Tainan City

Taiwan's oldest city became its most advanced manufacturing location—Tainan hosts TSMC's 3nm mass production (Fab 18, world's most sophisticated chip plant) while preserving 400+ years of temples and heritage architecture. The Southern Taiwan Science Park transformed what was agricultural hinterland into a $60.98B production complex.

Fab 18's GIGAFAB facility exceeds 1 million 12-inch wafers annually, manufacturing chips for iPhone, Nvidia AI accelerators, and AMD processors. The 3nm process represents the current technological frontier; 2nm development proceeds here as well. Tainan anchors the southern manufacturing expansion that complements Hsinchu's concentration.

The juxtaposition defines contemporary Taiwan: ancient capital status attracts tourism and cultural investment while semiconductor production generates export revenue. Tainan demonstrates that heritage preservation and high-tech manufacturing can coexist—different land uses, different workforces, both contributing to urban vitality.

2026 trajectory: 2nm mass production begins at Tainan facilities alongside Hsinchu. The Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA-South) incubates startups in the semiconductor ecosystem. Agricultural land conversion accelerates for fab expansion while historic districts receive protection investment. The city balances dual identities—ancient and cutting-edge.