Taipei - The Capital of Taiwan

Population
2,646,204
Language
Mandarin Chinese
Continent
Asia
Since
1885
Eco Ranking
60/195

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

About Taipei

Taipei functions as the full seat of government for Taiwan, housing the presidency, the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, and the Judicial Yuan, yet its status as a national capital exists within one of the world's most consequential unresolved territorial disputes. The People's Republic of China (PRC) claims Taiwan as a province and refuses to recognise the government based in Taipei. The majority of UN member states do not maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, though many sustain substantive unofficial ties. Taiwan's government traces its origin to the Republic of China (ROC), founded in 1912, which governed mainland China before losing the civil war to the Communist Party in 1949. The ROC government retreated to Taiwan, where it has governed ever since. Taipei became the provisional capital of the ROC in 1949, though it had been a significant administrative centre since Japan developed it as the capital of its Taiwan colony from 1895. Cross-strait tensions, the relationship between Taiwan and the PRC, have shaped Taipei's political environment continuously. The PRC has never renounced the use of military force to achieve unification, while Taiwan's population has developed a distinct political identity over decades. Taipei is home to over 2.6 million residents and is the centre of Taiwan's democratic institutions, established through gradual reform in the 1990s.

About Taiwan

Taiwan (officially the Republic of China) operates as a full democratic state with a directly elected president and a multiparty legislature. It controls Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. Most countries do not recognise it formally due to PRC pressure, but maintain unofficial relations through representative offices. Taiwan has one of Asia's most advanced economies and has been a leading producer of semiconductors, particularly through TSMC. Its political status remains the most significant flashpoint in U.S.-China relations.

View Taipei on the map

View Taipei - The Capital of Taiwan on the map

Flight time from Taipei to other capitals

CityDistance (km)Flight Time
Tokyo21002h 28m
Singapore32003h 46m
Abu Dhabi67007h 53m
Canberra73008h 35m
Rome960011h 18m
London980011h 32m
Paris980011h 32m
Washington, D.C.1260014h 49m
Cape Town1270014h 56m
Buenos Aires1890022h 14m

Capitals with similar population to Taipei

CityPopulation
Rome2,873,494
Quito2,781,641
Lusaka2,731,696
Taipei2,646,204
Port-au-Prince2,618,894
Mogadishu2,610,483
Bamako2,446,800

Capitals with similar eco ranking to Taipei

CityEco Rank
Castries56
Seoul57
Skopje59
Taipei60
Dili61
Belgrade66
Bogotá67

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why does most of the world not officially recognise Taipei as a capital?

    The People's Republic of China maintains that Taiwan is a province of China and pressures other countries not to recognise the government in Taipei. As a result, Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations with only around a dozen states. Most countries maintain unofficial relations through trade and representative offices to avoid jeopardising ties with the PRC.

  • When did Taipei become the capital of Taiwan?

    Taipei became the provisional capital of the Republic of China in 1949 when the ROC government retreated from mainland China after losing the civil war to Communist forces. Japan had previously developed Taipei as the administrative capital of Taiwan during its 1895-1945 colonial period. The city had also been a provincial capital under Qing dynasty rule from 1885.

  • What is the difference between Taiwan and the Republic of China?

    The Republic of China (ROC) is the formal name of the government based in Taipei, established in 1912 and originally governing mainland China. After 1949, the ROC has governed only Taiwan and some smaller islands. 'Taiwan' is commonly used as an informal name for the state. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is the separate government established by the Communist Party in 1949 and based in Beijing.

  • Does Taiwan have a fully functioning democratic government?

    Yes. Taiwan has held direct presidential elections since 1996 and operates a multiparty democratic system with a freely elected legislature. It has peacefully transferred power between political parties on multiple occasions. International observers consistently rate it as a full democracy, with strong civil liberties and press freedom.

  • Is Taipei the largest city in Taiwan?

    Taipei municipality has a population of approximately 2.6 million, but New Taipei City, which surrounds Taipei, has a larger official population of over 4 million. Together, the greater Taipei metropolitan area contains nearly 7 million people, about 30% of Taiwan's total population.

Sights and landmarks

Taipei has a remarkably rich combination of modern architecture, traditional temples and museums. Taipei 101, at 508 metres the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010, is the city's most recognisable icon and has an observation deck on the 89th floor. The National Palace Museum contains one of the largest and most valuable collections of Chinese art and artefacts in the world — much of the collection was brought from Beijing by the Kuomintang in 1949. The Jiufen mountain villages east of Taipei inspired the setting of the Ghibli animated film Spirited Away. The Raohe Street Night Market and the Shilin Night Market are emblematic of Taiwan's street food culture. The historic district of Dadaocheng houses Baroque trading houses from the Japanese colonial period.

Climate and best time to visit

Taipei has a humid subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and mild winters. October to December offers the most pleasant combination of temperature and clear skies. Spring (March–May) is nice but cloudy; summers from June to September are hot (above 35°C) and humid, with typhoon risk — Taiwan is struck by an average of three to four typhoons annually. Winters are mild, rarely below 10°C, though the mountainous interior can receive snow. The city receives around 2,400 mm of rainfall per year, fairly evenly distributed but with peaks in spring and typhoon season.

Culture and customs

Taipei is the cultural capital of a society that is unique in the Chinese world. Taiwan has the freest press, the strongest LGBTQ+ rights and the most vibrant civil society in the Chinese cultural sphere — a product of democratisation that began in the late 1980s. The Taiwanese-Chinese identity is complex: many residents of Taipei consider themselves primarily Taiwanese, not Chinese. Bubble tea (boba) was invented in Taipei in the 1980s and is now a global phenomenon. The culinary scene is celebrated: Taiwanese xiaolongbao, beef noodle soup and scallion pancakes are international draws.
Taipei, capital of Taiwan
Taipei, capital of Taiwan

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