Taipei
Capital and financial center: service economy headquarters for semiconductor island. 7M metro population, Taipei 101 symbol. By 2026, regional HQ competition with Singapore/Hong Kong while manufacturing value creates in Hsinchu corridor.
Taiwan's capital and financial center—Taipei anchors the northern metropolitan region that houses nearly 7 million people across Taipei City, New Taipei City, and surrounding areas. The city evolved from Qing Dynasty trading post to Japanese colonial capital to Republic of China seat of government after 1949.
Modern Taipei serves as headquarters location for Taiwan's major corporations while Hsinchu (40km south) hosts manufacturing. The city's service economy—finance, professional services, media, government—complements the industrial base surrounding it. Taipei 101 (formerly world's tallest building) symbolizes the city's global aspirations.
Cultural institutions, universities, and the national government concentrate here. The MRT system (opened 1996) created Asian-leading public transit. Night markets, temple culture, and contemporary arts scene attract tourists who use Taipei as base for exploring Taiwan.
2026 trajectory: Service sector evolution continues as manufacturing disperses. The city competes with Singapore, Hong Kong, and Seoul for regional headquarters. Semiconductor prosperity flows through Taipei's financial sector while manufacturing value creates elsewhere.