View source for Chiayi

{{Short description|City in Taiwan}}
{{About|Chiayi City|the neighboring county with the same name|Chiayi County}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Chiayi City
|official_name          = Chiayi City
|other_name             = Ka-gi, Kagi, Chiai, Chia-i
|native_name            = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hant|嘉義市}}}}
|settlement_type        = [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|City]]
|image_skyline          = {{multiple image
| border                 = infobox
| total_width            = 280
| image_style            = border:1;
| perrow                 = 1/2/2
| image1 = Hinoki Village, Chiayi City 20130505.jpg
| image2 = NCYU Sinmin Campus030906.jpg
| image3 = 嘉義孔子廟大成殿.jpg
| image4 = TW_Chiayi_sun-shooting_tower_20051008.jpg
| image5 = Lantan Reservoir F1000018.JPG
| image6 = 嘉義市文化中心.JPG
| image7 = 港坪運動公園體育館.jpg
}}
|image_caption          = Clockwise from top left: Hinoki Village, Chiayi Confucius Temple, Fountain at the Lantan Reservoir, Chiayi City Sports Arena, Chiayi Municipal Culture Center, Chiayi Sun Shooting Tower, National Chiayi University
|image_flag             = Flag of Chiayi City.svg
| image_seal               = Seal of Chiayi City.svg
| seal_type                  = Logo
|nickname               = ''Peach City'' ({{lang|zh|桃城}}) or ''Jia City'' ({{lang|zh|嘉市}})
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-point = none
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{ROC-TW}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of China|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = {{flag|Taiwan Province}} ''(de facto dissolved)''
| subdivision_type2       = Region
| subdivision_name2       = Southwestern Taiwan
| established_title        = First mentioned
| established_date         = 1787
| established_title1       = Renamed to Kagi 
| established_date1        = 17 April 1895
| established_title2       = Autonomous city
| established_date2        = 1930 
| established_title3       = [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|Provincial city]]
| established_date3        = 25 October 1945
| established_title4       = Downgraded to [[county-administered city]]
| established_date4        = 16 August 1950
| established_title5       = Provincial city status restored
| established_date5        = 1 July 1982
|seat                   = [[East District, Chiayi|East District]]
|parts_type             = [[District (Taiwan)|Districts]]
|parts                  = 2 districts
|p1                     = [[East District, Chiayi|East]]
|p2                     = [[West District, Chiayi City|West]]
|government_type        = Chiayi City Government
|leader_party           = [[Kuomintang|KMT]]
|leader_title           = [[List of mayors of Chiayi|Mayor]]
|leader_name            = [[Huang Min-hui]]
| iso_code              = TW-CYI
|total_type             = 
|area_footnotes         = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Xiàn shì zhòngyào tǒngjì zhǐbiāo cháxún xìtǒng wǎng |script-title=zh:縣市重要統計指標查詢系統網 |url=http://statdb.dgbas.gov.tw/pxweb/Dialog/statfile9.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612002357/http://statdb.dgbas.gov.tw/pxweb/Dialog/statfile9.asp |archive-date=12 June 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016 |website=Zhōnghuá mínguó tǒngjì zīxùn wǎng |language=zh |script-website=zh:中華民國統計資訊網}}</ref>
|area_total_km2         = 60.03
|area_rank              = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|21 out of 22]]
|elevation_m            = 69
|population_total       = 263188
|population_as_of       = January 2023
|population_footnotes   = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Minzheng chu |date=2016-07-01 |title=Jiāyì Shì 105 nián 6 yuèfèn rénkǒu tǒngjì zīliào |script-title=zh:嘉義市105年6月份人口統計資料 |trans-title=Population Statistics of Chiayi City for June 2016 |url=http://www.chiayi.gov.tw/2015web/02_news/content.aspx?id=48363 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916212034/http://www.chiayi.gov.tw/2015web/02_news/content.aspx?id=48363 |archive-date=16 September 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016 |website=Jiāyì Shì zhèngfǔ |language=zh |script-website=zh:嘉義市政府}}</ref>
|population_rank        = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|18 of 22]]
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone               = [[National Standard Time]]
|utc_offset             = +8
|postal_code_type       = Postal code
|postal_code            = 600
|area_code              = 05
|blank1_name_sec2       = Flower
|blank1_info_sec2       = {{unbulleted list|Hong Kong orchid tree|([[Bauhinia blakeana]])}}
|blank2_name_sec2       = Tree
|blank2_info_sec2       = Hong Kong orchid tree
|website                = {{official URL}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Chiayi City
| pic = Chiayi (Chinese characters).svg
| piccap = "Chiayi" in [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional]] (top) and [[Simplified Chinese characters|Simplified]] (bottom) Chinese characters
| picupright = 0.55
| t = {{linktext|嘉義|市}}
| s = {{linktext|嘉义|市}}
| bpmf = ㄐㄧㄚ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄧˋ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄕˋ
| tp = Jiayì Shìh
| gr = Jiayih Shyh
| w = Chia<sup>1</sup>-i<sup>4</sup> Shih<sup>4</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|j|ia|1|.|yi|4|-|shi|4}}
| mps = Jiāyì Shr̀
| myr = Jyāyì Shr̀
| j = gaa1 ji6 si5
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|g|aa|1|-|j|i|6|-|s|i|5}}
| y = Gāyih Síh
| phfs = Kâ-ngi-sṳ
| poj = Ka-gī-chhī
| tl = Ka-gī-tshī
| showflag = poj
| kanji = 嘉義市
| hiragana = かぎし
| katakana = カギシ
| revhep = Kagi-shi
| kunrei = Kagi-si
| p = Jiāyì Shì
}}

'''Chiayi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|j|ɑː|ˈ|iː}}),<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Chia-i}}</ref> officially known as '''Chiayi City''',{{efn native lang|tw|name=word1|t=嘉義市|p=Jiāyì Shì|m=Ka-gī-tshī}} is a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|city]] located in [[Chianan Plain]] in [[Regions of Taiwan|southwestern Taiwan]], surrounded by [[Chiayi County]] with a population of 263,188 inhabitants as of January 2023.

The [[Hoanya people]] inhabited present-day Chiayi under its historical name of ''Tirosen'' prior to the arrival of [[Han Chinese]] in Taiwan and was ruled by the [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch]] and the [[Kingdom of Tungning]] under various names. During the [[Taiwan under Qing rule|Qing dynasty]], Tirosen was governed as part of [[Taiwan Prefecture]] in [[Fuchien Province, Republic of China|Fujian]] under [[Zhuluo County]] and the city was renamed '''Kagee''' in 1787. The city was renamed ''Kagi'' during the [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese era]] but an [[1906 Meishan earthquake|earthquake in 1906]] destroyed much of the town. Kagi was administered as part of [[Tainan Prefecture]] from 1920 onwards. Following the [[surrender of Japan]] in 1945, the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]], who [[1911 Revolution|deposed the Qing in 1911]], took control of the city (renamed Chiayi City) and administered it as a provincial city of [[Taiwan Province]] before being integrated into Chiayi County in 1950 as a [[county-administered city]]. The city was restored to its status as a provincial city in 1982. In 1998, Taiwan Province was streamlined and Chiayi City has been governed directly since then by the [[Executive Yuan]].

The city is known for [[Alishan National Scenic Area]] and warm [[humid subtropical climate]] in the summer months. Left with the landmarks of Japanese colonial rule, Chiayi City has the round-island railway system and [[Alishan Forest Railway]] where the city is the starting point along with various Japanese temples.

==Name==
Like the county, Chiayi City's former Chinese placename was Tsu-lo-san<ref>{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=William |author-link=William Campbell (missionary) |title=Formosa under the Dutch: described from contemporary records, with explanatory notes and a bibliography of the island |year=1903 |publisher=Kegan Paul |location=London |oclc=644323041 |chapter=Explanatory Notes |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/formosaunderdut01campgoog#page/n554/mode/2up |page=549|isbn=9789576380839 }}</ref> ({{lang-zh|c=諸羅山|p=Zhūluóshān|poj=Chu-lô-san}}), a representation of the original [[Formosan languages|Formosan-language]] name ''Tirosen''. A shortened version, Tsulo, was then used to name [[Zhuluo County|Tsulo County]], which originally covered the underdeveloped northern two-thirds of the island. In 1704, the county seat was moved to Tsulosan, the site of modern-day [[Chiayi City]]. Following the 1723 [[Zhu Yigui]] rebellion, the county was reduced in size. In 1787, the county and city were renamed ''Chiayi'' ({{linktext|嘉義}}; {{lang-zh|l=commended righteousness}}) by the [[Qianlong Emperor]] to acknowledge the citizens' loyalty during the [[Lin Shuangwen rebellion]].<ref name = "taipeitimes">{{cite web | url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2016/04/17/2003644127 | title=Taiwan in Time: Rebels of heaven and earth - Taipei Times | date=17 April 2016 }}</ref>

==History==
===Early history===
First inhabited by the [[Hoanya]] [[Taiwanese aborigines|aborigines]], the region was named '''Tirosen''' (variants ''Tirocen'', ''Tiracen''). With the arrival of [[Han Chinese]] immigrants in southwestern Taiwan, the name evolved to become ''Tsulosan'' ({{lang-zh|t=諸羅山|p=Zhūluóshān|poj=Chu-lô-san}}) in [[Hokkien]]. Eventually, Tsulosan was shortened to simply Tsulo. Because of the choice of the characters, it has been mistakenly suggested that the origin of the name came from the expression "mountains surrounding the east". "Peach City" is another name for Chiayi City due to its peach-shaped territory in ancient times. The tip of the peach is around Central Fountain and was called "Peach-tip" by citizens.

Tsulosan was once the foothold to which people from the mainland immigrated. In 1621, [[Yan Siqi]], who came from [[Zhangzhou]], [[Fujian]] Province, first led his people to cultivate this land after they landed at ''Ponkan'' (modern-day [[Beigang, Yunlin|Beigang]]).

===Dutch Formosa===
Records from the [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch era]], beginning in 1624, show Tirosen as the usual form of the name; it also occurred as ''Tirassen'', ''Tirozen'', ''Tilocen'', ''Tilossen'', ''Tilocen'', and ''Thilocen''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=M. W. |title=Formosa Under the Dutch: Described from Contemporary Records, with Explanatory Notes and a Bibliography of the Island |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. |year=1903 |location=London |page=549 |language=en |chapter=Explanatory Notes |isbn=9789576380839 |oclc=644323041 |author-link=William Campbell (missionary) |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/formosaunderdut01campgoog#page/n554/mode/2up}}</ref> The place was north of Mattau (modern-day [[Madou District|Madou, Tainan]]) and south of Favorlang ([[Huwei, Yunlin]]).

===Kingdom of Tungning===
In 1661 (the 15th year of [[Zhu Youlang, Prince of Gui|Yung-Li]], [[Ming dynasty]]), [[Koxinga]] defeated the Dutch based in Taiwan and founded the [[Kingdom of Tungning]]. He established one province, {{Interlanguage link|Cheng-Tien-Fu|zh|3=承天府 (臺灣)}}, and two counties, {{Interlanguage link|Tien-Hsing|zh|3=天興縣}} and {{Interlanguage link|Wan-Nien|zh|3=萬年縣 (臺灣)}}, demarcated by the Hsin-Kang River ({{lang-zh|t=新港溪}}, now the [[Yanshui River]]). Chiayi was under the jurisdiction of the Tien-Hsing County.

===Qing dynasty===
In 1683, when Qing rule began, the island was governed as [[Taiwan Prefecture]] under the administration of [[Fujian Province]]. In 1684, [[Zhuluo County|Tsulo County]] was established and initially encompassed the underdeveloped northern two-thirds of Taiwan. (Taiwan and Hongsoa counties were divided from Wan-Nien County during the [[Kingdom of Tungning]], which was changed from Tien-Hsing County.) In 1704, the county seat was moved to Tsulosan, the site of modern-day Chiayi City, and had wooden city walls.

In 1727, the county magistrate, Liu Liang-Bi rebuilt the gatehouses and set a gun platform for each gatehouse. The four gatehouses were named: "Chin Shan" ({{lang|ko|襟山}}) for East, "Tai Hai" ({{lang|zh-hant|帶海}}) for West, "Chung Yang" ({{lang|zh-hant|崇陽}}) for South, and "Kung Chen" ({{lang|zh|拱辰}}) for North. In 1734 (the 12th year of Yongzheng), magistrate Lu-Hung built piercing-bamboo to better protect the city.

In 1786, the [[Lin Shuangwen rebellion]] was an attempt to siege Tsulosan but failed to overcome the defense of the inhabitants. Consequently, on November 3 of the next year, the Qing Emperor conferred the name '''Kagee''' ({{linktext|嘉義}}; {{lang-zh|l=commended righteousness}}) to praise the citizens' loyalty.

In the mid-1800s, a custom of annual riotous mass [[stoning]] developed in the city.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=W. |url=https://archive.org/details/sketchesfromtaiw00camprich/page/79 |title=Sketches from Formosa |date=1915 |publisher=Marshall Brothers |location=London |pages=79–81 |language=en |quote=It was on a later occasion I arrived in Ka-gi to find the people engaged in their absurd periodic custom of stonethrowing.}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=The information related seems very unusual, and I think additional sources are definitely called for.|date=June 2019}}

In 1887, a separate [[Fujian-Taiwan Province|Taiwan Province]] was declared and the island was administratively divided into four prefectures; the city of Kagee belonged to [[Tainan Prefecture (Qing dynasty)|Tainan Prefecture]].

===Japanese rule===
[[File:Er nd 2003 Chiayi.jpg|thumb|Chiayi City under Japanese rule]]
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to [[Japan]] in the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]]. The [[1906 Meishan earthquake]] devastated the entire city wall except the Eastern Gate. The Japanese authorities reconstructed the city. Industries and trades started to flourish. According to the census taken in 1904, Kagi was the fourth most populous city in Taiwan, with a population of over twenty thousand.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Takekoshi |first=Yosaburō |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.180113 |title=Japanese Rule in Formosa |date=1907 |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co. |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.180113/page/n225 200] |language=en |translator-last=Braithwaite |translator-first=George |chapter=Chapter XIII: Population and Future Development of the Island Resources |oclc=753129 |ol=6986981M |author-link=Takekoshi Yosaburō}}</ref>

The [[1906 Meishan earthquake|Great Kagi earthquake]] (later also known as the 1906 Meishan earthquake) struck the city in mid March 1906.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=W. |url=https://archive.org/details/sketchesfromtaiw00camprich/page/82 |title=Sketches from Formosa |date=1915 |publisher=Marshall Brothers |location=London |pages=82–83 |language=en}}</ref>

{{blockquote|In looking over some of my more recent Notes, it seems impossible to make the foregoing references to Ka-gi without adding a few words about that dreadful earthquake which devastated the region in March 1906. I was there soon after, and had a profound feeling of sadness on seeing whole streets covered with fallen beams and other ''debris''; on seeing, too, so many traces of the awful suffering on every side. Within Ka-gi city, and a limited area around, 1,216 persons were suddenly thrust out into the eternal world. Not fewer than 2,306 persons were seriously injured, and 13,259 houses were laid low. The great mysterious Power then tore the earth into deep, open chasms in several places. Many of the narrow escapes and calamities were very affecting; particularly that of our blind evangelist Toa-un, who ran out of doors with his wife as the shaking began. The demented mother, however, could not bear the thought of her two helpless young children being left behind, and she darted in to rescue them, when my poor blind pupil became childless and a widower in an instant of time. No sooner had the [[Governor-General of Taiwan|Governor-General]] at [[Tai-pak]] received telegraphic information of the magnitude of the calamity, than instructions were issued for a large company of surgeons, nurses, and assistants to proceed at once to Ka-gi. Wide hospital-sheds were erected without delay, and the work of relief was carried on with a rare amount of self-denial and promptitude. Even already, the city has lost much of its most desolate appearance, and the projected improvements give promise that it will have a more attractive look than ever. – [[William Campbell (missionary)|William Campbell]], 1915}}

In 1907, the construction of [[Alishan Forest Railway]] to [[Alishan National Scenic Area|Mount Ali]] was begun. In 1920, the city became an autonomous group as {{nihongo|'''Kagi Town'''|嘉義街}}, Kagi District, within [[Tainan Prefecture]], which included modern-day [[Tainan City]], [[Chiayi County]] and [[Yunlin County]]. In 1930, the town was upgraded to an autonomous city under the same prefecture.

===Republic of China===
[[File:Map Chiayi City 1946-01.svg|thumb|Chiayi [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|City]] in 1946–1950]]
After the [[Retrocession of Taiwan|handover of Taiwan from Japan]] to the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] in October 1945, '''Chiayi City''' was established as a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] of [[Taiwan Province]]. The city consisted of 8 districts, which were Bajiang, Beimen, Beizhen, Nanmen, Tungmen, [[Tungshan District|Tungshan]], Ximen and Zhuwei [[District (Taiwan)|Districts]]. In 1946, the districts was reorganized to 6 districts in which Bajiang and Nanmen were merged to become Xinnan, Beimen and Beizhen were merged to become Xinbei, Tungmen and Tungshan were merged to become Xindong, Ximen and Zhuwei were merged to become Xinxi District and there were 2 addition of districts from [[Tainan County]] which were [[Shuishang]] and [[Taibao|Taibao Districts]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=臺灣建制市的市轄區變遷 |url=http://www.aiplus.idv.tw/soviet/LTWCITY3.HTM |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=www.aiplus.idv.tw}}</ref>

Chiayi saw some of the most violent events during the [[228 Incident]]. In early March, local militas surrounded the [[Shueishang Airport]] and fought against the [[Kuomintang|KMT]] military.<ref>二二八民變-台灣與蔣介石，143-146；1947台灣二二八革命，166-185；責任歸屬研究報告，61-63</ref> There were over 300 casualties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storm.mg |date=2019-02-26 |title=「要殺光嘉義市民！」菁英遭遊街槍決、民眾被掃射…二二八「民主聖地」挺身抗暴最慘烈-風傳媒 |url=https://www.storm.mg/lifestyle/996613 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=www.storm.mg |language=zh-TW}}</ref> On 12 March 1947, negotiators for peace, including [[Tan Teng-pho]] and {{Interlanguage link|Phuan Bok-tsi|zh|潘木枝}}, were arrested after arriving at the airport and were executed on 25 March. The Kuomintang also executed many civilians in Chiayi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 228 Massacre in Chiayi: "The Airport and Train Station Were Washed with Blood" |author-last1=Yang|author-first1=Bi-chuan|translator=Harrison Chen|url=https://www.taiwangazette.org/news/2019/3/5/the-228-massacre-in-chiayi-the-airport-and-train-station-were-washed-with-blood |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=The Taiwan Gazette |date=7 March 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 16 August 1950, because of the re-allocation of administrative areas in which Taiwan was divided into 16 counties, five provincial cities and a special bureau, Chiayi City was downgraded to a [[county-administered city]] and merged with [[Chiayi County]] to be the [[county seat]]. As a result, a shortage of capital hindered its development.

On 1 July 1982, Chiayi City was elevated again to a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] as a result of pressure from local elites.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 February 2011 |title=Rezoning Taiwan |language=en |work=Taiwan Today |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,29,31,45&post=6187 |access-date=9 December 2020}}</ref> On 6 October 1990, the [[East District, Chiayi|East District]] and [[West District, Chiayi|West District]] were established.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.chiayi.gov.tw/web/east/english/index-e.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314190434/http://www.chiayi.gov.tw/web/east/english/index-e.asp |archive-date=2017-03-14 |access-date=2016-01-06 |website=East District Office, Chiayi City |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-6550512-kagi-2117-ii.jpg|left|thumb|Map of Chiayi (labeled as KAGI) and surrounding area (1944)]]
[[File:Txu-oclc-6557994-index-451.jpg|left|thumb|Map of the region including Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI) {{lang|zh-tw|嘉義市}}) (1950)]][[File:Txu-oclc-6557994-index-452.jpg|left|thumb|Map of the city of Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI) {{lang|zh-tw|嘉義市}}) (1950s)]]
Chiayi City is located on the north side of [[Chianan Plain]], south west of Taiwan Island. On the east side is the [[Alishan National Scenic Area|Mount Ali]], on the west side is the [[Chiayi Airport]], on the north side is the [[Puzi River]] and on the south side is the [[Bazhang River]]. The distance from east to west of Chiayi City is {{convert|15.8|km|abbr=on}} and from north to south is {{convert|10.5|km|abbr=on}} with a total area of {{convert|60.0256|km2|abbr=on}}. Chiayi City is completely surrounded by [[Chiayi County]]. Most of Chiayi City land is broad flat fertile plains. The terrain slowly rises from west to east. Chiayi is also one of the closest Taiwanese cities to the [[Tropic of Cancer]], with the latitudinal line lying just south of the city.

===Climate===
Chiayi City has a warm [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwa'') that closely borders a true [[tropical climate]]. Northeasterly winds during fall and winter mean that rainfall is depressed during that time, while southwesterly winds during summer and the later portion of spring bring most of the year's rainfall, with more than 60% falling from June to August. Humidity is high year-round, even during winter.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|location = Chiayi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present）
|Jan record high C = 31.7
|Feb record high C = 33.0
|Mar record high C = 34.1
|Apr record high C = 34.2
|May record high C = 37.2
|Jun record high C = 37.0
|Jul record high C = 37.2
|Aug record high C = 36.6
|Sep record high C = 36.7
|Oct record high C = 36.5
|Nov record high C = 33.6
|Dec record high C = 32.5
|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 22.5
|Feb high C = 23.0
|Mar high C = 25.4
|Apr high C = 28.4
|May high C = 30.9
|Jun high C = 32.8
|Jul high C = 33.4
|Aug high C = 32.8
|Sep high C = 32.1
|Oct high C = 30.1
|Nov high C = 27.6
|Dec high C = 23.9
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 16.8
|Feb mean C = 17.7
|Mar mean C = 20.2
|Apr mean C = 23.5
|May mean C = 26.3
|Jun mean C = 28.3
|Jul mean C = 28.9
|Aug mean C = 28.4
|Sep mean C = 27.4
|Oct mean C = 24.9
|Nov mean C = 22.0
|Dec mean C = 18.4
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 12.9
|Feb low C = 14.1
|Mar low C = 16.2
|Apr low C = 19.5
|May low C = 22.6
|Jun low C = 24.7
|Jul low C = 25.4
|Aug low C = 25.2
|Sep low C = 24.0
|Oct low C = 21.1
|Nov low C = 18.0
|Dec low C = 14.2
|year low C = 19.8
|Jan record low C = 1.8
|Feb record low C = 2.6
|Mar record low C = 2.7
|Apr record low C = 8.2
|May record low C = 13.9
|Jun record low C = 17.5
|Jul record low C = 21.7
|Aug record low C = 19.7
|Sep record low C = 17.6
|Oct record low C = 11.5
|Nov record low C = 6.7
|Dec record low C = 0.4
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 27.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 44.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 53.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 86.6
|May precipitation mm = 170.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 318.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 387.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 443.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 212.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 30.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 21.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 25.8
|Jan humidity = 77.9
|Feb humidity = 79.3
|Mar humidity = 79.3
|Apr humidity = 79.8
|May humidity = 79.9
|Jun humidity = 77.5
|Jul humidity = 77.2
|Aug humidity = 80.1
|Sep humidity = 80.1
|Oct humidity = 78.9
|Nov humidity = 78.7
|Dec humidity = 76.8
|year humidity = 78.8
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.1
|Feb precipitation days = 5.5
|Mar precipitation days = 6.8
|Apr precipitation days = 8.1
|May precipitation days = 10.4
|Jun precipitation days = 13.8
|Jul precipitation days = 15.3
|Aug precipitation days = 17.9
|Sep precipitation days = 9.4
|Oct precipitation days = 2.9
|Nov precipitation days = 3.3
|Dec precipitation days = 4.1
|Jan sun = 161.4
|Feb sun = 139.7
|Mar sun = 157.9
|Apr sun = 157.0
|May sun = 175.5
|Jun sun = 186.6
|Jul sun = 206.4
|Aug sun = 182.2
|Sep sun = 186.2
|Oct sun = 197.0
|Nov sun = 158.9
|Dec sun = 159.2
|year sun = 
|source 1 = Central Weather Bureau<ref name= CWB>{{cite web |url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/C/C/Statistics/monthlymean.html|title = Monthly Mean |publisher = [[Central Weather Bureau]] |access-date = 29 November 2022 }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs1>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_18.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs2>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計(續) |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlows1>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_20.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlow2>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計(續) |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Government==
[[File:Huang Min-hui chopped.png|thumb|[[Huang Min-hui]], the incumbent [[List of mayors of Chiayi|Mayor]] of Chiayi City.]]
[[File:嘉義市政府.jpg|thumb|[[Chiayi City Government]]]]

Chiayi City is a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] of [[Taiwan Province]] of the [[Republic of China]]. The city is governed by the [[Chiayi City Government]], while the residence is represented in the [[Chiayi City Council]]. The current [[List of mayors of Chiayi|Mayor]] of Chiayi City is [[Huang Min-hui]] of the [[Kuomintang]].

===Administrative divisions===
Chiayi City is divided into two [[District (Taiwan)|districts]]. [[East District, Chiayi|East District]] is the city seat which houses the [[Chiayi City Government]].

{|class=wikitable
!Map!!colspan=2|Name!!Chinese!![[Taiwanese Hokkien|Taiwanese]]!![[Taiwanese Hakka|Hakka]]!!Population (2016)!!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| rowspan=7 | [[File:Districts of Chiayi-Taiwan.png|120px]]
| bgcolor=8DC63F| ||[[East District, Chiayi|East]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|東區}}}}||Tang||Tûng
| align=right|122,877|| align=right|29.1195
|-
| bgcolor=003471| ||[[West District, Chiayi|West]]||{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|西區}}}}||Se||Sî
| align=right|147,396|| align=right|30.9061
|}

===Politics===
[[File:2022 Chiayi Mayor Election Result Map.svg|thumb|Result of the [[2022 Taiwanese local elections|2022 mayoral election]] of Chiayi City]]
Chiayi City voted one [[Democratic Progressive Party]] legislator to be in the [[Legislative Yuan]] during the [[2020 Taiwanese legislative election]]. It has historically been a very [[Pan-Green Coalition|pan-Green]] city. During the martial law era, most people of Chiayi supported [[Tangwai movement|tangwai]] politicians. However, the voting gap between the DPP and the KMT has narrowed in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=大選關鍵區》嘉義市藍綠皆配角、派系也式微，誰抓得住民主聖地？｜天下雜誌 |url=https://www.cw.com.tw/article/5096947 |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=天下雜誌 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> In the [[2022 Taiwanese local elections]], Chiayi City re-elected [[Huang Min-hui]] of [[Kuomintang]] to be the [[Mayor of Chiayi|mayor]].

==Demographics==
{{Empty section|date=May 2025}}{{Historical populations
|type = Taiwan
|footnote = Source:{{Cite web |title=Populations by City and Country in Taiwan |date=May 2018 |url=https://www.ris.gov.tw/app/portal/346 |publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]] Population Census |language=zh}}
|1985 	|253573 
|1990 	|257597 
|1995 	|261391 
|2000 	|266183 
|2005 	|272364 
|2010 	|272390 
|2015 	|270366
|2020   |266005
}}

==Education==
[[File:The sight of NCYU Lantan Campus11813.jpg|thumb|[[National Chiayi University]]]]
* [[National Chiayi University]]
* [[National Chung Cheng University]]
* [[Chung Jen College of Nursing, Health Science and Management]]

==Energy==

===Green energy===
On 17 December 2015, [[Chiayi City Government]] launched a program to set up solar panels at schools and offices in the city to reduce green house gases. The program is expected to produce 3.55 million kWh of electricity annually and to help reducing carbon emission by 1,700 tonnes.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Chiang |first1=Chun-liang |last2=Hou |first2=Elaine |date=2015-12-17 |title=Chiayi City Launches Solar Power System Program |language=en |work=Focus Taiwan News Channel |agency=Central News Agency |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201512170020.aspx |access-date=2015-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218050445/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201512170020.aspx |archive-date=2015-12-18}}</ref>

==Tourist attractions==
[[File:Old Chiayi Prison, front gate (Taiwan).jpg|thumb|220px|[[Chiayi Prison Museum]]]]
[[File:228 Memorial Park, Spotted Deer, Chiayi City (Taiwan).jpg|thumb|220px|The spotted deer sculpture in the 228 National Memorial Park.]]
[[File:檜意森活村--張利聰jpg.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Hinoki Village]]]]
* [[Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park|Alishan Forest Railway & Railway Park]]
* [[Art Site of Chiayi Railway Warehouse]]
* [[Chia-Le-Fu Night Market]]
* [[Chiayi Art Museum]]
* [[Chiayi Botanical Garden]]
* [[Chiayi Cheng Huang Temple]]
* [[Chiayi City Municipal Baseball Stadium]]
* [[Chiayi Cultural and Creative Industries Park]]
* [[Chiayi Jen Wu Temple]]
* [[Chiayi Municipal Museum]]
* [[Chiayi Park]]
** [[Chiayi Confucian Temple]]
** [[Kagi Shrine]]
** [[Sun-Shooting Tower]]
* [[Chiayi Prison Museum]]
* [[Hinoki Village]]
* [[Lantan Lake]]
* [[Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles]]
* [[St. John's Cathedral (Chiayi)|St. John's Cathedral]]
* [[Taiwan Hinoki Museum]]
* [[Water Source Water Meter Room]]
* [[Wenhua Road Night Market]]
* [[Historic Archives Building of Chiayi City]] ({{lang|zh-hant|史蹟資料館}})
* [[Chiayi 228 Memorial Park|228 Memorial Park]]
* [[National 228 Memorial Park]]
* [[Chung Cheng Park (Chiayi City)|Chung Cheng Park]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chung Cheng Park |url=http://travel.chiayi.gov.tw/EN/spotsContent.aspx?id=2&chk=7cb53cb1-2ca0-4bbc-bc8d-dd57671a09d4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610200721/http://travel.chiayi.gov.tw/EN/spotsContent.aspx?id=2&chk=7cb53cb1-2ca0-4bbc-bc8d-dd57671a09d4 |archive-date=2015-06-10 |access-date=2013-11-16 |website=Travel in Chiayi |language=en}}</ref>
*
* Chiayi International Band Festival

Chiayi is the city of wind music in Taiwan. The wind music festival started as a local event in 1988, when it was more like a joint performance by local wind music bands. Over the years the festival has become the most anticipated annual event in Chiayi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-17 |title=The Sound of Wind Music: 2008 Chiayi City International Band Festival |url=http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D1080%26Itemid%3D157 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203004146/http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1080&Itemid=157 |archive-date=2009-02-03 |access-date=2009-02-06 |website=Culture.tw |language=en}}</ref>

==Sports==
Major sporting events held by Chiayi include:
* [[1999 Asian Youth Boys Volleyball Championship]]
* [[2001 Baseball World Cup]] (Co-hosted with [[Taipei]], [[New Taipei City|New Taipei]], and [[Kaohsiung]])
* [[2012 Asian Soft Tennis Championship]]
* [[2018 World University Baseball Championship]]

== Notable residents/natives ==
* [[Tan Ting-pho]] (1895–1947), Taiwan famous painter.
* [[Sow-Hsin Chen]] (1935–2021), American physicist, Professor.
* [[Vincent Siew]] (1939), Taiwanese politician, Vice President of the Republic of China (2008–2012), Vice-Chairman of the Kuomintang.
* [[Sam Liao]] (1976), Taiwanese singer-songwriter.
* [[Huang Min-hui]] (1959), former mayor of Chiayi City, vice chairperson of Kuomintang, a member of the Legislative Yuan (1999 and 2005).
* [[Lo Chen-Jung]] (1961), Taiwanese left-handed baseball pitcher.
* [[Wu Bai]] (1968), Taiwanese rock singer.

== International relations ==
{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Taiwan}}

=== Twin towns — sister cities ===
Chiayi is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[East Orange, New Jersey|East Orange]], [[New Jersey]], United States (1972)
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], [[Mississippi]], United States (1972)
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]], [[Alaska]], United States (1977)
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Murray, Utah|Murray]], [[Utah]], United States (1977)
* {{flagdeco|PHI}} [[Bulacan|Bulacan Province]], [[Philippines]] (1980)
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Martinsburg, West Virginia|Martinsburg]], [[West Virginia]], United States (1988)
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States (1995)
* {{flagdeco|ROC}} [[Hsinchu|Hsinchu City]], Taiwan (2002)
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
[[File:TRA Chiayi Station 2020-10-13.jpg|thumb|[[Chiayi railway station|Chiayi Station]]]]

===Rail===
Chiayi City is served by [[Chiayi railway station|Chiayi Station]] and [[Jiabei Station]] of [[Taiwan Railway]]. Chiayi Station is the starting point for the [[Alishan Forest Railway]]. The city is also accessible from [[THSR Chiayi Station]] in [[Chiayi County]].

===Bus===
[[Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit]] connects Chiayi City to [[Chiayi HSR station]] in the neighboring  [[Taibao|Taibao City]]. [[Chiayi City Bus]] serves the urban areas of Chiayi City.

===Air===
Chiayi City is served by [[Chiayi Airport]] in the neighboring [[Shuishang|Shuishang Township]].

==In popular culture==
Chiayi City and its street foods, including the famous [[Chiayi turkey rice]], were featured on the [[List of original programs distributed by Netflix|Netflix TV series]], ''[[Street Food (TV series)|Street Food]]'', in season 1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Joshua Samuel |date=22 May 2019 |title=Taiwan Culture and Cuisine Shine on New Netflix Series "Street Food" |url=https://medium.com/commonwealth-magazine/taiwan-culture-and-cuisine-shine-on-new-netflix-series-street-food-8333074d4e72 |access-date=26 July 2020 |website=CommonWealth Magazine |publisher=Medium |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of mayors of Chiayi]]
* [[Chiayi County]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=upper-roman}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Chiayi|d=Q249995}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.tbocc.gov.tw/en/index.asp Chiayi City/County tourism official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090426105103/http://www.ccpb.gov.tw/ Chiayi City Police Bureau official website]
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* {{OSM relation|2790418}}
* [[National Chung Cheng University]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20100305233542/http://www.ccu.edu.tw/eng/e-index.php official website]

{{Cities in Taiwan}}
{{ChiayiDistricts}}
{{Coord|23|28|48|N|120|26|59|E|source:itwiki_region:TW|display=title}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chiayi| ]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Provincial cities of Taiwan]]