Geographical Location

Lying off the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland, Taiwan is an island province composed of two big islands, Taiwan Island and Penghu Island, and more than 80 islets, covering 36 thousand square kilometers.

To the north of Taiwan is the East China Sea and the Liuqiu archipelago is to its northeast. The Pacific Ocean laps Taiwan's eastern shores and the Bashi Straits in the south. Taiwan is located north of the Philippines, and faces Fujian Province across the Taiwan Straits, with the closest distance between the two provinces being just 130 kilometers. The Taiwan Province is of great strategic importance, since it stays at the center point of the western Pacific sea-route.

Taiwan Straits

The Taiwan Strait is about 380 kilometers long south to north and 190 kilometers wide at their widest point. It's only 130 kilometers from Taiwan's Xinchu city to Pingtan in Fujian Province. On a clear day you can catch a glimpse of Jilong Mountain, in the north of Taiwan Province, from the high mountains in Fujian Province.

Topography

Taiwan Island is China's biggest island and constitutes 97 percent of the area of the province. Two-thirds of Taiwan Island is rugged mountains and the rest Island of the island is covered by gently rolling plains. The five major mountains on the island are Zhongyang Mountain, Yushan Mountain, Xueshan Mountain, Ali Mountain and Taidong Mountain. Zhongyang Mountain is the center point of the island, and the highest peak, Yushan Mountain, is 3997 meters above sea level.

Taiwan Climate and Local Products

The climate in Taiwan is sub-tropical, so relatively warm all year around. Annual average temperatures are 22 degrees C, except in the island's mountainous areas. Sudden rain showers frequently occur all over the province, which is adversely affected by typhoons, and the snow line is 3000 meters above sea level.

More than half of the total land area in Taiwan is covered by forest, twice the amount of Switzerland, a country with a reputation as the 'Kingdom of Forests', in Europe. The forests support over 4000 plant species from different climatic zones, such as tropical plants, sub-tropical plants, temperate plants and frigid plants. Well known as Asia's botanic garden, Taiwan devotes four fifths of its forests to developing forests for commercial use.

One of Taiwan's best-known products is camphor oil, which is extracted from camphor trees that thrive in Taiwan; the Island's output of this product constitutes about 70 percent of the world total.

Taiwan is also a place where warm and cold currents meet. The waters around the island are home to an abundant supply seafood and more than 500 types of fish. Cities, like Kaohsiung, Jilong, Su'ao, Hualian, Xingang and Penghu are all famous fishing grounds. In addition, locally-made sea salt has also long enjoyed a good reputation.

Population

Taiwan Province, with limited land, is densely populated. Taiwan had a population of 22.4 million at the end of 2001, which means each square kilometer of land has 619 inhabitants.

An aging population is the trend in Taiwan, as it is in the Chinese mainland. By the end of 2001, the percentage of the population aged from zero to 14 dropped to 25.8 percent of the total, while population aged between 15 and 64 rose to 67.4 percent. The rate of those aged above 65 years old went up to 6.8 percent.

Inhabitants are distributed unevenly across the islands. The mountainous regions, which take up one third of the province's area and are 1000 meters above the sea level, are sparsely populated. Each square kilometer of land has an average of only 20 inhabitants but, in the cities, the population density exceeds 4800 people per square kilometer. The seven most populous cities; Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Jilong, Xinzhu, Jiayi and Tainan, account for 31 percent of the total, on 2.9 percent of the island's land.

Taiwan's population policy has been adjusted from time to time to comply with the development process of social economy. In 1965, Taiwan began to implement a family planning strategy, imposing restrictions on the age of marriage and child bearing. Each couple was allowed one child, or no more than two children. In the years that followed, the birth rate declined gradually, which has helped alleviate population problems. However, new problems arose as a result of the sluggish population growth, such as the aging population and a decrease in new workers. Therefore, in 1990, Taiwan authorities readjusted the population policy, raising the limit to two or no more than three babies per couple. In recent years, Taiwan's local government has taken measures to lift the falling birth rate.

Nationalities

                                              (A beautiful woman of the Gaoshan ethnic group)

Different ethnic groups have been fairly well integrated in Taiwan, including the Mongolians, the Hui, the Miao and the Gaoshan. Ninety-seven percent of inhabitants are of the Han nationality, which are mainly divided into the southern Fujian People and the Hakka people. The southern Fujian People came from Quanzhou and Zhangzhou cities, while the Hakka people moved to Taiwan from Meizhou and Chaozhou cities in Guangdong Province.

The Gaoshan nationality is the major minority ethnic group inhabiting Taiwan. There are various versions explaining the origin of the Gaoshan people but increasingly research shows the local Gaoshan people are the descendants of immigrants from the various provinces of the Chinese mainland. The local Gaoshan nationality is divided into two groups, one living at sea level and the other in the high mountainous regions.

But the population of the Gaoshan ethnic group in Taiwan keeps rising and by 2001, it reached 415 thousand.

The original inhabitants of Taiwan, or the Gaoshan people, can be distinguished into 10 different tribes, namely the Amis, the Tayal, the Paiwan, the Bunun, the Rukai, the Zou, the Puyuma, the Saisiyat and the Sao.

Major Cities

Taipei

Taipei city is located in the north of Taiwan Island. It is the island's largest city, covering an area of 272 square kilometers and with a population of 2.7 million, one eighth of Taiwan's population.

Taipei is the industrial and commercial center of Taiwan. Almost all big companies, enterprises, banks and department store headquarter are in Taipei. The province has the largest industrial production and commercial area on the island, with Taipei at the center, surrounded by Taipei County, Taoyuan County and Jilong city.

Meanwhile, Taipei is also the cultural and education center of Taiwan Province. Twenty-four institutions of high learning are established in the city, including Taiwan University, Taiwan Chengchi University and Taiwan Normal University. In addition, Taipei is home to the island's media, as well as the largest library and museum.

Taipei boasts convenient transport facilities including Jilong and Danshui Port, and Songshan airport is the second largest international airport in the province.

Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung covers 150 square kilometers and has a population of 1.4 million. It is a major industrial base in Taiwan Province. Taiwan's largest sized enterprises, such as an oil refinery, an iron and steel factory and a shipyard, are all based in the city. A number of industries, like electronics, machinery, cement, fertilizer, aluminum making and sugar, have also developed rapidly in the city. Kaohsiung is also a fishery production base in Taiwan, with the most prosperous oceanic fishing business in the province.

One of Kaohsiung's advantages is a highly developed, marine, ground and air transportation network. Kaohsiung's deepwater port can accommodate 38 vessels of over 10, 000 tons. Its annual handling capacity ranks fourth, behind Hong Kong, Singapore and Rotterdam. Kaohsiung airport services both international and domestic routes. It's only a short hop from Taipei to Kaohsiung; 40 minutes by air or four hours by train or long-distance bus.

Kaohsiung is a scenic city where summer lingers while winter is quite short, meaning there is tropical scenery all year around.

Five Provincially-administered Cities

Taizhong

Situated on the west of Taiwan Island, Taizhong city is the third largest city in Taiwan Province. The city performs an important role in culture, education, economy and transport, and is home to the second highest number of institutions of higher learning after Taipei. Taizhong city is also Taiwan's center of Buddhist culture, and plays host to an annual Buddhist doctrine meeting in the local Baojue Temple. It also has the reputation as the tidiest city in Taiwan.

Tainan

Lying off the southwestern coast of Taiwan Island, Tainan is the fourth largest city, as well as the most ancient in Taiwan. Before Taipei was made the provincial capital, Tainan had long been the province's political, economic and cultural center. There are many tourist attractions in Tainan, including Chiqianlou, ancient Anping Fort and Zheng Chenggong's ancestral temple. The city is permeated with religious atmosphere, from more than 200 temples and churches. In addition to a large number of Buddhists and Taoists, there are also foreign religions practiced, such as Christians and Catholics.

Jilong

Situated in northern Taiwan Island and facing the East Sea, Jilong is a port city, surrounded by mountain ranges. Known as one of the areas where development began, Jilong city has highly developed transport facilities, shipbuilding, chemistry, coal and aquatic products' processing. As one of the important fishing ports, Jilong yields one fifth of the province's fish products. On an average, it rains more than 200 days each year, so the city is also nicknamed "Rainy Port".

Xinzhu

Xinzhu is an important scientific and cultural city on the western coast of Taiwan Island. The city is home to the prestigious Qinghua University and Jiaotong University, as well as a scientific and industrial park, acclaimed as "Taiwan's Silicon Valley". 　

Jiayi

Taiwan's biggest reservoir, Zengwen Reservoir, was built in Jiayi County.

(Photo Source: cia.gov)