As the capital of Taiwan, the city of Taipei is a crowded, bustling place. The largest city on the island, Taipei is located on the Tan-shui River in the northern part of Taiwan. Mainland China lies about 121 miles (195 kilometers) to the west, across the waters of the Taiwan Strait.
Places of interest
Taipei is a modern city with colorful, lively streets and many treasures of Chinese culture. The National Palace Museum has one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese art and artifacts in the world. Near the city center are the National Concert Hall, the National Theater, and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The memorial hall honors the historic leader of Nationalist China. It is a giant stone monument built in classical Chinese style and surrounded by gardens. A major religious site in Taipei is the Lungshan (Dragon Mountain) Temple. This colorful temple is dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. Also of interest are the National Museum of History and the Botanical Gardens. Just outside the city are Yangmingshan National Park and the town of Peitou, which are known for their hot springs.
Economy
Taipei's economy depends mainly on service industries. Many residents of the city work in government, business offices, hospitals, restaurants, banks, and schools. Other people program computers or work with other high-technology products. In addition, Taipei and its suburbs are home to most of the factories on the island. These factories make such products as electronics, machinery, televisions, cloth, chemicals, plastics, and foods. Ships and small boats are built in the port of Chi-lung, which is east of the city.
History
Hundreds of years ago, the Pingpu people built small villages where Taipei now stands. Taipei was established in the early 18th century. In the 19th century it was a stopping point for many trading ships. When China made Taiwan a province in 1886, Taipei became the provincial capital. It remained the capital after the Japanese took control of the island in 1895. The Japanese built roads and expanded the city during their rule. In 1945, after Japan was beaten in World War II, China again ruled the island. Only a few years later, however, Communist forces took over mainland China. The non-Communists, called the Chinese Nationalists, fled to Taiwan. Many moved to Taipei, which was the most important center of government on the island.
Taipei expanded greatly after 1949, eventually joining with several suburban towns and villages. During the 1960s and 1970s many of Taipei's older, low wooden buildings were replaced with high-rise apartments and office buildings. The city's factories began making products that were sold around the world.
By the end of the 20th century Taipei had lost some of its factories. But in their place, service industries expanded. The city became a leader in banking. However, Taipei also developed some of the problems of other large cities. Air pollution reached dangerous levels because the hot city streets were crowded with too many cars, taxis, motorcycles, buses, and trucks. In 1999 the city opened a new rapid transit system, which has trains that go above and below the streets. Population (2000 estimate), 2,646,750.
