T'ai-nan

T'ai-nan

 formerly Dainan

City (pop., 2005 est.: 754,917), southwestern Taiwan. It is one of the oldest urban settlements on the island. The Han Chinese settled there as early as 1590. The Dutch arrived in the city in 1623 and stayed until they were driven out in 1662 by Zheng Chenggong, who made it his capital. It remained the island's capital when the Qing dynasty reestablished Chinese control over Taiwan (1683). Under Chinese rule in the 19th century, it grew into a prosperous city and was the commercial and educational centre of Taiwan. After the transfer of the capital to Taipei in 1891, it became primarily commercial. It expanded during the Japanese occupation (1895–1945). Today it is a major market and tourism centre.