New Taipei City

New Taipei City encircles the capital Taipei and borders Keelung to the northeast, Yilan County to the southeast, and Taoyuan City to the southwest. Its terrain ranges from coastal plains to the Xueshan and Linkou plateaus, with the Tamsui River flowing through the western part. The city is divided into 29 districts, including Banqiao (the seat of government), Xindian, and Tamsui. The administrative structure was established on December 25, 2010, when the former Taipei County was upgraded to a special municipality, granting it the same status as Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.¹

New Taipei City has a diversified economy, with strengths in manufacturing, technology, and services. The Linkou Industrial Park and the New Taipei Industrial Park host numerous electronics and machinery firms. The city's population is over four million, making it the most populous in Taiwan, with a density that varies widely from dense urban centers to rural mountain areas. The demographic profile includes a significant number of commuters who work in Taipei, contributing to a dynamic daily flow across the municipal boundary.²

New Taipei City offers a rich cultural landscape, from the historic streets of Tamsui and Jiufen to the modern museums like the Yingge Ceramics Museum. The city is home to the annual Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, a major tourist attraction. Natural attractions include the waterfalls of Shifen and the hot springs of Wulai. The city also preserves indigenous heritage, particularly in the Wulai District, home to the Atayal people. These sites draw millions of visitors each year, making tourism a vital part of the local economy.³

Beyond the well-known attractions, New Taipei City harbors several lesser-known facts. The city's coastline includes the Cape of Good Hope (Fugui Cape), the northernmost point of Taiwan. The district of Sanzhi is known for the abandoned Sanzhi UFO houses, a short-lived 1970s resort that has become a site of urban exploration. The city also has a unique administrative quirk: it is the only special municipality that completely surrounds another (Taipei). Additionally, the city's Ruifang District contains the historic Gold Museum, dedicated to the region's gold mining past, which is often overshadowed by the nearby Jiufen.⁴

Special municipality

A high-level administrative division in Taiwan, with the same status as a province.

District

An administrative subdivision within a special municipality.

Atayal

An indigenous people of Taiwan, residing mainly in the northern mountains.