History

In the earliest days, it only consisted of the Peinan and Amis tribes in Taitung plain. During the Dutch occupational period, it already had the Han come for trade. The Dutch came for gold and had troops here. They had war with the Lijia and Taian societies of Peinan tribe. Even today, you still can find Dutch soldiers remains in the First Public Cemetery’s Mass Surname Sanctorum.

Paosang Chuang is the Han people’s first settlement, which is one of the Amis societies. In the Daukuang reign of the Qing Dynasty (around 1821), Siraya had been stationed there for 7 years. After that, they moved to the north together because of  Peinan’s force. In the Hsienfong reign of the Qing Dynasty (around 1851), Cheng Shang, from Fangliao, had established a lodgment because navigation is convenient. He had trade with aborigines, which gradually become the Han people’s settlement. Until the end of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1870), there were about 28 householders of Han here. They were doing trade activities.

This city was called Paosang Chuang. During the Hsienfong reign of the Qing Dynasty (around 1851), the Fujianese and Pingpu gradually migrated to live here. Then here became a village. In the Kuanghsu reign of the Qing Dynasty (around 1885), the Peinan Department was established. After that, Lio Ming-Chuao, the first of governor of Taiwan, changed its name to Taitung Chou. After the Taiwan restoration from Japan, it was established the town’s name to Taitung Town. In January 1976, it was promoted to Taitung City, under the county government.