Nantou County (Chinese: 南投縣; pinyin: Nántóu Xiàn; Hokkien POJ: Lâm-tâu-koān; Hakka PFS: Nàm-thèu-yen) is the second largest county of Taiwan by area, located in the central part of the country.[1] It is also the only non-coastal county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau.[2]

Nantou County
南投縣
Nan-t'ou
Top:Shuili Water Creek in Shuili Township, 2nd left:Mount Yu, 2nd right:Nantou County Museum of History in Nantou City, 3rd left:View of Sun Moon Lake, from Xuanzang Temple in Yuchi Township, 3rd right:Evergreen Glassland in Renci Township, Bottom left:Tou George Pond in Taiwan Educational University of Nature, Bottom right:Mount Hehuan
Top:Shuili Water Creek in Shuili Township, 2nd left:Mount Yu, 2nd right:Nantou County Museum of History in Nantou City, 3rd left:View of Sun Moon Lake, from Xuanzang Temple in Yuchi Township, 3rd right:Evergreen Glassland in Renci Township, Bottom left:Tou George Pond in Taiwan Educational University of Nature, Bottom right:Mount Hehuan
Flag of Nantou County
Official seal of Nantou County
Map
Coordinates: 23°54′55.28″N 120°41′4.32″E / 23.9153556°N 120.6845333°E / 23.9153556; 120.6845333
Country Republic of China (Taiwan)
ProvinceTaiwan (de facto defunct)
SeatNantou City
Largest cityNantou City
Boroughs1 city, 12 (4 urban, 8 rural) townships
Government
 • Body
 • County MagistrateHsu Shu-hua (KMT)
Area
 • Total
4,106.436 km2 (1,585.504 sq mi)
 • Rank2 of 22
Population
 (January 2023)
 • Total
479,666
 • Rank15 of 22
 • Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (National Standard Time)
ISO 3166 codeTW-NAN
Websitewww.nantou.gov.tw
Symbols
FlowerPlum blossom (Prunus mume)
TreeCamphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
Nantou County
Traditional Chinese南投
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinNántóu Xiàn
Bopomofoㄋㄢˊ   ㄊㄡˊ   ㄒㄧㄢˋ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhNantour Shiann
Wade–GilesNan²-tʻou² Hsien⁴
Tongyong PinyinNántóu Siàn
MPS2Nántóu Shiàn
IPA[nǎn.tʰǒʊ ɕjɛ̂n]
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳNàm-thèu-yen
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLâm-tâu-koān
Tâi-lôLâm-tâu-kuān

Its mountainous area makes it a tourist destination. The largest natural lake in Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake, is located in this county. Other well-known tourist sites of the county including Aowanda, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, Hehuanshan, Paper Dome, Qingjing Farm, Shanlinxi, Shuiyuan Suspension Bridge and Xitou. Notable cities in Nantou are Nantou City and Puli Town. The official butterfly of Nantou County is the broad-tailed swallowtail butterfly (Agehana maraho). Nantou's tung-ting tea is one of the most famous and high-quality oolong teas grown in Taiwan.[3]

History

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Early history

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Before the arrival of Han Chinese to Nantou, the Atayal, Bunun and Tsou tribes were distributed throughout the northern and central Nantou. These groups pioneered the early development of mountain regions in Nantou.[4]

Kingdom of Tungning

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In 1677, Lin Yi (Chinese: 林圯), a general under the command of Koxinga, led soldiers to establish residence in Shalianbao [zh] (modern-day Zhushan). The Han Chinese began to enter Nantou via two main routes, the Zhuoshui River and Maoluo River.[4]

Japanese rule

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In 1901, during Japanese rule, Nanto Chō (Japanese: 南投廳) was one of twenty local administrative offices established. In 1909, part of Toroku Chō (斗六廳) was merged into Nanto Cho. A major reorganization occurred in 1920, in which the area was administered under Taichū Prefecture together with modern-day Changhua County and Taichung City.

Republic of China

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After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China on 25 October 1945, the present day area of Nantou County was administered under Taichung County of Taiwan Province.[5] On 16 August 1950, Nantou County was established by its separation from Taichung County, and Nantou Township was designed as the county seat. On 1 July 1957, the Zhongxing New Village in Nantou Township was designed to be the capital of Taiwan Province from the former Taipei City. In 1981, the county seat was upgraded from Nantou Township to Nantou City. The Chi-Chi earthquake occurred in 1999.

Geography

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Nantou County Administrative Divisions
 
Hehuanshan is one of the higher mountains in Nantou County.

Nantou County has an area of 4,106.436 km2 (1,585.504 sq mi) with a width of 72 km (45 mi) and length of 95 km (59 mi). It is the second largest county in Taiwan after Hualien County.[6]

There are 41 mountains with peaks over 3,000 meters high, with Mount Yu in Xinyi Township is the highest peak in Nantou County and in Taiwan with a height of 3,952 meters. Around 83% of Nantou County area is covered by hills and mountains.

Rain that falls into the mountains area converge into the Dadu River and Zhuoshui River. There are inland ponds and lakes throughout the mountains in the county, such as the Sun Moon Lake, Bi Pond, Liyu Pond and Cilin Pond.

Climate

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The annual average temperature in Nantou County is 23 °C (73 °F) on level ground and 20 °C (68 °F) on mountains. The annual average rainfall is less than 1,750 mm (68.9 in) on level ground and 2,800 mm (110.2 in) on mountains. The rainy season lasts from April to September and the dry season lasts from October to March.[6]

Government

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Lin Ming-chen, the incumbent Magistrate of Nantou County
 
Nantou City, the county seat of Nantou County
 
Nantou County Council

Nantou County consists of 1 city, 4 urban townships, 6 rural townships, 2 mountain indigenous townships, 128 villages and 133 neighborhoods.[7][8][9] Nantou City is the seat of the county which houses the Nantou County Government and Nantou County Council. The incumbent Magistrate of Nantou County is Lin Ming-chen of the Kuomintang.

Administrative divisions

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Type Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Formosan
City Nantou City 南投 Lâm-tâu Nàm-thèu
Urban
townships
Caotun 草屯 Chháu-tūn Chhó-thùn
Jiji 集集 Chi̍p-chi̍p Si̍p-si̍p
Puli 埔里 Po͘-lí Phû-lî
Jhushan (Zhushan) 竹山 Tek-san Tsuk-sân
Rural
townships
Guosing (Guoxing) 國姓 Kok-sèng Koet-siang
Lugu 鹿谷 Lo̍k-kok Lu̍k-kuk
Mingjian 名間 Bêng-kan Miàng-kiên
Shueili (Shuili) 水里 Chúi-lí Súi-lî
Yuchih (Yuchi) 魚池 Hî-tî Ǹg-tshṳ̀ QabizayThao
Jhongliao (Zhongliao) 中寮 Tiong-liâu Chûng-liàu
Mountain
indigenous
townships
Ren-ai (Ren'ai) 仁愛 Jîn-ài Yìn-oi Atayal, Bunun, Seediq
Sinyi (Xinyi) 信義 Sìn-gī Sin-ngi Nehunpu-siangBunun

Colors indicate statutory language status of Hakka and Formosan languages in the respective subdivisions.

Politics

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南投縣 Nantou County voted two Kuomintang legislators out of two seats to be in the Legislative Yuan during the 2016 Republic of China legislative election.[10]

Demographics and culture

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1985 535,572—    
1990 536,479+0.2%
1995 546,517+1.9%
2000 541,537−0.9%
2005 535,205−1.2%
2010 526,491−1.6%
2015 509,490−3.2%
Source:"Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census.

Population

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Nantou County has a population of 479,666 people as of January 2023.

  • The following information is as of January 2023 資料
City Name acreage
(km²)
下轄村
里數
下轄
鄰數
Population 人口
消長
The population density
(人/km²)
Postcode Geographical division
Nantou City 71.6021 34 753 97,403 +42 1,386 540 烏溪
Puli 162.2227 33 569 77,340 +96 490 545 烏溪
Caotun 104.0327 27 608 96,778 +132 939 542 烏溪
Jhushan (Zhushan) 247.3339 28 482 51,840 -1 217 557 濁水溪
Jiji 49.7268 11 126 10,073 +5 212 552 濁水溪
Mingjian 83.0955 23 372 36,212 -22 454 551 濁水溪
Lugu 141.8981 13 174 16,457 -20 122 558 濁水溪
Jhongliao (Zhongliao) 146.6541 18 258 13,819 -22 98 541 烏溪
Yuchih (Yuchi) 121.3735 13 191 14,900 +8 128 555 烏溪
Guosing (Guoxing) 175.7042 13 159 17,224 -32 103 544 烏溪
Shuili 106.8424 19 209 16,359 -28 161 553 濁水溪
Sinyi (Xinyi) 1,422.4188 15 121 15,573 -19 11 556 濁水溪
Ren-ai (Ren'ai) 1,273.5312 16 192 15,688 -24 12 546 烏溪
Nantou County 4,106.4360 263 4,214 479,666 +71 120
  • The population growth and decline is calculated by subtracting the population of the previous month from the current month's population. Negative values are represented by red letters, positive values are represented by blue letters, and no growth is represented by green letters.
  • The population density of each district is calculated by rounding 4 to 5 to 1 decimal place
  • Population growth:
    • 高度成長 High growth (年成長率高於1%) :NA(updated 2020)
    • 穩定成長 Steady growth (年成長率0.1%~1%) :草屯 Caotun
    • 成長停滯 Stagnant growth(年成長率±0.1%) :NA(updated 2020)
    • 輕度流失 Mild loss (年成長率-0.5%~-0.1%):南投、仁愛
    • 中度流失 Moderate Churn (年成長率-1%~-0.5%) :埔里Puli、名間、魚池
    • 高度流失 High churn (年成長率-2%~-1%) :鹿谷、竹山、中寮、信義、水里、集集
    • 嚴重流失 Severe drain (年成長率低於-2%) :國姓

Language

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The official language of the county is Mandarin. Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, English and aboriginal languages are also spoken.[11]

Economy

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Agriculture in Nantou County

Due to its landlocked nature, the county's economy depends mainly on agriculture.[12][13] Other important industries in the county include forestry, fishery, and animal husbandry. Tourism and manufacturing are also important.

As of 2016, there are 28,000 registered businesses and 5,205 registered companies in the county with a total capital of NT$5,609 million and NT$80,024 million respectively. There are 938 factories operating in the county as of 2015.[14]

Education

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National Chi Nan University

There are 2 colleges, 13 senior high and vocational schools, 30 junior high schools, 149 elementary schools, 106 kindergartens and 84 day care centers in the county.[15] Notable universities in the county are National Chi Nan University, National Chung Hsing University and Nan Kai University of Technology.

Energy

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Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant

Nantou County houses Taiwan's first pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, the Takuan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant commissioned in 1985 with an installed capacity of 1,008 MW. It also houses Taiwan's largest pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant with an installed capacity of 1,602 MW. Both power plants are located in Shuili Township along the Shuili River.

Sports

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Notable sporting events held by Nantou County include:

Tourist attractions

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Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Transportation

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Checheng Station

Rail

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Taiwan Railways Administration

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Nantou County is served by the Jiji Line of Taiwan Railways which consists of Zhuoshui, Longquan, Jiji, Shuili and Checheng railway stations.

Taiwan High Speed Rail

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Although Nantou County does not have a high speed rail station, high speed rail can be accessed by bus to Taichung HSR station.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ See List of administrative divisions of Taiwan
  2. ^ 南投的地方起源與變遷 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. 此地原本為平埔族Arikun族南投(Ramtau)社之故址所在,此「南投」之地名即翻譯自平埔族語。
  3. ^ "Dong Ding Oolong Tea: Product Description" Archived 2016-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. The Brixton Tea Party. 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Nantou of Yesterday". Nantou County Government. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Rezoning Taiwan". Taiwan Today. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Profile of Nantou County". Nantou County Government. 2015. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  7. ^ "Organization". Nantou County Government. 2015. Archived from the original on 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  8. ^ 臺灣地區鄉鎮市區級以上行政區域名稱中英對照表 (PDF). Online Translation System of Geographic Name, Ministry of Interior. 16 June 2011. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012.
  9. ^ 1.7-鄉鎮市區戶口數 [Population for Township and District]. Ministry of the Interior (in Chinese (Taiwan) and English). August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020. 南投縣 Nantou County南投市 Nantou City埔里鎮 Puli Township草屯鎮 Caotun Township竹山鎮 Jhushan Township集集鎮 Jiji Township名間鄉 Mingjian Township鹿谷鄉 Lugu Township中寮鄉 Jhongliao Township魚池鄉 Yuchih Township國姓鄉 Guosing Township水里鄉 Shueili Township信義鄉 Sinyi Township仁愛鄉 Renai Township
  10. ^ "2016 The 14th Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and The 9th Legislator Election". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  11. ^ "Profile of Nantou County". Nantou County Government. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2019. Language: Mandarin is the official language; Taiwanese, Hakka, English and dialects of aborigines are also spoken.
  12. ^ "History". Taiwan Nantou District Prosecutors Office. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Agriculture, Industry & Commerce - Transformation, Metamorphosis". Nantou. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Nantou County". InvesTaiwan. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  15. ^ "About the Schools in Nantou County". Nantou County Government. 2007. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
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