laid out on a broad, regular plan as a modern city. Its trade was greatly stimulated by the completion of the main railway, connecting T'ai-chung with Taipei and Chi-lung in the north and with T'ai-nan and Kao-hsiung in the south. The city became a major market for the rice, sugar, and bananas produced in the surrounding area, thus replacing Chang-hua to the southwest as the commercial centre of the region. In the 1970s, a harbour and fishing port were developed on the coast to the west of the city, and T'ai-chung was designated an export-processing zone to encourage foreign investment.

      T'ai-chung grew rapidly, its population more than tripling between 1948 and 1977. It has a large percentage of refugees from the Chinese mainland among its population. Since it became the provincial capital in 1959, it has acquired administrative functions; it is also a cultural centre, with various institutions of higher education. Area 63 square miles (163 square km). Pop. (1992 est.) 779,370.

▪ county, Taiwan

      hsien (county), west-central Taiwan. It is bordered by the hsiens of Miao-li (north), I-lan and Hua-lien (east), and Chang-hua and Nan-t'ou (south) and by the Taiwan Strait (west). Northern extensions of the Chung-yang Mountain Range rise to elevations between 8,000 and 13,000 feet (2,500 and 3,900 m) above sea level and cover most of the eastern part of the hsien. To the west are alluvial plains, in one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Taiwan, where paddy rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, jute, hemp, and bananas are grown. Cattle and poultry are also raised. Industries produce textiles, machinery, processed foods, chemicals, and timber; gold and clay are extracted. The Ta-chia Dam, 28 miles (45 km) northeast of T'ai-chung city, supplies electricity for the surrounding region. The T'ai-chung Industrial Park, with an area of 4,900 acres (2,000 ha), has been developed for industrial expansion. Ma-ling, on the Ta-chia River, has Taiwan's first trout farm. The Chen Lan temple at Ta-chia is well known as the starting point of an annual pilgrimage to Pei-kang in southern Taiwan in honour of Matsu, goddess of the sea. The Taiwan Provincial Assembly, 6 miles south of T'ai-chung city, houses a governmental body concerned with Taiwan (island) affairs.

      T'ai-chung shih (municipality), administratively independent, is enclosed by the hsien and situated in the southwest. In the 1970s an international seaport, now one of the most important ports on the west coast of Taiwan, was developed on the coast west of T'ai-chung city. Feng-yüan, the administrative seat, is well served by north-south-running railways and roads. Area 792 square miles (2,051 square km). Pop. (1992 est.) 1,294,090.

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