Pingtung County

Pingtung is in southern Taiwan.

It sits near the sea. The warm sun shines here often.

Many people visit to see the big park.

This is the oldest park in Taiwan.

Farmers grow food in the land. People also catch fish from the water.

There are many beautiful temples too. Some people live in the high mountains.

It is a very busy and sunny place.

Pingtung is a large county in southern Taiwan.

It sits near the sea. To the north is Kaohsiung City. To the east is Taitung County. The Taiwan Strait is to the west. The Bashi Channel is to the south.

The weather in Pingtung is very warm. It has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it is often hot and wet. The weather changes depending on where you go. The coast is mild because of the ocean. The north can be very hot during the day.

Many people visit Pingtung for fun. Kenting National Park is here. It is the oldest national park in Taiwan.

You can also visit the Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium.

Many people love the ocean life there.

Farming and fishing are very important. People also work in tourism. Pingtung has many different groups of people. The Rukai and Paiwan tribes live in the mountains.

The county also has a large nuclear power plant.

This plant is called Maanshan.

Pingtung is a large county in southern Taiwan.

It is the fifth-largest county in the country. To its north lies Kaohsiung City. To the east is Taitung County. The Taiwan Strait sits to the west. The Bashi Channel is to the south. The name Pingtung means "east of Banping mountain." This refers to a nearby mountain named Banping. The county seat is Pingtung City.

The weather in Pingtung is very warm and tropical. It has a monsoon climate. This means it is often hot and wet. The weather changes based on where you stand. Northern Pingtung stays hot during the day. The ocean helps keep central areas mild. The southern tip is the mildest part. This is because the Hengchun Peninsula is nearly surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot brought huge amounts of rain. This broke records for rainfall in Taiwan.

History in this area is very long. In the past, it was a place for Chinese criminals. It was also a place where sailors landed. In 1664, Hakka settlers arrived from China. They began farming the land. In 1684, more settlers from Fujian created villages. Later, Japan ruled the area from 1895 to 1945. In 1945, Taiwan was handed to the Republic of China. Pingtung became its own county in 1950.

Many different people live in Pingtung today. The Rukai and Paiwan tribes live in the mountain areas. These indigenous groups make up 7% of the population. There are also many temples here. In fact, Pingtung has the third most temples in Taiwan. Agriculture and fishing are the main jobs. Tourism is also a huge part of the economy. The county wants to grow tourism in places like Dapeng Bay.

There are many exciting things to see and do. Kenting National Park is the oldest park in Taiwan.

You can visit the Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium.

For energy, the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant is located in Hengchun.

You can also travel by train. The Pingtung Line and South-Link Line run through the county. These tracks help people move between cities.

Pingtung County is a significant administrative region located in southern Taiwan.

It serves as a vital hub for agriculture, fishing, and tourism. The county is the fifth-largest in Taiwan. It is also the second-largest county in Southern Taiwan, following Kaohsiung City. The name Pingtung translates to "east of Banping mountain." This name refers to the nearby Banping mountain. The administrative center, or county seat, is Pingtung City.

The geography of Pingtung is defined by its many borders. To the north, it meets Kaohsiung City. To the east, it borders Taitung County. The Taiwan Strait lies to the west. The Bashi Channel sits to the south. The county also manages several islands. These include Hsiao Liuchiu, also known as Lamay Islet, and Qixingyan. The land area covers over 2,000 square kilometers. This large size creates different environments across the region.

Pingtung features a tropical monsoon climate. This means the weather is generally warm and wet. The climate varies depending on the local geography. Northern Pingtung, including Pingtung City, stays hot during the day. Daytime highs reach 30 to 33 degrees Celsius from April to November. From December to March, highs are 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. The nighttime temperatures in the north can drop to 15 degrees Celsius. Central Pingtung, like Fangliao Township, has a different feel. The ocean regulates the temperature there. This makes daytime temperatures lower and nights warmer. The southern tip is the mildest area. The Hengchun Peninsula is nearly surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Summer highs there reach 33 to 35 degrees Celsius. Winter highs are 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures stay warm throughout the year.

The history of Pingtung is complex and involves many different groups. Early history includes the inhabitants of Liuqiu Island. In 1636, a punitive campaign by Dutch sailors occurred after sailors were killed. During the Kingdom of Tungning, the area was part of Banlian-chiu. Under the Qing dynasty, it was known as Fongshan Prefecture. Until the seventeenth century, the area served as a place of exile. It was also a landing point for international mariners. In 1664, Hakka settlers arrived from mainland China. They used a homesteading system introduced by Zheng Jing. In 1684, settlers from Fujian created the first Han Chinese villages. Pingtung City was once known as "A-Kau," meaning "the forest." In 1836, the government and locals built four city gates. These were the North, East, West, and South gates.

Conflict shaped much of the nineteenth century. In 1867, the Rover incident involved the deaths of fourteen American sailors. This led to the failed American Formosa Expedition. In 1871, the Mudan Incident occurred when 54 Ryukyu sailors were killed. This resulted in a Japanese invasion of Taiwan in 1874. Later, the Empire of Japan ruled from 1895 to 1945. During this time, administrative names changed several times. In 1901, Pingtung was established. In 1909, the name changed again. By 1920, it was under Takao Prefecture. After 1945, the Republic of China took control. Pingtung was separated from Kaohsiung County on 16 August 1950.

Today, Pingtung has a diverse population of 798,940 people. The indigenous Rukai and Paiwan tribes make up 7% of this total. The county has many rural and mountain townships. In fact, it has the most of these types in Taiwan. The economy relies heavily on farming and fishing. Tourism is also a major force. In 2015, tourism made up 30% of Taiwan's total tourism industry. The government is working to develop new hubs. These plans involve Dapeng Bay, Donggang Township, and Lamay Island. Religion is also very visible. There are 1,101 registered temples in the county. This is the third-highest number in Taiwan.

Many landmarks draw visitors to the county. Kenting National Park is Taiwan's oldest national park.

The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium is another major site.

For energy production, the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant is located in Hengchun. It is Taiwan's second-largest nuclear power plant by capacity.

Transportation is supported by the railway system. The Pingtung Line and South-Link Line cross the county. These lines connect Pingtung to Kaohsiung and Taitung. Ferries also connect the mainland to Lamay Island. This connectivity helps the local economy and tourism thrive.