District (Taiwan) Explained

District
Category:Townships/cities and districts
Territory:Free area of the Republic of China
Start Date:1945-10-25
Start Date1:1999-01-25
Legislation Begin:Local Government Act[1]
Current Number:170
Number Date:2019
Government1:None
Subdivision:Village

Districts are administrative subdivisions of the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s special municipalities of the second level and provincial cities of the third level formerly under its provinces. There are two types of district in the administrative scheme.

NameChineseMandarin
Pinyin		Taiwanese
Pe̍h-ōe-jī
DistrictChinese: 區qūkhu
Mountain indigenous districtChinese: 直轄市山地原住民區zhíxiáshì shāndì
yuánzhùmín qū		Ti̍t-hat-chhī soaⁿ-tē
goân-chū-bîn khu

Ordinary districts are governed directly by the municipality/city government with district administrators appointed by the mayors to four-year terms. The mountain indigenous district is a local government body with elected district chiefs as well as district council serving four-year terms.

History

The first administrative divisions entitled "districts" were established in the 1900s when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. After the World War II, nine (9) out of eleven (11) prefectural cities established by the Japanese government were reform into provincial cities. These cities are Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, Keelung, Pingtung, Taichung, Tainan and Taipei. The wards (Japanese: 区 ku) and towns (Japanese: 町 machi) under those cities were merged into larger districts. At the same time, the districts (Japanese: 郡 kun) under prefectures also reformed as county-controlled districts.

Divisions before 1945Divisions after 1945 to 1950
NameKanjiJapanese
Hepburn		Taiwanese
Pe̍h-ōe-jī		NameChineseMandarin
Pinyin		Taiwanese
Pe̍h-ōe-jī
Ward (under cities)Japanese: 區kukhuDistrict (under cities)Chinese: 區qūkhu
District (under prefectures)Japanese: 郡kunkūnDistrict (under counties)Chinese: 區qūkhu
In August 1950, another administrative division reform was performed in Taiwan, the size of counties shrink and all townships are all directly administered by the county. County-controlled districts were all defunct in this reform. At the same time provincial cities including Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Pingtung were downgraded to county-administered cities, districts of these cities were also defunct. This makes district the type of division exclusively under the five remaining provincial cities: Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung, Tainan and Taipei.

When Taipei was promoted as a special municipality by the central government in 1967, several townships surrounding the city were merged into Taipei City and were reorganized as its districts. Afterwards, through another reorganization in 1990, the 12 current districts were formed. In addition, Kaohsiung, the largest city in southern Taiwan, was promoted as a special municipality in 1979. Siaogang Township was also merged to Siaogang District.

In December 2010, the four new special municipalities were established namely Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan. Subsequently, all the county-administered cities and townships in Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, and Taipei Counties were reformed as districts of the new Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan and New Taipei cities respectively. Their names, nevertheless, remained the same. The same thing happened to Taoyuan on 25 December 2014 where there are additional new 13 districts from the former county.

These municipalities and provincial cities use district administrative centers for public affairs services to serve the residents of these districts. Also, the directors of these districts and administrative centers are appointed by the mayors, with four years per term.

On 4 February 2014, six districts were reclassified as Special Municipal Mountain Indigenous District (; or shortened as Mountain Indigenous District): Wulai in New Taipei, Fuxing in Taoyuan, Heping in Taichung, along with Namasia, Maolin, and Taoyuan in Kaohsiung.

Districts in Taiwan

Districts by cities

In the Republic of China, districts are the only subdivisions of special municipalities and provincial cities in Taiwan Province. Currently, there are 164 districts and 6 mountain indigenous districts located in the special municipalities and the provincial cities.

Division typeSpecial municipalityProvincial cityTotal
NameKaohsiung[2] New Taipei[3] Taichung[4] Tainan[5] Taipei[6] TaoyuanChiayi[7] Hsinchu[8] Keelung[9]
Districts352828371212237164
Mountain indigenous districts31116

List of Districts in Taiwan

Colors indicate the common language status of Hakka and Formosan languages within each division.

NameChineseHànyǔ PīnyīnTaiwanese POJHakkaFormosan or othersCityType
ZhongzhengZhōngzhèngTiong-chèngTsûng-tsangTaipeiMunicipal
WanhuaWànhuáBáng-kahVan-fàBangkaBasayTaipeiMunicipal
DatongDàtóngTāi-tôngThai-thùngTaipeiMunicipal
ZhongshanZhōngshānTiong-sanTsûng-sânTaipeiMunicipal
SongshanSōngshānSiông-sanTshiùng-sânTaipeiMunicipal
DaanDà'ānTāi-anThai-ônTaipeiMunicipal
XinyiXìnyìSìn-gīSin-ngiTaipeiMunicipal
NeihuNèihúLāi-ô͘Nui-fùTaipeiMunicipal
NangangNángǎngLâm-kángNàm-kóngTaipeiMunicipal
ShilinShìlínSū-lîmSṳ-lìmTaipeiMunicipal
BeitouBěitóuPak-tâuPet-thèuTaipeiMunicipal
WenshanWénshānBûn-sanVùn-sânTaipeiMunicipal
BanqiaoBǎnqiáoPang-kiôPiông-khièuNew TaipeiMunicipal
XinzhuangXīnzhuāngSin-chngSîn-chôngNew TaipeiMunicipal
ZhongheZhōnghéTiong-hôChûng-fòNew TaipeiMunicipal
YongheYǒnghéÉng-hôYún-fòNew TaipeiMunicipal
TuchengTǔchéngThô͘-siâⁿThú-sàngNew TaipeiMunicipal
ShulinShùlínChhiū-nâSu-nàNew TaipeiMunicipal
SanxiaSānxiáSam-kiapSâm-hia̍pNew TaipeiMunicipal
YinggeYīnggēEng-koYîn-kôNew TaipeiMunicipal
SanchongSānchóngSam-tiông/Sâm-chhùngNew TaipeiMunicipal
LuzhouLúzhōuLô͘-chiuLù-chûNew TaipeiMunicipal
WuguWǔgǔGō͘-kó͘Ńg-kúNew TaipeiMunicipal
TaishanTàishānThài-sanThai-sânNew TaipeiMunicipal
LinkouLínkǒuNâ-khàuNà-khiéuNew TaipeiMunicipal
BaliBālǐPat-líPat-lîNew TaipeiMunicipal
TamsuiDànshuǐTām-chuíThâm-súiNew TaipeiMunicipal
SanzhiSānzhīSam-chiSâm-chṳNew TaipeiMunicipal
ShimenShíménChio̍h-mn̂gSa̍k-mùnNew TaipeiMunicipal
JinshanJīnshānKim-sanKîm-sânNew TaipeiMunicipal
WanliWànlǐBān-líVan-lîNew TaipeiMunicipal
XizhiXīzhǐSe̍k-chíSip-chṳNew TaipeiMunicipal
RuifangRuìfāngSūi-hongLui-fôngNew TaipeiMunicipal
GongliaoGòngliáoKòng-liâuKung-liàuNew TaipeiMunicipal
PingxiPíngxīPêng-khePhìn-hâiNew TaipeiMunicipal
ShuangxiShuāngxīSiang-kheSûng-hâiNew TaipeiMunicipal
XindianXīndiànSin-tiàmSîn-tiamNew TaipeiMunicipal
ShenkengShēnkēngChhim-kheⁿChhṳ̂m-hângNew TaipeiMunicipal
ShidingShídìngChio̍h-tēngSa̍k-tàngNew TaipeiMunicipal
PinglinPínglínPêⁿ-nâPhiâng-lìmNew TaipeiMunicipal
WulaiWūláiU-laiVû-lòibgcolor=wheatUlayAtayal New TaipeiMountain indigenous
TaoyuanTáoyuánThô-hngThò-yènTaoyuanMunicipal
ZhongliZhōnglìTiong-lekbgcolor=pinkChûng-la̍kTaoyuanMunicipal
DaxiDàxīTāi-khebgcolor=pinkThai-hâiTaoyuanMunicipal
YangmeiYángméiIûⁿ-mûibgcolor=pinkYông-muìTaoyuanMunicipal
LuzhuLúzhúLô·-tekLù-tsukTaoyuanMunicipal
DayuanDàyuánToā-Hngbgcolor=pinkThai-yènTaoyuanMunicipal
GuishanGuīshānKu-soaⁿKuî-sânTaoyuanMunicipal
BadeBādéPat-tekPat-tetTaoyuanMunicipal
LongtanLóngtánLiông-thâmbgcolor=pinkLiùng-thâmTaoyuanMunicipal
PingzhenPíngzhènPêng-tìnbgcolor=pinkPhìn-tsṳ́nTaoyuanMunicipal
XinwuXīnwūSin-okbgcolor=pinkSîn-vukTaoyuanMunicipal
GuanyinGuānyīnKoan-imbgcolor=pinkKôn-yîmTaoyuanMunicipal
FuxingFùxīngHok-hengFu̍k-hînbgcolor=wheatPyasanAtayal TaoyuanMountain indigenous
CentralZhōngTiongChûngTaichungMunicipal
EastDōngTangTûngTaichungMunicipal
SouthNánLâmNàmTaichungMunicipal
WestXiSeSîTaichungMunicipal
NorthBěiPakPetTaichungMunicipal
BeitunBěitúnPak-tūnPet-tunTaichungMunicipal
XitunXitúnSe-tūnSî-tunTaichungMunicipal
NantunNántúnLâm-tūnNàm-tunTaichungMunicipal
TaipingTàipíngThài-pêngThai-phìnTaichungMunicipal
DaliDàlǐTāi-líThai-lîTaichungMunicipal
WufengWùfēngBū-hongVú-fûngTaichungMunicipal
WuriWūrìO·-ji̍tVû-ngitTaichungMunicipal
FengyuanFēngyuánHong-goânbgcolor=pinkFûng-ngiènTaichungMunicipal
HouliHòulǐAū-líHeu-lîTaichungMunicipal
ShigangShígāngChio̍h-kngbgcolor=pinkSa̍k-kóngTaichungMunicipal
DongshiDōngshìTang-sìbgcolor=pinkTûng-sṳTaichungMunicipal
XinsheXīnshèSin-siābgcolor=pinkSîn-saTaichungMunicipal
TanziTánzĭThâm-chúThâm-tsṳ́ TaichungMunicipal
DayaDàyǎTāi-ngéThai-ngâTaichungMunicipal
ShengangShéngāngSin-kóngSṳ̀n-kôngTaichungMunicipal
DaduDàdùTōa-tō͘Thai-túTaichungMunicipal
ShaluShālùSoa-la̍kSâ-lu̍kTaichungMunicipal
LongjingLóngjǐngLiông-chéⁿLiùng-tsiángTaichungMunicipal
WuqiWúqīGō·-chheǸg-tshiTaichungMunicipal
QingshuiQīngshuǐChheng-chúiTshîn-súiTaichungMunicipal
DajiaDàjiǎTāi-kahThai-kapTaichungMunicipal
WaipuWàipǔGoā-po͘Ngoi-phûTaichungMunicipal
DaanDà'ānTāi-anThai-ônTaichungMunicipal
HepingHépíngHô-pêngbgcolor=pinkFò-phìnbgcolor=wheatPasingAtayalTaichungMountain indigenous
West CentralZhōngxīTiong-seChûng-sîTainanMunicipal
EastDōngTangTûngTainanMunicipal
SouthNánLâmNàmTainanMunicipal
NorthBěiPakPetTainanMunicipal
AnpingĀnpíngAn-pêngAn-phìnTainanMunicipal
AnnanĀnnánAn-lâmAn-nàmTainanMunicipal
YongkangYǒngkāngÉng-khongYún-khôngTainanMunicipal
Gueiren (Guiren)GuīrénKui-jînKûi-yìnTainanMunicipal
Sinhua (Xinhua)XīnhuàSin-hòaSîn-faTainanMunicipal
Zuojhen (Zuozhen)ZuǒzhènChó-tìnTsó-tsṳ́nTainanMunicipal
YujingYùjǐngGio̍k-chéⁿNgiu̍k-tsiángTainanMunicipal
Nansi (Nanxi)NánxīLâm-seNàm-sîTainanMunicipal
NanhuaNánhuàLâm-hòaNàm-faTainanMunicipal
RendeRéndéJîn-tekYìn-tetTainanMunicipal
GuanmiaoGuānmiàoKoan-biōKûan-meuTainanMunicipal
Longci (Longqi)LóngqíLiông-kiāLiùng-khìTainanMunicipal
GuantianGuāntiánKoaⁿ-tiānKôn-thiènTainanMunicipal
MadouMádòuMôa-tāuMà-theuTainanMunicipal
JialiJiālǐKa-líKâ-lîTainanMunicipal
Sigang (Xigang)XīgǎngSai-kángSî-kóngTainanMunicipal
Cigu (Qigu)QīgǔChhit-kó͘Tshit-kúTainanMunicipal
Jiangjun (Jiangjyun)JiāngjūnChiong-kunTsiông-kiûnTainanMunicipal
Syuejia (Xuejia)XuéjiǎHa̍k-kahHo̍k-kapTainanMunicipal
BeimenBěiménPak-mn̂gPet-mùnTainanMunicipal
Xinying (Sinying)XīnyíngSin-iâⁿSîn-yàngTainanMunicipal
HoubiHòubìĀu-piahHeu-piakTainanMunicipal
BaiheBáihéPe̍h-hôPha̍k-hòTainanMunicipal
DongshanDōngshānTong-sanTûng-sânTainanMunicipal
Lioujia (Liujia)LiùjiǎLa̍k-kahLiuk-kapTainanMunicipal
Xiaying (Siaying)XiàyíngĒ-iâⁿHa-yàngTainanMunicipal
Liouying (Liuying)LiǔyíngLiú-iâⁿLiú-yàngTainanMunicipal
Yanshuei (Yanshui)YánshuǐKiâm-chúiYàm-súiTainanMunicipal
ShanhuaShànhuàSiān-hòaSan-faTainanMunicipal
DaneiDànèiTōa-lāiThai-nuiTainanMunicipal
ShanshangShānshàngSan-siōngSân-songTainanMunicipal
Sinshih (Xinshi)XīnshìSin-chhīSîn-sṳTainanMunicipal
AndingĀndìngAn-tēngÔn-thinTainanMunicipal
YanchengYánchéngIâm-tiâⁿYàm-thàngKaohsiungMunicipal
GushanGǔshānKó͘-sanKú-sânKaohsiungMunicipal
ZuoyingZuǒyíngChó-iâⁿTsó-yàngKaohsiungMunicipal
Nanzih (Nanzi)NánzǐLâm-chúNàm-chṳ̀ KaohsiungMunicipal
SanminSānmínSam-bînSân-mìnKaohsiungMunicipal
Sinsing (Xinxing)XīnxīngSin-hengSîn-hînKaohsiungMunicipal
Cianjin (Qianjin)QiánjīnChiân-kimChhièn-kîmKaohsiungMunicipal
LingyaLíngyǎLêng-ngáLìn-ngáKaohsiungMunicipal
Cianjhen (Qianzhen)QiánzhènChiân-tìnTshièn-chṳ́nKaohsiungMunicipal
Cijin (Qijin)QíjīnKî-tinKhì-chînKaohsiungMunicipal
Siaogang (Xiaogang)XiǎogǎngSió-kángSeú-kóngKaohsiungMunicipal
Fongshan (Fengshan)FèngshānHōng-soaⁿFung-sânKaohsiungMunicipal
LinyuanLínyuánLîm-hn̂gLìm-yènKaohsiungMunicipal
DaliaoDàliáoToā-liâuThai-liàuKaohsiungMunicipal
DashuDàshùToā-chhiūThai-suKaohsiungMunicipal
DasheDàshèToā-siāThai-saKaohsiungMunicipal
RenwuRénwǔJîn-búYìn-vúKaohsiungMunicipal
NiaosongNiǎosōngChiáu-chhêngTiâu-tshiùngKaohsiungMunicipal
GangshanGāngshānKong-sanKông-sânKaohsiungMunicipal
Ciaotou (Qiaotou)QiáotóuKiô-thâuKhiâu-thèuKaohsiungMunicipal
YanchaoYàncháoIàn-châuYèn-tshâuKaohsiungMunicipal
TianliaoTiánliáoChhân-liâuThièn-liàuKaohsiungMunicipal
AlianĀliánA-lianÂ-liènKaohsiungMunicipal
Lujhu (Luzhu)LùzhúLō͘-tekLu-tsukKaohsiungMunicipal
HuneiHúnèiÔ͘-lāiFù-nuiKaohsiungMunicipal
Qieding (Cieding)QiédìngKa-tiāⁿKâ-tinKaohsiungMunicipal
Yong'an (Yong-an)Yǒng'ānÉng-anYún-ônKaohsiungMunicipal
MituoMítuóMî-tôMì-thòKaohsiungMunicipal
Ziguan (Zihguan)ZǐguānChú-koaⁿTsṳ́-kônKaohsiungMunicipal
Cishan (Qishan)QíshānKî-sanKhì-sânKaohsiungMunicipal
MeinongMěinóngBi-longbgcolor=pinkMî-nùngKaohsiungMunicipal
Liouguei (Liugui)LiùguīLa̍k-kubgcolor=pinkLiuk-kuîKaohsiungMunicipal
Jiasian (Jiaxian)JiǎxiānKah-sianbgcolor=pinkKap-siênKaohsiungMunicipal
ShanlinShānlínSam-nâbgcolor=pinkTsham-lìmKaohsiungMunicipal
NeimenNèiménLāi-mn̂gNui-mùnKaohsiungMunicipal
MaolinMàolínBō͘-lîmMeu-lìmbgcolor=wheatTeldrekaRukaiKaohsiungMountain indigenous
Taoyuan (Tauyuan)TáoyuánThô-goânThò-ngiènbgcolor=wheatNganiBununKaohsiungMountain indigenous
Namasia (Namaxia)NàmǎxiàNamasiaNamasiabgcolor=wheatNamasiaBunun, KanakanavuKaohsiungMountain indigenous
EastDōngTangTûngChiayiMunicipal
WestXīSeSîChiayiMunicipal
EastDōngTangbgcolor=pinkTûngHsinchuMunicipal
NorthBěiPakPetHsinchuMunicipal
XiangshanXiāngshānHiong-sanbgcolor=pinkHiông-sânHsinchuMunicipal
ZhongzhengZhōngzhèngTiong-chèngTsûng-tsangKeelungMunicipal
ZhongshanZhōngshānTiong-sanTsûng-sânKeelungMunicipal
Ren'aiRén'àiJîn-àiYìn-oiKeelungMunicipal
XinyiXìnyìSìn-gīSin-ngiKeelungMunicipal
AnleĀnlèAn-lo̍kÔn-lo̍kKeelungMunicipal
NuannuanNuǎnnuǎnLóan-lóanNôn-nônKeelungMunicipal
QiduQīdǔChhit-tó͘Tshit-tùKeelungMunicipal

Former districts

District changes between 1945 and 1950

CityDistrictsAftermath
1945 – 19461946 – 1950
ChanghuaChang-pei (Chinese: 彰北區)Changhua county-administered city
Districts were defunct
Chang-hsi (Chinese: 彰西區)
Chang-nan (Chinese: 彰南區)
Ta-chu (Chinese: 大竹區)
ChiayiTung-men (Chinese: 東門區)Hsin-tung (Chinese: 新東區)Chiayi county-administered city
Districts were defunct
Then East and West Districts, Chiayi (provincial city)
Tung-shan (Chinese: 東山區)
Nan-men (Chinese: 南門區)Hsin-nan (Chinese: 新南區)
Pa-chiang (Chinese: 八獎區)
Hsi-men (Chinese: 西門區)Hsin-hsi (Chinese: 新西區)
Chu-wei (Chinese: 竹圍區)
Pei-men (Chinese: 北門區)Hsin-pei (Chinese: 新北區)
Pei-chen (Chinese: 北鎮區)
(part of
Tainan County) 		Shui-shang (Chinese: 水上區)Shuishang Township, Chiayi County
Tai-pao (Chinese: 太保區)Taibao City, Chiayi County
HsinchuEast (Chinese: 東區)Hsinchu county-administered city
Districts were defunct
Then East and North Districts, Hsinchu (provincial city)
South (Chinese: 南區)
West (Chinese: 西區)
North (Chinese: 北區)
Hsiang-shan (Chinese: 香山區)Hsiang-shan Township in Hsinchu County,
then Xiangshan District, Hsinchu (provincial city)
(part of
Hsinchu County) 		Chu-tung (Chinese: 竹東區)Zhudong Township, Hsinchu County
Pao-shan (Chinese: 寶山區)Baoshan Township, Hsinchu County
PingtungCentral (Chinese: 中區)Pingtung county-administered city
Districts were defunct
East (Chinese: 東區)
South (Chinese: 南區)
North (Chinese: 北區)
(part of
Kaohsiung County) 		Wan-tan (Chinese: 萬丹區)Wandan Township, Pingtung County
Chang-chih (Chinese: 長治區)Changzhi and Linluo Townships, Pingtung County
Chiu-ju (Chinese: 九如區)Jiuru Township, Pingtung County

District reforms in Taipei

1945 – 19681968 – 1990After 1990
Chien-cheng (Chinese: 建成區) Datong
Yen-ping (Chinese: 延平區)
Ta-tung (Chinese: 大同區)
Cheng-chung (Chinese: 城中區) Zhongzheng
Ku-ting (Chinese: 古亭區)
Shuang-yuan (Chinese: 雙園區) Wanhua
Lung-shan (Chinese: 龍山區)
(part of
Taipei County)		Wenshan
Mu-cha

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local Government Act - Article Content - Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China . law.moj.gov.tw . 13 November 2019.
  2. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=KaoHsiung+City "KaoHsiung City"
  3. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=New+Taipei+City "New Taipei City"
  4. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=TaiChung+City "Taichung City"
  5. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=TaiNan+City "Tainan City"
  6. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=Taipei+City "Taipei City"
  7. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=ChiaYi+City "ChiaYi City"
  8. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=HsinChu+City "Hsinchu City"
  9. http://www.post.gov.tw/post/internet/u_english/postal_e.jsp?Submit=Search&city=KeeLung+City "KeeLung City"

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