District (Taiwan)


Districts are administrative subdivisions of special municipalities and provincial cities of Taiwan. There are two types of district in the administrative scheme.
NameChineseMandarin
Pinyin		Taiwanese
Pe̍h-ōe-jī
District區qūkhu
Mountain indigenous district直轄市山地原住民區zhíxiáshì shāndì
yuánzhùmín qū		Ti̍t-hat-chhī soaⁿ-tē
goân-chū-bîn khu

Regular districts are governed as branches of the municipality/city government of the city government. District chiefs appointed by the mayors, with four years of term. The special municipal mountain indigenous district is a type of local government body. District chiefs as well as district council members are directly elected by the people in the district with four years of term.

History

The first administrative divisions entitled "districts" were established in the 1900s when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. After the World War II, nine out of eleven 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 and towns under those cities were merged into larger districts. At the same time, the districts under prefectures also reformed as county-controlled districts.
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-controlled 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-controlled 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 ): 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 Taiwan, districts are the only subdivisions of special municipalities and provincial cities. Currently, there are 164 districts and 6 mountain indigenous districts located in the special municipalities and the provincial cities.

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/Saⁿ-tēng-po͘Sâm-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-lòiUlayAtayalNew TaipeiMountain indigenous
TaoyuanTáoyuánThô-hngThò-yènTaoyuanMunicipal
ZhongliZhōnglìTiong-lekChûng-la̍kTaoyuanMunicipal
DaxiDàxīTāi-kheThai-hâiTaoyuanMunicipal
YangmeiYángméiIûⁿ-mûiYông-muìTaoyuanMunicipal
LuzhuLúzhúLô·-tekLù-tsukTaoyuanMunicipal
DayuanDàyuánToā-HngThai-yènTaoyuanMunicipal
GuishanGuīshānKu-soaⁿKuî-sânTaoyuanMunicipal
BadeBādéPat-tekPat-tetTaoyuanMunicipal
LongtanLóngtánLiông-thâmLiùng-thâmTaoyuanMunicipal
PingzhenPíngzhènPêng-tìnPhìn-tsṳ́nTaoyuanMunicipal
XinwuXīnwūSin-okSîn-vukTaoyuanMunicipal
GuanyinGuānyīnKoan-imKôn-yîmTaoyuanMunicipal
FuxingFùxīngHok-hengFu̍k-hînPyasanAtayalTaoyuanMountain 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-goânFûng-ngiènTaichungMunicipal
HouliHòulǐAū-líHeu-lîTaichungMunicipal
ShigangShígāngChio̍h-kngSa̍k-kóngTaichungMunicipal
DongshiDōngshìTang-sìTûng-sṳTaichungMunicipal
XinsheXīnshèSin-siāSîn-saTaichungMunicipal
TanziTánzĭThâm-chúThâm-tsṳ́TaichungMunicipal
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-pêngFò-phìnAtayalTaichungMountain indigenous
West CentralZhōngxīTiong-seChûng-sîTainanMunicipal
EastDōngTangTûngTainanMunicipal
SouthNánLâmNàmTainanMunicipal
NorthBěiPakPetTainanMunicipal
AnpingĀnpíngAn-pêngAn-phìnTainanMunicipal
AnnanĀnnánAn-lâmAn-nàmTainanMunicipal
YongkangYǒngkāngÉng-khongYún-khôngTainanMunicipal
Gueiren GuīrénKui-jînKûi-yìnTainanMunicipal
Sinhua XīnhuàSin-hòaSîn-faTainanMunicipal
Zuojhen ZuǒzhènChó-tìnTsó-tsṳ́nTainanMunicipal
YujingYùjǐngGio̍k-chéⁿNgiu̍k-tsiángTainanMunicipal
Nanxi NánxīLâm-seNàm-sîTainanMunicipal
NanhuaNánhuàLâm-hòaNàm-faTainanMunicipal
RendeRéndéJîn-tekYìn-tetTainanMunicipal
GuanmiaoGuānmiàoKoan-biōKûan-meuTainanMunicipal
Longci LóngqíLiông-kiāLiùng-khìTainanMunicipal
GuantianGuāntiánKoaⁿ-tiānKôn-thiènTainanMunicipal
MadouMádòuMôa-tāuMà-theuTainanMunicipal
JialiJiālǐKa-líKâ-lîTainanMunicipal
Sigang XīgǎngSai-kángSî-kóngTainanMunicipal
Cigu QīgǔChhit-kó͘Tshit-kúTainanMunicipal
Jiangjun JiāngjūnChiong-kunTsiông-kiûnTainanMunicipal
Syuejia XuéjiǎHa̍k-kahHo̍k-kapTainanMunicipal
BeimenBěiménPak-mn̂gPet-mùnTainanMunicipal
Xinying XīnyíngSin-iâⁿSîn-yàngTainanMunicipal
HoubiHòubìĀu-piahHeu-piakTainanMunicipal
BaiheBáihéPe̍h-hôPha̍k-hòTainanMunicipal
DongshanDōngshānTong-sanTûng-sânTainanMunicipal
Liujia LiùjiǎLa̍k-kahLiuk-kapTainanMunicipal
Xiaying XiàyíngĒ-iâⁿHa-yàngTainanMunicipal
Liouying LiǔyíngLiú-iâⁿLiú-yàngTainanMunicipal
Yanshuei YánshuǐKiâm-chúiYàm-súiTainanMunicipal
ShanhuaShànhuàSiān-hòaSan-faTainanMunicipal
DaneiDànèiTōa-lāiThai-nuiTainanMunicipal
ShanshangShānshàngSan-siōngSân-songTainanMunicipal
Sinshih XīnshìSin-chhīSîn-sṳTainanMunicipal
AndingĀndìngAn-tēngÔn-thinTainanMunicipal
YanchengYánchéngIâm-tiâⁿYàm-thàngKaohsiungMunicipal
GushanGǔshānKó͘-sanKú-sânKaohsiungMunicipal
ZuoyingZuǒyíngChó-iâⁿTsó-yàngKaohsiungMunicipal
Nanzih NánzǐLâm-chúNàm-chṳ̀KaohsiungMunicipal
SanminSānmínSam-bînSân-mìnKaohsiungMunicipal
Sinsing XīnxīngSin-hengSîn-hînKaohsiungMunicipal
Cianjin QiánjīnChiân-kimChhièn-kîmKaohsiungMunicipal
LingyaLíngyǎLêng-ngáLìn-ngáKaohsiungMunicipal
Cianjhen QiánzhènChiân-tìnTshièn-chṳ́nKaohsiungMunicipal
Cijin QíjīnKî-tinKhì-chînKaohsiungMunicipal
Siaogang XiǎogǎngSió-kángSeú-kóngKaohsiungMunicipal
Fongshan 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 QiáotóuKiô-thâuKhiâu-thèuKaohsiungMunicipal
YanchaoYàncháoIàn-châuYèn-tshâuKaohsiungMunicipal
TianliaoTiánliáoChhân-liâuThièn-liàuKaohsiungMunicipal
AlianĀliánA-lianÂ-liènKaohsiungMunicipal
Lujhu LùzhúLō͘-tekLu-tsukKaohsiungMunicipal
HuneiHúnèiÔ͘-lāiFù-nuiKaohsiungMunicipal
Qieding QiédìngKa-tiāⁿKâ-tinKaohsiungMunicipal
Yong'an Yǒng'ānÉng-anYún-ônKaohsiungMunicipal
MituoMítuóMî-tôMì-thòKaohsiungMunicipal
Ziguan ZǐguānChú-koaⁿTsṳ́-kônKaohsiungMunicipal
Cishan QíshānKî-sanKhì-sânKaohsiungMunicipal
MeinongMěinóngBi-longMî-nùngKaohsiungMunicipal
Liouguei LiùguīLa̍k-kuLiuk-kuîKaohsiungMunicipal
Jiasian JiǎxiānKah-sianKap-siênKaohsiungMunicipal
ShanlinShānlínSam-nâTsham-lìmKaohsiungMunicipal
NeimenNèiménLāi-mn̂gNui-mùnKaohsiungMunicipal
MaolinMàolínBō͘-lîmMeu-lìmTeldrekaRukaiKaohsiungMountain indigenous
Taoyuan TáoyuánThô-goânThò-ngiènNganiBununKaohsiungMountain indigenous
Namasia NàmǎxiàNamasiaNamasiaNamasiaBunun, KanakanabuKaohsiungMountain indigenous
EastDōngTangTûngChiayiMunicipal
WestXīSeSîChiayiMunicipal
EastDōngTangTûngHsinchuMunicipal
NorthBěiPakPetHsinchuMunicipal
XiangshanXiāngshānHiong-sanHiông-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

District reforms in Taipei