Chiayi County

This article is about Chiayi County. For the city of the same name, see Chiayi City.

Chiayi County 嘉義縣 Ka-gi, Chiai
County
Flag Logo
Coordinates: 23°29′46.34″N120°38′30.75″E / 23.4962056°N 120.6418750°E / 23.4962056; 120.6418750
Country	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Province	Taiwan Province (government dissolved)
Region	Southwestern Taiwan
Seat	Taibao City
Largest city	Minxiong
Boroughs	2 cities, 16 (2 urban, 14 rural) townships
Government
• County Magistrate	Weng Chang-liang (DPP)
Area
• Total	1,901.67 km2 (734.24 sq mi)
• Rank	10 of 22
Population  (January 2023)
• Total	488,012 [1]
• Rank	14 of 22
Time zone	UTC+8 (National Standard Time)
ISO 3166 code	TW-CYQ
Website	cyhg.gov.tw

Chiayi County
Traditional Chinese	嘉義 縣
Simplified Chinese	嘉义 县
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jiāyì Xiàn [2] Bopomofo ㄐㄧㄚ   ㄧˋ   ㄒㄧㄢˋ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Jiayih Shiann Wade–Giles Chia¹-i⁴ Hsien⁴ Tongyong Pinyin Jiayì Siàn Yale Romanization Jyāyì Syàn MPS2 Jiāyì Shiàn IPA [tɕjá.î ɕjɛ̂n] Hakka Pha̍k-fa-sṳ Kâ-ngi-yen Southern Min Hokkien POJ Ka-gī-koān Tâi-lô Ka-gī-kuān

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1985	569,932	—
1990	552,277	−3.1%
1995	565,804	+2.4%
2000	562,305	−0.6%
2005	553,841	−1.5%
2010	543,248	−1.9%
2015	519,839	−4.3%
Source: "Populations by city and country in Taiwan". Ministry of the Interior Population Census. Archived from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2016-05-01.

The current population of Chiayi County as of May 2022 is 490,423 people. The county has been experiencing a population decline since 2009 due to higher migration out of the county and a higher death rate than birth rate. ^[1] In 2013, the birthrate in the county was 5.89, lower than the average in Taiwan of 8.91, and the second lowest after Keelung. ^[12]

Education

National Chung Cheng University

Chiayi County is home to the government-owned National Chung Cheng University and National Chiayi University. Private universities and colleges including Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Nanhua University, Toko University and WuFeng University. Education-related affairs in the county is managed by the Educational Department of Chiayi County Government.

Economy

Over the past 20 years, Chiayi County had often been left out in the regional economic development due to its less strategic location, lack of infrastructure and appropriate industrial land to attract manufacturers to set up factories in the area. All of the existing industrial parks in the county were built before 1981. Class 2 and class 3 industries have been developing slowly throughout Chiayi, thus the economic development is sluggish as well, resulting in slow urban development.

Three industrial parks named the Dapumei Industrial Park (大埔美工業區), Ma Chou Hou Industrial Park (馬稠後工業區) and Budai Intelligent Industrial Park are currently under planning in the county. ^{[12] [13]} Industrial parks in the neighboring counties and cities also contributed to the difficulty of industrial developments in Chiayi County.

Energy

The Zengwen Hydroelectric Plant and Chiahui Gas-Fired Power Plant boasted the total national grid capacity of 50 MW and 670 MW respectively. Both of the power plants are located in the county.

Incinerator in the county is Lutsao Refuse Incineration Plant.

Tourist attractions

Alishan National Scenic Area

High-Heel Wedding Church

Museums

Notable museums, cultural centers and monuments in Chiayi County are the Dongshi Natural Ecological Exhibition Center, Mei-Ling Fine Arts Museum, National Radio Museum, Ping Huang Coffee Museum, Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, Xikou Township Cultural Life Center and Tropic of Cancer Monument.

Natural

Bordered by mountains on one side and sea on the other side, Chiayi County holds three major national parks, which are Alishan National Scenic Area, Southwest Coast National Scenic Area and Siraya National Scenic Area, each represents a unique view of nature's wonders, from mountains, plains to ocean views. ^[14] It also houses the Chukou Nature Center, Haomeiliao Wetland and Meishan Park.

Dams

Renyitan Dam and Zengwen Dam are located in the county.

Buildings

The county houses the Dongshi Fisherman's Wharf, Chiayi Performing Arts Center and High-Heel Wedding Church.

Famous people

• Andy Chen Kang I: entrepreneur and diplomat

• Du ta hsiung（ 1957--2021）: creator of Adu studio, a photographer focus on male bodies

Transportation

Chiayi Airport

THSR Chiayi Station

Air

Chiayi County is served by Chiayi Airport, located at the junction of Shuishang Township, Taibao City and neighboring Chiayi City.

Rail

Taiwan High Speed Rail stops at Chiayi HSR Station in Taibao City. Taiwan Railways Administration stations include the Dalin Station, Minxiong Station, Jiabei Station, Nanjing Station and Shuishang Station. The Alishan Forest Railway leads to Alishan National Scenic Area, with stations in Zhuqi Township, Meishan Township and Alishan Township.

Water

Budai Harbor in Budai Township provides ferry services to Magong City, Penghu. ^[15]

References

1. "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-Population-Population". cyhg.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
2. 教育部重編國語辭典修訂本 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 15 October 2019. 字詞 【嘉義縣】 注音 ㄐㄧㄚ ㄧˋ ㄒㄧㄢˋ 漢語拼音 jiā yì xiàn
3. 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.
4. "Taiwan in Time: Rebels of heaven and earth - Taipei Times". 17 April 2016.
5. "Rezoning Taiwan". Taiwan Today. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
6. "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-History-Republic of China Era (1945－)". cyhg.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28.
7. "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-History-Republic of China Era (1945－)". Cyhg.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
8. "Welcome to Chiayi County Government-Geography-Geography". cyhg.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
9. "Geography". Chiayi County Government. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019. Chiayi County(2 cities, 2 towns, 14 villages )
10. 地理區域 [Geography]. 嘉義縣政府全球資訊網. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
11. 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. 嘉義縣 Chiayi County太保市 Taibao City朴子市 Puzih City布袋鎮 Budai Township大林鎮 Dalin Township民雄鄉 Minsyong Township溪口鄉 Sikou Township新港鄉 Singang Township六腳鄉 Lioujiao Township東石鄉 Dongshih Township義竹鄉 Yijhu Township鹿草鄉 Lucao Township水上鄉 Shueishang Township中埔鄉 Jhongpu Township竹崎鄉 Jhuci Township梅山鄉 Meishan Township番路鄉 Fanlu Township大埔鄉 Dapu Township阿里山鄉 Alishan Township
12. "Chiayi's low birthrate is problem for education". taipeitimes.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
13. "Chiayi county government, Invest in chiayi county-Dapumei Intelligent Industrial Park". Archived from the original on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
14. "Attractions > Hot Spots > Chiayi County >". taiwan.net.tw. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
15. Liao, George (1 October 2017). "An amazing trip to Taiwan's Penghu County in three days". Taiwan News. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

External links

• Chiayi County Government Garden City
• https://web.archive.org/web/20100305233542/http://www.ccu.edu.tw/eng/e-index.php
• Geographic data related to Chiayi County at OpenStreetMap