Taitung County
Traditional Chinese	台東縣
Transliterations Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Táidōng Xiàn - Tongyong Pinyin Táidong Siàn - Wade–Giles T`ai-tung Hsien Min - Hokkien POJ Tâi-tang-kōan

Taitung County 台東縣 Abbreviation(s): Taitung (台東)
County seat	Taitung City
Region	Eastern Taiwan
County Magistrate	K'uang Li-chen (Kuang Lijhen) (鄺麗貞)
Cities	1
Townships	15
Area
- Total	3,515.2526 km² (3 of 25)
- % water	n/a %
Population
- Total	231,863 (Jan. 2009) (22 of 25)
- Density	65.96/km²
Symbols
- County flower	Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)
- County tree	Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
- County bird	n/a
Official websites	[1]

Taitung County is a county in eastern Taiwan. The name means "Eastern Taiwan". Taitung County is also known as 後山(sounded "Hou Shan") by many of the locals, meaning behind the mountains or the back mountains. Taitung is officially administered as a county of Taiwan, Republic of China.

Taitung runs along the south east coast of Taiwan. Taitung county, possessing 3,515 sq. km is the 3rd largest county in Taiwan. Taitung County's coastline is 231 km long. Taitung currently has a population of 231,863. The country possess only one registered city, Taitung City. The rest of the county is composed of two towns and thirteen villages. ^[1]

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 (late 19th century). 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 and Orchid Island. Green Island was home to an infamous penal colony used for political prisoners during the "White Terror" period of Chinese Nationalist (KMT) rule (from 1947 until the end of martial law in 1987). Orchid Island, home of the Tao people (Taiwanese aborigines closely related to the people of the northern Philippines), 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.

Contents 1 Administration 1.1 City 1.2 Townships 1.2.1 Urban townships 1.2.2 Rural townships 2 Education 3 Notable natives 4 Travel 5 Culture 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Administration

[edit] City

1. Taitung City(臺東市)

[edit] Townships

[edit] Urban townships

1. Chenggong Township (成功鎮)
2. Guanshan Township (關山鎮)

[edit] Rural townships

1. Beinan Township (卑南鄉)
2. Changbin Township (長濱鄉)
3. Chishang Township (池上鄉)
4. Daren Township (達仁鄉)
5. Dawu Township (大武鄉)
6. Donghe Township (東河鄉)
7. Haiduan Township (海端鄉)
8. Jinfeng Township (金峰鄉)
9. Luye Township (鹿野鄉)
10. Lüdao Township (Green Island) (綠島鄉)
11. Lanyu Township (Orchid Island) (蘭嶼鄉)
12. Taimali Township (太麻里鄉)
13. Yanping Township (延平鄉)

[edit] Education

• National Taitung University

[edit] Notable natives

• Yang Chuan-kwang(楊傳廣), 1960 Summer Olympics decathlon medalist
• Tank (吕建中)
• A-mei (張惠妹)

[edit] Travel

• Sansiantai
• East Coast National Scenic Area
• East Rift Valley National Scenic Area

[edit] Culture

Taitung County possesses a very diverse collection of aboriginal cultures. ^[2] Bunun, Paiwan, Rukai, Amis, Beinan, Yamis and Gamalan are the seven aboriginal cultures prevalent in the county today.^[3] Due to the fact that Taitung is probably one of the least affected counties by the colonization of the Han Chinese, most of the aboriginal cultures are still very much a part of everyday society.

• National Museum of Prehistory

[edit] References

1. ^ http://web2.taitung.gov.tw/english/History.php
2. ^ http://www.taitung.gov.tw/en/CP/1328/population1-1.aspx
3. ^ http://web2.taitung.gov.tw/english/Culture.php

[edit] External links

• Taitung County Government Website (Chinese)

v • d • e Administrative divisions of the Republic of China Provinces and counties Taiwan Province Changhua · Chiayi · Hsinchu · Hualien · Kaohsiung · Miaoli · Nantou · Penghu (Pescadores) · Pingtung · Taichung · Tainan · Taipei · Taitung · Taoyuan · Yilan · Yunlin Fujian Province Kinmen · Lienchiang (Matsu Islands) Provincial cities Chiayi · Hsinchu · Keelung · Taichung · Tainan Central municipalities Taipei City · Kaohsiung City Taiwan Area

v • d • e    Cities and townships of Taitung County County seat: Taitung City Cities Taitung City Urban townships Chenggong · Guanshan Rural townships Beinan · Changbin · Chishang · Daren · Dawu · Donghe · Haiduan · Jinfeng · Luye · Lüdao · Lanyu · Taimali · Yanping

Coordinates: 22°56′N 120°56′E / 22.933°N 120.933°E / 22.933; 120.933

This Taiwanese location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e