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In the People's Republic of China, the term "provincial cities" is used to refer to prefecture-level cities (see Political divisions of China#Prefecture level).
In the early 20th century, the criteria of being a provincial municipality, as stated in Laws on the City Formation (市組織法), included being the provincial capital as well as having a population of over 200,000, or over 100,000 if the city had a particular significance in politics, economics and culture. After moving to Taiwan, where many cities considered to be insignificant had large populations, the Republic of China government raised the limit to 500,000 in 1981 in the Scheme on the Local Rules in Various Counties and Cities of Taiwan Province (臺灣省各縣市實施地方自治綱要). It was later raised again to 600,000.
There are currently five provincial municipalities, all part of Taiwan Province, administered by the Republic of China: Keelung, Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, and Tainan.
There were originally four more: TaipeiAlternative meaning: Taipei County Taipei City City flag City logo City nickname: the City of Azaleas Capital District Xinyi Area Total % water Ranked 16 of 25 271. 0% Population Total ( May, 2004) Density Ranked 2 of 25 2,625,512 9,660/kmē Districts:12 M and KaohsiungKaohsiung City City flag City seal Abbreviation: Kaohsiung ( City nickname: The Harbor City Capital District Linya Dist. Region Southern Taiwan Mayor Hsieh Chang-ting Area Ranked 19 of 25 Total % water 153. 5927 kmē ?% Population Ranked 5 of 25 Total ( Ma were upgraded to direct-controlled municipalities, while ChanghuaChanghua City is the capital of Changhua County, Taiwan Province of the Republic of China. Area: 65. 69 kmē Population: 230,000 people . and PingtungPingtung City is the capital of Pingtung County, Taiwan Province of the Republic of China. External link Cities in Taiwan. were lowered to county-controlled cities. Chiayi and Hsinchu were temporarily lowered to county-controlled cities as well until 1982.