The regions of Taiwan are based on historical administrative divisions. However, most of the definitions are not precise.
Division into two regions Eastern and Western Taiwan: the Central Mountain Range separates Taiwan into east and west. Eastern Taiwan: Yilan, Hualien and Taitung. Western Taiwan: other divisions from Taipei to Pingtung. Northern and Southern Taiwan: Zhuoshui River, the longest river of Taiwan, flows through about the middle of the island. Northern Taiwan: Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu (City/County), Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, and Nantou. Southern Taiwan: Yunlin, Chiayi (City/County), Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung.
Division into four regions The most widely used definition is from the Council for Economic Planning and Development (), Executive Yuan. This division into four regions (tetrachotomy) scheme corresponds to the prefectures under Qing dynasty rule.
No.1234–NameNorthern TaiwanCentral TaiwanSouthern TaiwanEastern TaiwanOutlying IslandsProvinceTaiwan & 6 Special municipalitiesFujianKaohsiung CityMapPresentdivisionsTaipeiNew TaipeiKeelungTaoyuanHsinchu City/CountyYilanMiaoliTaichungChanghuaNantouYunlinChiayi City/CountyTainanKaohsiungPingtungPenghuHualienTaitungKinmenMatsu (Lienchiang) South China Sea Islands(governed by Zhongxing Village, Cijin of Kaohsiung)HistoricalPrefecturesTaipeh ()Taiwan ()Tainan ()Taitung ()
Division into five regions The scheme of division into five regions (pentachotomy) is a fusion of the tetrachotomy and hexachotomy schemes. Although no specific names are given in each division, it is the most commonly used scheme among the highest divisions of the central government. This scheme is used by the Joint Service Centers (JSC, ) under Executive Yuan () and the jurisdiction of High Court Branches () under Judicial Yuan ().
No.Present divisionsJoint Service CenterHigh Court Branch1Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City/County, Yilan(Headquarter)Taiwan HC (Headquarter)2Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, NantouCentral Taiwan JSCTaiwan HC Taichung BC3Yunlin, Chiayi City/County, TainanYunlin-Chiayi-Tainan JSCTaiwan HC Tainan BC4Kaohsiung, Pingtung, PenghuSouthern Taiwan JSCTaiwan HC Kaohsiung BC5Hualien, TaitungEastern Taiwan JSCTaiwan HC Hualien BC–Kinmen, Matsu (Lienchiang)Kinmen-Matsu JSCFuchien HC Kinmen BC
Division into six regions
The division into six regions (hexachotomy) scheme corresponds to the prefectures under Japanese rule. This scheme was used for national electoral districts in the legislative elections in 1972, 1975, 1980, 1983, and 1986. The discussion of this scheme became popular after the elections of five new municipalities in 2010.
No.NamePresent divisionsHistorical Prefectures1Pei–Pei–Kee–(Yi)Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, (Yilan)Taihoku2Tao-Chu-MiaoTaoyuan, Hsinchu City/County, MiaoliShinchiku3Chung–Chang–TouTaichung, Changhua, NantouTaichū4Yun–Chia–NanYunlin, Chiayi City/County, TainanTainan5Kao–Ping(–Peng)Kaohsiung, Pingtung, (Penghu)Takao, Hōko6(Yi–)Hua–Tung(Yilan), Hualien, TaitungKarenkō, Taitō–(Peng–)Kin–Ma(Penghu), Kinmen, Matsu (Lienchiang)None
See also
Administrative divisions of Taiwan Geography of Taiwan North–South divide in Taiwan Political divisions of Taiwan (1895–1945)
References