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Special municipality (Republic of China)

Special Municipality
直轄市
Zhíxiáshì
Subdivision types of the Republic of China (2014).svg
Category Unitary state
Location Taiwan
Number 6
Populations 1,884,284 (Tainan) – 3,966,818 (New Taipei)
Areas 1,137.5545 square miles (2,946.253 km2) (Taoyuan) – 104.9425 square miles (271.800 km2) (Kaohsiung)
Government Local government, Central Government
Subdivisions District

A special municipality (Chinese: 直轄市; pinyin: zhíxiáshì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ti̍t-hat-chhī) is an administrative division unit in Taiwan. Under the administrative structure of Taiwan, it is the highest rank of division and is equivalent to a province. After the streamline of provinces in 1998, the special municipalities along with provincial cities and counties are all directly led by the central government. Currently there are six special municipalities in Taiwan: Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei and Taoyuan.

In late 1949, the government of the Republic of China lost the Chinese Civil War and was relocated to Taipei, Taiwan. At this time all the special municipalities established in mainland China were lost. There were no special municipalities under the government's effective jurisdiction.

In 1967, Taipei City, the first special municipality in Taiwan was created. Taipei served as the capital of the country since 1949 and was also the most populous city. Territory of the Taipei special municipality includes the original provincial Taipei City and 4 of its neighboring townships in Taipei County, including Neihu, Nangang, Muzha and Jingmei. In the next year, Shilin and Beitou of Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau (a county-equivalent administrative division) were also merged into Taipei.


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