Provincial city facts for kids

Provincial cities (called shì in Chinese) are important cities in Taiwan. They are a bit like medium-sized cities in other countries. In Taiwan, they are managed directly by a larger area called a province. They are a step below the biggest cities, known as special municipalities, but they are bigger and more important than smaller cities that are controlled by counties.

What is a Provincial City?

A provincial city is a type of city in the Republic of China (Taiwan). These cities are directly governed by a province. This means they are a level above the most basic county-controlled cities.

Early Rules for Cities

A long time ago, in the early 20th century, a city could become a provincial city if it had more than 200,000 people. But if a city was really important for politics (how the government works), economics (money and business), or culture (art, history, traditions), it only needed to have over 100,000 people.

How City Rules Changed in Taiwan

After the government moved to Taiwan, the rules for cities changed. In 1981, the population needed for a provincial city was raised to 500,000 people. Later, it was raised again to 600,000. These changes helped make sure that only very large and important cities became provincial cities.

Becoming a Provincial City Today

Today, the rules for creating a provincial city are set by the Local Government Act. This act is managed by the Ministry of the Interior, which is a part of the government. For a city to become a provincial city now, it needs to have a population between 500,000 and 1,250,000 people. It must also play a major role in politics, economics, and culture.