District (Taiwan)


Districts are administrative subdivisions of 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
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

Ordinary districts are governed directly by the municipality/city government, with district administrators appointed by 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 World War II, nine out of eleven prefectural cities established by the Japanese government were reformed into provincial cities. These were 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 were also reformed as county-controlled districts.
In August 1950, another administrative division reform was undertaken, leading to a reduction in the size of counties and all townships becoming directly administered by counties. County-controlled districts were all made defunct in this reform. At the same time, provincial cities including Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, and Pingtung were downgraded to county-administered cities, of which certain districts also became defunct. This made districts a type of division exclusively under the five remaining provincial cities: Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung, Tainan, and Taipei.
When Taipei was promoted to a special municipality by the central government in 1967, several townships surrounding the city were merged into Taipei City and 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 to a special municipality in 1979. Siaogang Township was merged into Siaogang District.
In December 2010, 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 was done to Taoyuan on 25 December 2014, with the addition of 13 new districts.
These municipalities and provincial cities use "district administrative centers" to serve residents of these districts. 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 in the country.

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-phìnPasingAtayalTaichungMountain 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-chṳ̀KaohsiungMunicipal
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-longMî-nùngKaohsiungMunicipal
Liouguei (Liugui)LiùguīLa̍k-kuLiuk-kuîKaohsiungMunicipal
Jiasian (Jiaxian)JiǎxiānKah-sianKap-siênKaohsiungMunicipal
ShanlinShānlínSam-nâTsham-lìmKaohsiungMunicipal
NeimenNèiménLāi-mn̂gNui-mùnKaohsiungMunicipal
MaolinMàolínBō͘-lîmMeu-lìmTeldrekaRukaiKaohsiungMountain indigenous
Taoyuan (Tauyuan)TáoyuánThô-goânThò-ngiènNganiBununKaohsiungMountain indigenous
Namasia (Namaxia)NàmǎxiàNamasiaNamasiaNamasiaBunun, KanakanavuKaohsiungMountain 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