# Pingtung County

Pingtung County (Chinese: 屏東縣; pinyin: Píngdōng Xìan) is a county located in southern Taiwan. It has a warm tropical monsoon climate and is known for its agriculture and tourism. Kenting National Park, Taiwan's oldest national park, is located in the county. The county seat is Pingtung City.

## Name

The name Pingtung means "east of Banping mountain", referring to a nearby mountain known as Banping mountain (Chinese: 半屏山; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pòaⁿ-pêng-soaⁿ).

## History
### Early history

Aboriginal inhabitants of Liuqiu Island (13 km [8.1 mi] southwest of Taiwan, and now part of Pingtung County) killed Dutch sailors on two occasions. In response, in the spring of 1636, Dutch sailors carried out a punitive campaign that became known as the Lamey Island Massacre.
Modern-day Pingtung County and Kaohsiung City were part of Banlian-chiu (萬年州; Bān-liân-chiu) during the Kingdom of Tungning (1661–1683) and Fongshan Prefecture (鳳山縣; Hōng-soaⁿ-koān) during Qing dynasty rule (1683–1895).
Until the seventeenth century, this area of Taiwan was a place of exile for Chinese criminals and the occasional landing point for international mariners. Only the settlements near present-day Checheng Township existed. In 1664, the Hakka settlers arrived from mainland China and farmed under a homesteading system introduced by Zheng Jing.
Pingtung City, the biggest city in Pingtung County, also known as "A-Kau" (阿猴; A-kâu, English: the forest), was the home of Taiwanese Plains Aborigines.
In 1684, settlers from China's southern Fujian region created the first Han Chinese villages near Pingtung. By 1734, most of the Pingtung Plain was cultivated, and Pingtung was expanded in 1764. In 1836, the government and locals worked together to build the city's four walls (the North Gate, the East Gate, the West Gate, and the South gate), and the roads were completed.
In March 1867, fourteen American sailors were killed near Kenting by local aborigines in the Rover incident, which lead to the failed American Formosa Expedition three months later. In 1871, local aborigines killed 54 sailors from Ryukyu in the Mudan Incident. The Japanese carried out a punitive campaign against the local aborigines in the 1874 Japanese invasion of Taiwan.

### Empire of Japan

Under Japanese rule (1895–1945), Hōzan Subprefecture (Japanese: 鳳山支廳); Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hōng-soaⁿ Chi-thiaⁿ was initially under Tainan Ken (臺南縣); Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-lâm-koān, but political divisions frequently changed between 1895 and 1901. In 1901, Akō Chō (阿猴廳); Pe̍h-ōe-jī: A-kâu-thiaⁿ was established. In 1909, the name changed to Akō Chō (阿緱廳); Pe̍h-ōe-jī: A-kâu-thiaⁿ. In 1920, the name was changed to Heitō City (屏東市); Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pîn-tong-chhī and was under Takao Prefecture administration, which consisted of modern-day Pingtung County and Kaohsiung.

### Republic of China

Following the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China on 25 October 1945, the area of present-day Pingtung County was incorporated into Kaohsiung County on 25 December 1945. On 16 August 1950, Pingtung County was established after being separated from Kaohsiung County. On 1 December 1951, Pingtung City was downgraded from provincial city to county-administered city and made the county seat of Pingtung County.
Pingtung was the site of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 26 December 2006. In 2009, due to Typhoon Morakot, Pingtung received over 2,500 millimetres (98 in) of rainfall, breaking records for any place in Taiwan struck by a single typhoon.

## Geography

With a land area of over 2,775 km$^2$ (1,071 sq mi), Pingtung is the fifth-largest county in Taiwan, and the second-largest of Southern Taiwan after Kaohsiung City. Geographically, it borders Kaohsiung City to the north, Taitung County to the east, the Taiwan Strait to the west and the Bashi Channel to the south. Islands administered by the county include Hsiao Liuchiu (Lamay Islet; 琉球嶼) and Qixingyan (Seven Star Reefs; 七星岩).

### Climate

Located in the southernmost part of Taiwan, Pingtung County is known for one of the warmest climates within the country. It has a tropical monsoon climate bordering on a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classifications: Am bordering on Aw). The climate differs across the large county due to its varying geography.
Northern Pingtung, where Pingtung City is located, is characterized by high daytime temperatures year-round with average daytime highs of 30–40 °C (86–104 °F) from April to November, and 25–28 °C (77–82 °F) from December to March. The lowest nighttime temperatures are around 16 °C (61 °F), due to distance from the sea.
Central Pingtung, such as the coastal Fangliao Township, has a lower daytime temperatures and warmer nights due to the regulating effect of the ocean, which is especially noticeable during winter.
The mildest climate of Pingtung is at its southern tip, the Hengchun Peninsula, which is nearly surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Daily highs reach 29–32 °C (84–90 °F) during summer and 23–26 °C (73–79 °F) during winter. Nighttime temperatures remain warm throughout the year with lows of around 25 °C (77 °F) during summer and 19 °C (66 °F) during the winter.
Climate data for Pingtung County (Hengchun Township) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.4 (90.3) | 34.2 (93.6) | 35.8 (96.4) | 37.1 (98.8) | 36.4 (97.5) | 35.6 (96.1) | 35.3 (95.5) | 36.0 (96.8) | 34.1 (93.4) | 33.8 (92.8) | 32.5 (90.5) | 37.1 (98.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.1 (77.2) | 26.6 (79.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 29.6 (85.3) | 31.0 (87.8) | 31.5 (88.7) | 32.0 (89.6) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.2 (88.2) | 29.8 (85.6) | 27.7 (81.9) | 26.2 (79.2) | 29.2 (84.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.7 (71.1) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.4 (77.7) | 27.1 (80.8) | 28.1 (82.6) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.6 (81.7) | 26.4 (79.5) | 24.5 (76.1) | 22.0 (71.6) | 25.3 (77.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 20.3 (68.5) | 22.5 (72.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.4 (77.7) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 22.2 (72.0) | 19.6 (67.3) | 22.6 (72.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) | 9.8 (49.6) | 10.4 (50.7) | 14.7 (58.5) | 17.1 (62.8) | 18.6 (65.5) | 19.4 (66.9) | 19.5 (67.1) | 18.7 (65.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 8.4 (47.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 25.7 (1.01) | 27.7 (1.09) | 19.9 (0.78) | 43.5 (1.71) | 163.9 (6.45) | 371.3 (14.62) | 396.3 (15.60) | 475.2 (18.71) | 288.3 (11.35) | 141.8 (5.58) | 43.2 (1.70) | 20.6 (0.81) | 2,017.4 (79.43) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 8.0 | 6.8 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 11.1 | 16.9 | 16.4 | 18.9 | 15.9 | 10.8 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 129.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72.6 | 73.7 | 74.4 | 75.4 | 78.5 | 83.6 | 83.3 | 84.0 | 79.7 | 74.0 | 73.1 | 72.4 | 76.7 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 168.0 | 165.1 | 199.7 | 192.6 | 193.9 | 183.6 | 221.0 | 195.5 | 177.2 | 198.1 | 177.7 | 161.4 | 2,233.8 |
| Source: Central Weather Bureau (normals 1994–2013) (extremes 1897–present) ||||||||||||||

## Government
### Administrative divisions

* Pingtung County Administrative Divisions
* Wutai
* Sandimen
* Gaoshu
* Ligang
* Yanpu
* Jiuru
* Pingtung
* Changzhi
* Linluo
* Neipu
* Wandan
* Zhutian)
* Wanluan
* Chaozhou
* Xinyuan
* Kanding
* Nanzhou
* Xinpi
* Donggang
* Liuqiu
* Linbian
* Jiadong
* Fangliao
* Majia
* Taiwu
* Laiyi
* Chunri
* Shizi
* Fang
* shan
* Checheng
* Mudan
* Manzhou
* Hengchun
* Qixingyan↓
Pingtung County is divided into 1 city, 3 urban townships, 21 rural townships, and 8 indigenous mountain townships. Pingtung County has the largest number of rural townships and mountain indigenous townships among the counties of Taiwan.
| Type | Name | Chinese | Taiwanese | Hakka | Formosan |
| City | Pingtung City | 屏東市 | Pîn-tong | Phìn-tûng | |
| Urban townships | Chaozhou (Chaojhou) | 潮州鎮 | Tiô-chiu | Tshèu-chû | |
| Urban townships | Donggang | 東港鎮 | Tang-káng | Tûng-kóng | |
| Urban townships | Hengchun | 恆春鎮 | Hêng-chhun | Hèn-tshûn | |
| Rural townships | Changzhi (Changjhih) | 長治鄉 | Tióng-tī | Tshòng-tshṳ | |
| Rural townships | Checheng | 車城鄉 | Chhia-siâⁿ | Tshâ-sàng | |
| Rural townships | Fangliao | 枋寮鄉 | Pang-liâu | Piông-liàu | |
| Rural townships | Fangshan | 枋山鄉 | Pang-soaⁿ | Piông-sân | |
| Rural townships | Gaoshu | 高樹鄉 | Ko-chhiū | Kô-su | |
| Rural townships | Jiadong | 佳冬鄉 | Ka-tang | Kâ-tûng | |
| Rural townships | Jiuru | 九如鄉 | Kíu-jû | Kiú-yì | |
| Rural townships | Kanding | 崁頂鄉 | Khàm-téng | Kham-táng | |
| Rural townships | Ligang | 里港鄉 | Lí-káng | Lî-kóng | |
| Rural townships | Linbian | 林邊鄉 | Nâ-piⁿ | Lìm-piên | |
| Rural townships | Linluo | 麟洛鄉 | Lîn-lo̍k | Lìm-lo̍k | |
| Rural townships | Liuqiu (Liouciou) | 琉球鄉 | Liû-khiû | Liù-khiù | Lamay Island |
| Rural townships | Manzhou (Manjhou) | 滿州鄉 | Bóan-chiu | Mân-chû | Manutsuru |
| Rural townships | Nanzhou (Nanjhou) | 南州鄉 | Lâm-chiu | Nàm-chû | |
| Rural townships | Neipu | 內埔鄉 | Lāi-po͘ | Lui-phû | |
| Rural townships | Wandan | 萬丹鄉 | Bān-tan | Van-tân | |
| Rural townships | Wanluan | 萬巒鄉 | Bān-loân | Van-lòng | |
| Rural townships | Xinpi | 新埤鄉 | Sin-pi | Sîn-phî | |
| Rural townships | Xinyuan (Sinyuan) | 新園鄉 | Sin-hn̂g | Sîn-yèn | |
| Rural townships | Yanpu | 鹽埔鄉 | Iâm-po͘ | Yâm-phû | |
| Rural townships | Zhutian (Jhutian) | 竹田鄉 | Tek-chhân | Tsuk-thièn | |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Chunri (Chunrih) | 春日鄉 | Chhun-ji̍t | Tshûn-ngit | Kasugagu |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Laiyi | 來義鄉 | Lâi-gī | Lòi-ngi | Rai |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Majia | 瑪家鄉 | Má-ka | Mâ-kâ | Makazayazaya |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Mudan | 牡丹鄉 | Bó͘-tan | Méu-tân | Sinvaudjan |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Sandimen | 三地門鄉 | Soaⁿ-tē-mn̂g | Sâm-thi-mùn | Timur |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Shizi (Shihzih) | 獅子鄉 | Sai-chú | Sṳ̂-é | Sisigu |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Taiwu | 泰武鄉 | Thài-bú | Thai-vú | Klaljuc |
| Mountain indigenous townships | Wutai | 霧臺鄉 | Bū-tâi | Vu-thòi | Vedai |
Colors indicate the statutory language status of Hakka and Formosan languages in the respective subdivisions.

### Politics

Pingtung City is the county seat of Pingtung County which houses the Pingtung County Government and Pingtung County Council. The county head is Magistrate Pan Men-an of the Democratic Progressive Party. Pingtung County elected three Democratic Progressive Party legislators to the Legislative Yuan during the 2016 legislative election.

## Demographics

Pingtung is home to the indigenous Rukai and Paiwan tribes, which makes up 7% of the population. As of January 2023, the total population of Pingtung County was 798,940. The county has been experiencing population decline for 15 consecutive years due to emigration to other cities.

### Religion

As of 2015, Pingtung County had 1,101 registered temples, the third highest amongst Taiwan's counties after Tainan and Kaohsiung. Donglong Temple and Checheng Fu'an Temple are some of the most prominent temples in the county. Indigenous tribes like Makatao people also have their own places of worship like Jiaruipu Temple.

## Economy

The agriculture and fishing industries dominate the county's economy. In recent years, the county has also promoted the tourism sector, which constituted 30% of Taiwan's tourism industry in 2015.
In February 2014, the county government announced a plan to develop an industrial center that consists of a service center, workshop, and performance venue. The aim is to promote the development of industries that leverage the unique cultural attributes of the Linali tribe. On 22 September 2015, the National Development Council revealed a three-year large-scale development plan to boost the economy of the county by transforming Dapeng Bay, Donggang Township, and Lamay Island into a fishery, recreational, and tourism hub.

## Education
### Universities and colleges

* Meiho University
* National Pingtung University (amalgamation of National Pingtung University of Education and National Pingtung Institute of Commerce)
* National Pingtung University of Science and Technology
* Tajen University
* Tzu Hui Institute of Technology

### High schools

* Pingtung Senior High School
* Pingtung Girl's Senior High School
* Da-Tong Senior High School
* Chao-Chou Senior High School

## Energy

Pingtung County houses Taiwan's third nuclear power plant, the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant. The power plant is located in Hengchun Township. It is Taiwan's second-largest nuclear power plant in terms of its capacity at 2 × 890 MW.

## Transportation
### Rail

The Pingtung Line and South-Link Line of the Taiwan Railways Administration cross Pingtung County. These lines service Central Signal, Chaozhou, Donghai, Fangliao, Fangshan, Fangye Signal, Guilai, Jiadong, Jialu, Kanding, Linbian, Linluo, Liukuaicuo, Nanzhou, Neishi, Pingtung, Xishi, Zhen'an and Zhutian Station. The Pingtung Line links Pingtung County with Kaohsiung City, while the South-Link Line links Pingtung County with Taitung County.

### Ferries

Ferry service operates between Donggang Township and Baisha Port and Dafu Port on the offshore Lamay Island.

## Tourist attractions

* Ahou City Gate
* Black Dwarf Cave
* Black Pearl – Top Quality Wax Apple
* Checheng Fuan Temple
* Chaolin Temple
* Danlin Suspension Bridge
* Donglong Temple
* Eluanbi Lighthouse
* Fangliao F3 Art Venue
* Fangshan Post Office
* Hengchun Chuhuo Natural Fire
* Indigenous Culture Hall
* Jialeshuei
* Jiaruipu Temple
* Jiuru Sanshan Guowang Temple
* Kaoping Iron Railway Bridge
* Kaoping Riverfront Park
* Kapok Trees
* Kenting National Park
* Kentington Resort
* Kuan Hai Shan Academy
* Landscape of Manjhou
* Linben Riverfront Park
* Linhousilin Forest Park
* Liudui Hakka Cultural Park
* Loacijia Slate Houses
* Longkeng Conservation Area
* Longluan Lake
* Longpan Park
* Mobitou
* Mudan Dam
* Museum of Traditional Theater
* National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium
* Old House of Siiao Family
* Penbay International Circuit
* Pingtung Art Museum
* Pingtung Hakka Cultural Museum
* Shuangliu Forest Recreation Area
* Sinpi Jian-gong Water Park
* South Bay
* Taipower Exhibit Center in Southern Taiwan
* Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park
* Tongkang Mosque
* Wanchin Church
* Yang Family Ancestral Hall
* Zhong-Sheng-Gong Memorial