Chiayi

Last updated • 7 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Chiayi City
嘉義市
Ka-gi, Kagi, Chiai, Chia-i
Chiayi City
Hinoki Village, Chiayi City 20130505.jpg
NCYU Sinmin Campus030906.jpg
Jia Yi Kong Zi Miao Da Cheng Dian .jpg
TW Chiayi sun-shooting tower 20051008.jpg
Lantan Reservoir F1000018.JPG
Jia Yi Shi Wen Hua Zhong Xin .JPG
Gang Ping Yun Dong Gong Yuan Ti Yu Guan .jpg
Clockwise from top left: Hinoki Village, Chiayi Confucius Temple, Fountain at the Lantan Reservoir, Chiayi City Sports Arena, Chiayi Municipal Culture Center, Chiayi Sun Shooting Tower, National Chiayi University
Flag of Chiayi City.svg
Seal of Chiayi City.svg
Nickname: 
Peach City (桃城) or Jia City (嘉市)
Taiwan ROC political division map Chiayi City.svg
Chiayi
CountryFlag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China (Taiwan)
Province Flag of Taiwan Province.svg  Taiwan Province (de facto dissolved)
RegionSouthwestern Taiwan
First mentioned1787
Renamed to Kagi17 April 1895
Autonomous city1930
Provincial city 25 October 1945
Downgraded to county-administered city 16 August 1950
Provincial city status restored1 July 1982
Seat East District
Districts
2 districts
Government
  TypeChiayi City Government
   Mayor Huang Min-hui (KMT)
Area
[1]
  Total
60.03 km2 (23.18 sq mi)
  Rank 21 out of 22
Elevation
69 m (226 ft)
Population
 (January 2023) [2]
  Total
263,188
  Rank 18 of 22
  Density4,400/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (National Standard Time)
Postal code
600
Area code 05
ISO 3166 code TW-CYI
Flower
TreeHong Kong orchid tree
Website www.chiayi.gov.tw/en/ OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

In looking over some of my more recent Notes, it seems impossible to make the foregoing references to Ka-gi without adding a few words about that dreadful earthquake which devastated the region in March 1906. I was there soon after, and had a profound feeling of sadness on seeing whole streets covered with fallen beams and other debris ; on seeing, too, so many traces of the awful suffering on every side. Within Ka-gi city, and a limited area around, 1,216 persons were suddenly thrust out into the eternal world. Not fewer than 2,306 persons were seriously injured, and 13,259 houses were laid low. The great mysterious Power then tore the earth into deep, open chasms in several places. Many of the narrow escapes and calamities were very affecting ; particularly that of our blind evangelist Toa-un, who ran out of doors with his wife as the shaking began. The demented mother, however, could not bear the thought of her two helpless young children being left behind, and she darted in to rescue them, when my poor blind pupil became childless and a widower in an instant of time. No sooner had the Governor-General at Tai-pak received telegraphic information of the magnitude of the calamity, than instructions were issued for a large company of surgeons, nurses, and assistants to proceed at once to Ka-gi. Wide hospital-sheds were erected without delay, and the work of relief was carried on with a rare amount of self-denial and promptitude. Even already, the city has lost much of its most desolate appearance, and the projected improvements give promise that it will have a more attractive look than ever. – William Campbell, 1915

In 1907, the construction of Alishan Forest Railway to Mount Ali was begun. In 1920, the city became an autonomous group as Kagi Town (嘉義街), Kagi District, within Tainan Prefecture, which included modern-day Tainan City, Chiayi County and Yunlin County. In 1930, the town was upgraded to an autonomous city under the same prefecture.

Republic of China

Chiayi City in 1946-1950 Map Chiayi City 1946-01.svg
Chiayi City in 1946–1950

After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in October 1945, Chiayi City was established as a provincial city of Taiwan Province. The city consisted of 8 districts, which were Bajiang, Beimen, Beizhen, Nanmen, Tungmen, Tungshan, Ximen and Zhuwei Districts. In 1946, the districts was reorganized to 6 districts in which Bajiang and Nanmen were merged to become Xinnan, Beimen and Beizhen were merged to become Xinbei, Tungmen and Tungshan were merged to become Xindong, Ximen and Zhuwei were merged to become Xinxi District and there were 2 addition of districts from Tainan County which were Shuishang and Taibao Districts. [10]

Chiayi saw some of the most violent events during the 228 Incident. In early March, local militas surrounded the Shueishang Airport and fought against the KMT military. [11] There were over 300 casualties. [12] On 12 March 1947, negotiators for peace, including Tan Teng-pho and Phuan Bok-tsi  [ zh ], were arrested after arriving at the airport and were executed on 25 March. The Kuomintang also executed many civilians in Chiayi. [13]

On 16 August 1950, because of the re-allocation of administrative areas in which Taiwan was divided into 16 counties, five provincial cities and a special bureau, Chiayi City was downgraded to a county-administered city and merged with Chiayi County to be the county seat. As a result, a shortage of capital hindered its development.

On 1 July 1982, Chiayi City was elevated again to a provincial city as a result of pressure from local elites. [14] On 6 October 1990, the East District and West District were established. [15]

Geography

Map of Chiayi (labeled as KAGI) and surrounding area (1944) Txu-pclmaps-oclc-6550512-kagi-2117-ii.jpg
Map of Chiayi (labeled as KAGI) and surrounding area (1944)
Map of the region including Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI) Jia Yi Shi 
) (1950) Txu-oclc-6557994-index-451.jpg
Map of the region including Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI) 嘉義市) (1950)
Map of the city of Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI) Jia Yi Shi 
) (1950s) Txu-oclc-6557994-index-452.jpg
Map of the city of Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI) 嘉義市) (1950s)

Chiayi City is located on the north side of Chianan Plain, south west of Taiwan Island. On the east side is the Mount Ali, on the west side is the Chiayi Airport, on the north side is the Puzi River and on the south side is the Bazhang River. The distance from east to west of Chiayi City is 15.8 km (9.8 mi) and from north to south is 10.5 km (6.5 mi) with a total area of 60.0256 km2 (23.1760 sq mi). Chiayi City is completely surrounded by Chiayi County. Most of Chiayi City land is broad flat fertile plains. The terrain slowly rises from west to east. Chiayi is also one of the closest Taiwanese cities to the Tropic of Cancer, with the latitudinal line lying just south of the city.

Climate

Chiayi City has a warm humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) that closely borders a true tropical climate. Northeasterly winds during fall and winter mean that rainfall is depressed during that time, while southwesterly winds during summer and the later portion of spring bring most of the year's rainfall, with more than 60% falling from June to August. Humidity is high year-round, even during winter.

Chiayi City
Chiayi (Chinese characters).svg
"Chiayi" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Climate data for Chiayi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)31.7
(89.1)
33.0
(91.4)
34.1
(93.4)
34.2
(93.6)
37.2
(99.0)
37.0
(98.6)
37.2
(99.0)
36.6
(97.9)
36.7
(98.1)
36.5
(97.7)
33.6
(92.5)
32.5
(90.5)
37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)22.5
(72.5)
23.0
(73.4)
25.4
(77.7)
28.4
(83.1)
30.9
(87.6)
32.8
(91.0)
33.4
(92.1)
32.8
(91.0)
32.1
(89.8)
30.1
(86.2)
27.6
(81.7)
23.9
(75.0)
28.6
(83.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)16.8
(62.2)
17.7
(63.9)
20.2
(68.4)
23.5
(74.3)
26.3
(79.3)
28.3
(82.9)
28.9
(84.0)
28.4
(83.1)
27.4
(81.3)
24.9
(76.8)
22.0
(71.6)
18.4
(65.1)
23.6
(74.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)12.9
(55.2)
14.1
(57.4)
16.2
(61.2)
19.5
(67.1)
22.6
(72.7)
24.7
(76.5)
25.4
(77.7)
25.2
(77.4)
24.0
(75.2)
21.1
(70.0)
18.0
(64.4)
14.2
(57.6)
19.8
(67.6)
Record low °C (°F)1.8
(35.2)
2.6
(36.7)
2.7
(36.9)
8.2
(46.8)
13.9
(57.0)
17.5
(63.5)
21.7
(71.1)
19.7
(67.5)
17.6
(63.7)
11.5
(52.7)
6.7
(44.1)
0.4
(32.7)
0.4
(32.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)27.5
(1.08)
44.9
(1.77)
53.0
(2.09)
86.6
(3.41)
170.0
(6.69)
318.6
(12.54)
387.4
(15.25)
443.8
(17.47)
212.3
(8.36)
30.2
(1.19)
21.5
(0.85)
25.8
(1.02)
1,821.6
(71.72)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)5.15.56.88.110.413.815.317.99.42.93.34.1102.6
Average relative humidity (%)77.979.379.379.879.977.577.280.180.178.978.776.878.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 161.4139.7157.9157.0175.5186.6206.4182.2186.2197.0158.9159.22,068
Source: Central Weather Bureau [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Government

Huang Min-hui, the incumbent Mayor of Chiayi City. Huang Min-hui chopped.png
Huang Min-hui, the incumbent Mayor of Chiayi City.
Chiayi City Government Jia Yi Shi Zheng Fu .jpg
Chiayi City Government

Chiayi City is a provincial city of Taiwan Province of the Republic of China. The city is governed by the Chiayi City Government, while the residence is represented in the Chiayi City Council. The current Mayor of Chiayi City is Huang Min-hui of the Kuomintang.

Administrative divisions

Chiayi City is divided into two districts. East District is the city seat which houses the Chiayi City Government.

MapNameChinese Taiwanese Hakka Population (2016)Area (km2)
Districts of Chiayi-Taiwan.png East 東區TangTûng122,87729.1195
West 西區Se147,39630.9061

Politics

Result of the 2022 mayoral election of Chiayi City 2022 Chiayi Mayor Election Result Map.svg
Result of the 2022 mayoral election of Chiayi City

Chiayi City voted one Democratic Progressive Party legislator to be in the Legislative Yuan during the 2020 Taiwanese legislative election. It has historically been a very pan-Green city. During the martial law era, most people of Chiayi supported tangwai politicians. However, the voting gap between the DPP and the KMT has narrowed in recent years. [21] In the 2022 Taiwanese local elections, Chiayi City re-elected Huang Min-hui of Kuomintang to be the mayor.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1985 253,573    
1990 257,597+1.6%
1995 261,391+1.5%
2000 266,183+1.8%
2005 272,364+2.3%
2010 272,390+0.0%
2015 270,366−0.7%
2020 266,005−1.6%
Source: "Populations by City and Country in Taiwan" (in Chinese). Ministry of the Interior Population Census.

Education

National Chiayi University The sight of NCYU Lantan Campus11813.jpg
National Chiayi University

Energy

Green energy

On 17 December 2015, Chiayi City Government launched a program to set up solar panels at schools and offices in the city to reduce green house gases. The program is expected to produce 3.55 million kWh of electricity annually and to help reducing carbon emission by 1,700 tonnes. [22]

Tourist attractions

Chiayi Prison Museum Old Chiayi Prison, front gate (Taiwan).jpg
Chiayi Prison Museum
The spotted deer sculpture in the 228 National Memorial Park. 228 Memorial Park, Spotted Deer, Chiayi City (Taiwan).jpg
The spotted deer sculpture in the 228 National Memorial Park.
Hinoki Village Kuai Yi Sen Huo Cun --Zhang Li Cong jpg.jpg
Hinoki Village

Chiayi is the city of wind music in Taiwan. The wind music festival started as a local event in 1988, when it was more like a joint performance by local wind music bands. Over the years the festival has become the most anticipated annual event in Chiayi. [24]

Sports

Major sporting events held by Chiayi include:

Notable residents/natives

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Chiayi is twinned with:

Transportation

Chiayi Station TRA Chiayi Station 2020-10-13.jpg
Chiayi Station

Rail

Chiayi City is served by Chiayi Station and Jiabei Station of the Taiwan Railways Administration. Chiayi Station is the starting point for the Alishan Forest Railway. The city is also accessible from THSR Chiayi Station in Chiayi County.

Bus

Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit connects Chiayi City to Chiayi HSR station in the neighboring Taibao City. Chiayi City Bus serves the urban areas of Chiayi City.

Air

Chiayi City is served by Chiayi Airport in the neighboring Shuishang Township.

Chiayi City and its street foods, including the famous Chiayi turkey rice, were featured on the Netflix TV series, Street Food , in season 1. [25]

See also

References

  1. "Xiàn shì zhòngyào tǒngjì zhǐbiāo cháxún xìtǒng wǎng" 縣市重要統計指標查詢系統網. Zhōnghuá mínguó tǒngjì zīxùn wǎng中華民國統計資訊網 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  2. Minzheng chu (2016-07-01). "Jiāyì Shì 105 nián 6 yuèfèn rénkǒu tǒngjì zīliào" 嘉義市105年6月份人口統計資料 [Population Statistics of Chiayi City for June 2016]. Jiāyì Shì zhèngfǔ嘉義市政府 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. "Chia-i". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary . Merriam-Webster.
  4. Campbell, William (1903). "Explanatory Notes". Formosa under the Dutch: described from contemporary records, with explanatory notes and a bibliography of the island. London: Kegan Paul. p. 549. ISBN   9789576380839. OCLC   644323041.
  5. "Taiwan in Time: Rebels of heaven and earth - Taipei Times". 17 April 2016.
  6. Campbell, M. W. (1903). "Explanatory Notes". Formosa Under the Dutch: Described from Contemporary Records, with Explanatory Notes and a Bibliography of the Island. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. p. 549. ISBN   9789576380839. OCLC   644323041.
  7. Campbell, W. (1915). Sketches from Formosa. London: Marshall Brothers. pp. 79–81. It was on a later occasion I arrived in Ka-gi to find the people engaged in their absurd periodic custom of stonethrowing.
  8. Takekoshi, Yosaburō (1907). "Chapter XIII: Population and Future Development of the Island Resources". Japanese Rule in Formosa. Translated by Braithwaite, George. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. p.  200. OCLC   753129. OL   6986981M.
  9. Campbell, W. (1915). Sketches from Formosa. London: Marshall Brothers. pp. 82–83.
  10. "臺灣建制市的市轄區變遷". www.aiplus.idv.tw. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  11. 二二八民變-台灣與蔣介石,143-146;1947台灣二二八革命,166-185;責任歸屬研究報告,61-63
  12. Storm.mg (2019-02-26). "「要殺光嘉義市民!」菁英遭遊街槍決、民眾被掃射…二二八「民主聖地」挺身抗暴最慘烈-風傳媒". www.storm.mg (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  13. Yang, Bi-chuan. "The 228 Massacre in Chiayi: "The Airport and Train Station Were Washed with Blood"". The Taiwan Gazette. Translated by Harrison Chen. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  14. "Rezoning Taiwan". Taiwan Today. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  15. "History". East District Office, Chiayi City. Archived from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  16. "Monthly Mean". Central Weather Bureau . Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  17. "氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計" (PDF) (in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  18. "氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計(續)" (PDF) (in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  19. "氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計" (PDF) (in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  20. "氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計(續)" (PDF) (in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  21. "大選關鍵區》嘉義市藍綠皆配角、派系也式微,誰抓得住民主聖地?|天下雜誌". 天下雜誌 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  22. Chiang, Chun-liang; Hou, Elaine (2015-12-17). "Chiayi City Launches Solar Power System Program". Focus Taiwan News Channel. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  23. "Chung Cheng Park". Travel in Chiayi. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  24. "The Sound of Wind Music: 2008 Chiayi City International Band Festival". Culture.tw. 2009-01-17. Archived from the original on 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  25. Brown, Joshua Samuel (22 May 2019). "Taiwan Culture and Cuisine Shine on New Netflix Series "Street Food"". CommonWealth Magazine. Medium. Retrieved 26 July 2020.

23°28′48″N120°26′59″E / 23.48000°N 120.44972°E / 23.48000; 120.44972