Editing Kaohsiung (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Kaohsiung}}
{{See also|History of Taiwan|North-South divide in Taiwan#Kaohsiung}}
[[File:Harbor Takao.jpg|thumb|Port of Ta-kau (1893)]]
The written history of Kaohsiung can be traced back to the early 17th century, through archaeological studies have found signs of human activity in the region from as long as 7,000 years ago. Prior to the 17th century, the region was inhabited by the [[Makatao people|Makatao]] people of the [[Siraya people|Siraya]] tribe, who settled on what they named Takau Isle (translated to 打狗嶼 by Ming Chinese explorers); "Takau" meaning "bamboo forest" in the aboriginal language.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-04 |title=Kaohsiung Celebrates 100th Anniversary - A Personal Take |url=https://thetaiwantimes.com/kaohsiung-celebrates-100th-anniversary-a-personal-take/ |access-date=2021-02-09 |website=The Taiwan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104085102/https://thetaiwantimes.com/kaohsiung-celebrates-100th-anniversary-a-personal-take/ |url-status=live |author-first1=Joyce|author-last1=Kuo}}</ref>

===Early history===
[[File:Makatao.jpg|thumb|Sketch of the Makatao people during the [[Qing empire]]]]
The earliest evidence of human activity in the Kaohsiung area dates back to roughly 4,700–5,200 years ago. Most of the discovered remnants were located in the hills surrounding [[Port of Kaohsiung|Kaohsiung Harbor]]. Artifacts were found at [[Shoushan (Kaohsiung)|Shoushan]], Longquan Temple, Taoziyuan, [[Zuoying District|Zuoying]], Houjing, Fudingjin and [[Fengbitou Archaeological Site|Fengbitou]]. The prehistoric [[Dabenkeng culture|Dapenkeng]], [[Niuchouzi Culture|Niuchouzi]], [[Tahu Culture|Dahu]], and [[Niaosung Culture|Niaosong]] civilizations were known to inhabit the region. Studies of the prehistoric ruins at Longquan Temple have shown that that civilization occurred at roughly the same times as the beginnings of the aboriginal [[Makatao people|Makatao]] civilization, suggesting a possible origin for the latter. Unlike some other archaeological sites in the area, the Longquan Temple ruins are relatively well preserved. Prehistoric artifacts discovered have suggested that the ancient Kaohsiung Harbor was originally a lagoon, with early civilizations functioning primarily as [[Hunter-gatherer]] societies. Some agricultural tools have also been discovered, suggesting that some agricultural activity was also present. The pronunciation of Kaohsiung (Takao) in Japanese is similar to Takau (Takau), so the local flavor of Takao was renamed Kaohsiung.

The first Chinese records of the region were written in 1603 by [[Chen Di]], a member of [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] admiral Shen You-rong's expedition to rid the waters around Taiwan and [[Penghu]] of pirates. In his report on the "Eastern Barbarian Lands" (Dong Fan Ji), Chen Di referred to a Ta-kau Isle:

{{blockquote|It is unknown when the barbarians ([[Taiwanese aborigines]]) arose on this island in the ocean beyond [[Penghu]], but they are present at Keeong Harbor (nowaday's [[Budai, Chiayi]]), the bay of Galaw ([[Anping, Tainan]]), Laydwawan ([[Tainan City]]), Yaw Harbor ([[Cheting District|Cheting, Kaohsiung]]), Takau Isle (Kaohsiung City), Little Tamsui ([[Donggang, Pingtung]]), Siangkeykaw ([[Puzi]], Chiayi), Gali forest ([[Jiali District]], Tainan), the village of Sabah ([[Tamsui, Taipei]]), and Dwabangkang ([[Bali District|Bali, New Taipei City]]).}}

===Dutch Formosa===
Taiwan became a [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch colony]] in 1624, after the [[Dutch East India Company]] was ejected from [[Penghu]] by [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] forces. At the time, Takau was already one of the most important fishing ports in southern Taiwan. The Dutch named the place ''Tankoya'', and the harbor ''Tancoia''. The Dutch missionary [[François Valentyn|François Valentijn]] named Takau Mountain "Ape Berg", a name that would find its way onto European navigational charts well into the 18th century. ''Tankoia'' was located north of Ape's Hill and a few hours south from Tayouan (modern-day [[Anping District|Anping, Tainan]]) by sail.<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=548|isbn=9789576380839 }}</ref> At the time, a wide shallow bay existed there, sufficient for small vessels. However, constant [[Siltation|silting]] changed the coastline.

During this time, Taiwan was divided into five administrative districts, with Takau belonging to the southernmost district. In 1630, the first large scale immigration of [[Han Chinese]] to Taiwan began due to famine in [[Fujian]], with merchants and traders from China seeking to purchase hunting licenses from the Dutch or hide out in aboriginal villages to escape authorities in China.
[[File:Takow harbour, Formosa by John Thomson Wellcome L0056431 (cropped).jpg|thumb|1871 photo of Takow harbour (by [[John Thomson (photographer)|John Thomson]])]]

===Qing dynasty===
[[File:2010 07 鳳山縣舊城南門圓環.jpg|thumb|South Gate of Fongshan County]]
In 1684, the [[Qing dynasty]] annexed [[Taiwan under Qing rule|Taiwan]] and renamed the town Fongshan County ({{zh|c=鳳山縣|p=Fèngshān Xiàn}}), considering it a part of [[Taiwan Prefecture]]. It was first opened as a port during the 1680s and subsequently prospered fairly for generations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoteltravel.com/taiwan/kaohsiung/history-of-kaohsiung.htm |publisher=HotelTravel.com |year=1999 |title=History of Kaohsiung |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053547/http://www.hoteltravel.com/taiwan/kaohsiung/history-of-kaohsiung.htm |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Japanese rule===
{{main|Takao Prefecture}}
[[File:Kaohsiung Station and the city 2017-10-30.jpg|thumb|[[Kaohsiung Vision Museum|Old Kaohsiung Train Station]], built during Japanese rule of Taiwan]]
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] as part of the [[Treaty of Shimonoseki]]. Administrative control of the city was moved from New Fongshan Castle to the Fongshan Sub-District of {{nihongo||臺南廳|Tainan Chō}}. In November 1901, twenty ''chō'' were established in total; {{nihongo4||鳳山廳|Hōzan Chō}} was established nearby. In 1909, Hōzan Chō was abolished, and Takow was merged into Tainan Chō.

In 1920, during the tenure of 8th Governor-General [[Den Kenjirō]], districts were abolished in favor of prefectures. Thus the city was administered as {{nihongo4|Takao City|高雄市|Takao-shi}} under [[Takao Prefecture]].

The Japanese developed Takao, especially the harbor that became the foundation of Kaohsiung to be a port city. Takao was then systematically modernized and connected to the end of [[West Coast line (Taiwan)|North-South Railway]]. Forming a north–south regional economic corridor from Taipei to Kaohsiung in the 1930s, Japan's Southward Policy set Kaohsiung to become an industrial center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://taiwaninsight.org/2019/02/09/taiwans-cultural-plurality-and-immigration-policy/ |title=Taiwan's Cultural Plurality and Immigration Policy |last1=Lin |first1=Ji-ping |date=2019-02-09 |website=Taiwan Insight |language=en |access-date=2020-02-26 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226195149/https://taiwaninsight.org/2019/02/09/taiwans-cultural-plurality-and-immigration-policy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Port of Kaohsiung|Kaohsiung Harbor]] was also developed starting from 1894. The city center was relocated several times during the period due to the government's development strategy.<ref>{{cite web |website=Welcome to Kaohsiung City |url=http://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/CP.aspx?n=9A2970292D8243CC&s=BD218B3E5B7A05C8 |title=Discover Kaohsiung > History |year=2013 |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703172959/http://www.kcg.gov.tw/EN/CP.aspx?n=9A2970292D8243CC&s=BD218B3E5B7A05C8 |archive-date=3 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Development was initially centered on ''Ki-au'' ({{zh|c=[[:zh:旗後|旗後]]|poj=Kî-āu}}) region but the government began laying railways, upgrading the harbor, and passing new urban plans. New industries such as refinery, machinery, shipbuilding and cementing were also introduced.

Before and during [[World War II]] it handled a growing share of Taiwan's agricultural exports to Japan, and was also a major base for Japan's campaigns in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Extremely ambitious plans for the construction of a massive modern port were drawn up. Toward the end of the war, the Japanese promoted some industrial development at Kaohsiung, establishing an aluminum industry based on the abundant [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power]] produced by the [[Sun Moon Lake]] project in the mountains.

The city was heavily bombed by [[Task Force 38]] and [[Far East Air Force (United States)|FEAF]] during World War II between 1944 and 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-12 |title=US bombing of Taiwan and Han's ignorance - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2019/11/12/2003725674 |access-date=2021-02-09 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212234122/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2019/11/12/2003725674 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Republic of China===
After control of Taiwan was [[History of Taiwan since 1945|handed over from Japan]] to the government of the [[Republic of China]] on 25 October 1945, Kaohsiung City and [[Kaohsiung County]] were established as a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] and a [[County (Taiwan)|county]] of [[Taiwan Province]] respectively on 25 December 1945. The official romanization of the name came to be "Kaohsiung", based on the [[Wade–Giles]] romanization of the [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] reading of the [[kanji]] name.<ref>[http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=23064&CtNode=122 What's in changing a name?] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070630101000/http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=23064&CtNode=122 |date=30 June 2007 }} Taiwan Journal Vol. XXVI No. 19 May 15, 2009 "...while name Kaohsiung is technically the Mandarin pronunciation of the Japanese written version of a Holo Taiwanese rendition of an old aboriginal name..."</ref> Kaohsiung City then consisted of 10 [[District (Taiwan)|districts]], which were [[Gushan District|Gushan]], [[Lingya District|Lianya]] (renamed "Lingya" in 1952), [[Nanzih District|Nanzih]], [[Qianjin District, Kaohsiung|Cianjin]], [[Cianjhen District|Cianjhen]], [[Cijin District, Kaohsiung|Cijin]], [[Sanmin District|Sanmin]], [[Sinsing District, Kaohsiung|Sinsing]], [[Yancheng District, Kaohsiung|Yancheng]], and [[Zuoying District|Zuoying]].

During this time, Kaohsiung developed rapidly. The port, badly damaged in [[World War II]], was restored. It also became a fishing port for boats sailing to Filipino and Indonesian waters. Largely because of its climate, Kaohsiung overtook [[Keelung]] as Taiwan's major port. Kaohsiung also surpassed Tainan to become the second largest city of Taiwan in the late 1970s and Kaohsiung City was upgraded from a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]] to [[special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] on 1 July 1979, by the [[Executive Yuan]] with a total of 11 districts.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 February 2011 |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,29,31,45&post=6187 |title=Rezoning Taiwan |publisher=Taiwan Today |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-date=12 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112165942/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,29,31,45&post=6187 |url-status=live }}</ref> The additional district is [[Siaogang District]], which was annexed from Siaogang Township of [[Kaohsiung County]].

The [[Kaohsiung Incident]], where the government suppressed a commemoration of International [[Human Rights Day]], occurred on 10 December 1979. Since then, Kaohsiung gradually grew into a political center of the [[Pan-Green Coalition|Pan-Green]] population of Taiwan, in opposition to [[Taipei]] where the majority population is [[Kuomintang]] supporters.

[[File:Kaohsiung-Tainan before and after 2010.svg|thumb|Map of Kaohsiung City before and after 25 December 2010]]
On 25 December 2010, Kaohsiung City merged with [[Kaohsiung County]] to form a larger [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] with administrative centers in [[Lingya District]] and [[Fongshan District]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=''Taiwan News'' Staff Writer |date=29 June 2009 |title=Taiwan government approves merger and upgrade of Tainan City and County |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/989390 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122140014/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/989390 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |website=[[Taiwan News]] |access-date=5 October 2022}}</ref>

On 31 July 2014, a series of [[2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions|gas explosions]] occurred in the [[Cianjhen District|Cianjhen]] and [[Lingya District]]s of the city, killing 31 and injuring more than 300. Five roads were destroyed in an area of nearly {{cvt|20|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} near the city center. It was the largest gas explosion in Taiwan's modern history.<ref name="KaohsiungExplosions">{{cite news |title=Many dead in Taiwan city gas blasts |url=http://www.taiwansnews.net/index.php/sid/224358099/scat/0dd057261bcc461b/ht/Many-dead-in-Taiwan-city-gas-blasts |access-date=2 August 2014 |publisher=Taiwan's News.Net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043517/http://www.taiwansnews.net/index.php/sid/224358099/scat/0dd057261bcc461b/ht/Many-dead-in-Taiwan-city-gas-blasts |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>