Taitung County


Taitung County is the third largest county in Taiwan, located primarily on the island's southeastern coast and also including Green Island, Orchid Island and Lesser Orchid Island.

Name

While its name means "Eastern Taiwan", it is also known as "Houshan" by many of the locals, meaning behind the mountains or the back mountains.

History

Qing Dynasty

In 1887, the new Fujian-Taiwan Province included Taitung Prefecture as one of four prefectures.

Japanese rule

During the Japanese rule of Taiwan, Taitung County was administered as Taitō Prefecture.

Post-war

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China on 25 October 1945, Taitung was established as a county of Taiwan Province on 25 December the same year.

Geography

Taitung runs along the south east coast of Taiwan. Taitung county, controlling is the 3rd largest county in Taiwan after Hualien County and Nantou County. Mainland Taitung County's coastline is long. The Huatung Valley runs along the northern half of the county. Taitung currently has a population of 234,123.
Due in part to its remote location and isolation by mountains from Taiwan's main population centers, Taitung was the last part of the island to be colonized by Han Chinese immigrants. Throughout the 20th century Taitung remained an economic backwater. Sparsely populated even today, this isolation may have been a blessing in disguise, as Taitung mostly escaped the urbanization and pollution that have come to plague much of the island's lowland areas.
In addition to the area on Taiwan proper, the county includes two major islands, Green Island or Isla Verde and Orchid Island. Green Island was home to an infamous penal colony used for political prisoners during the "White Terror" period of Chinese Nationalist rule. Orchid Island, home of the Tao people, has become a major tourist attraction despite the government-operated Taiwan Power Company's controversial use of part of the island as a nuclear waste dump.

Government

Administrative divisions

Taitung County is divided into 1 city, 2 urban townships, 8 rural townships and 5 mountain indigenous townships. Taitung County has the second highest number of mountain indigenous townships in Taiwan after Pingtung County. The seat of the county is located at Taitung City, where it houses the Taitung County Government and Taitung County Council. The current Magistrate of Taitung County is Rao Ching-ling of the Kuomintang.
TypeNameChineseTaiwaneseHakkaFormosanJapanese and other
CityTaitung CityTâi-tangThòi-tûngPusungAmis, Paiwan, Puyuma
Urban
townships		ChenggongSêng-kongSṳ̀n-kûngMadawdawAmis
Urban
townships		GuanshanKoan-sanKûan-sânKinalaunganBunun
Rural
townships		BeinanPi-lâmPî-nàmPuyumaAmis, Puyuma, PinangRukai
Rural
townships		ChangbinTn̂g-pinTshòng-pînKakacawanAmisNagahama
Rural
townships		ChishangTî-siōngTshṳ̀-songIkegami
Rural
townships		DawuTāi-búThai-vúPalangoePaiwan
Rural
townships		DongheTong-hôTûng-hòFafukodAmis
Rural
townships		LyudaoLe̍k-tóLiu̍k-tóSanasayAmis, JitanaseyYamiGreen Island
Rural
townships		LuyeLo̍k-iáLu̍k-yâShikano
Rural
townships		TaimaliThài-mâ-líThai-mà-lîTjavualjiAmis, Paiwan
Mountain
indigenous
townships		DarenTa̍t-jînTha̍t-yìnTadrenPaiwan
Mountain
indigenous
townships		HaiduanHái-toaⁿHói-tônHaitutuanBunun
Mountain
indigenous
townships		JinfengKim-hongKîm-fûngKinzangPaiwan
Mountain
indigenous
townships		LanyuLân-sūLàn-yíPonso no TaoYamiOrchid Island
Mountain
indigenous
townships		YanpingIân-pêngYèn-phìnInpiingBunun

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

Politics

Taitung County elected one Democratic Progressive Party legislator to the Legislative Yuan during the 2016 Republic of China legislative election.

Demographics

Taitung County is home to seven aboriginal ethnics, including Bunun, Paiwan, Rukai, Amis, Puyuma, Tao and Kavalan. Taitung County has the largest aboriginal to overall population of a county or city in Taiwan, at 35.5%.

Education

Education in Taitung County is administered under the Education Department of the Taitung County Government.
Taitung County possesses a very diverse collection of aboriginal cultures. Because Taitung is probably one of the least affected counties by the settlement of the Han Chinese, most of the aboriginal cultures are still very much a part of everyday society.

Energy

Taitung County houses the Lanyu Power Plant, a 6.5 MW fuel-fired power plant located in Orchid Island.

Tourist attractions

Buildings

, Lyudao Lighthouse, Moving Castle and Taitung Chinese Association.

Historical sites

, Dulan Site and Green Island Human Rights Culture Park.

Museums

, National Museum of Prehistory, Taitung Art Museum, Taitung County Museum of Natural History, Taitung Story Museum, Wu Tao Chishang Lunch Box Cultural History Museum.

Natures

, Chu Lu Ranch, Dapo Pond, Dulan Mountain, , , Green Island, Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area, Orchid Island, Sanxiantai, Taitung Forest Park and Zhaori Hot Spring.

Transportation

Air

Taitung County houses the international Taitung Airport in the mainland Taitung County of Taitung City and another two airports at the outlying islands, which are Lyudao Airport in Green Island and Lanyu Airport in Orchid Island.

Rail

Taitung County is crossed by two Taiwan Railways Administration lines of South-Link Line and Hualien–Taitung Line. The stations consist of Chishang, Dawu, Guanshan, Guzhuang, Haiduan, Jinlun, Kangle, Longxi, Luye, Ruihe, Ruiyuan, Shanli, Taimali, Taitung and Zhiben Station.

Water

and Fugang Fishery Harbor.

Notable natives