| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses on the business districts in Kaohsiung City after World War II and explores how a succession of construction projects in the city, directed by the National government, brought about the post-war development of industry and commerce. This urban construction, which involved a series of urban plans, was carried out along with the establishment of the industrial areas around Kaohsiung. These urban plans not only boosted the rural-to-urban migration, but also prompted the formation and expansion of the business districts in Kaohsiung. This study is based on investigating the National government’s policy implementation and reconstruction of Kaohsiung, and then it explores the development of business districts and space transformation in the city after the National government’s policy was implemented. Finally, the study analyzes in what form the business districts exist in Kaohsiung.
Although Kaohsiung City was noticed by international powers in 17th century, it developed slowly under the rule of the Qing Empire. Kaohsiung possesses a vast hinterland and a natural great harbor, but the Qing government never tried to use its state power to develop these assets; as a result, although Kaohsiung was opened to foreign trade as a treaty port during the Qing period, it remained a traditional agricultural society until the Japanese colonial period. The geographical superiority of Kaohsiung started to be regarded by the government from 1895 when Taiwan became a colony of Japan. The Japanese colonial government conducted a series of plans for land investigations, harbor constructions, and urban district corrections. After the Kaohsiung port was selected as a military base for Japan’s southward invasion, the Japanese government invested considerable labor and material resources into the transport infrastructure (particularly, marine ports, railways, and highways) and on the urban infrastructure in Kaohsiung. With this new infrastructure, Kaohsiung was completely reconstructed, reformed, and transformed into a modern city.
After World War II, the National government proceeded with the Japanese government’s construction projects for Kaohsiung and continued the city’s development. A series of economic projects, including expanding the harbor area, building a second port, and setting up the export processing zone and the coastal industrial park, established Kaohsiung in a key position in southern Taiwan. At the same time, a large number of people moved into Kaohsiung City. In order to solve the population problem caused by the industrial development, the National government carried out a series of urban plans, such as expanding the metropolitan area of Kaohsiung. This resulted in uninhabited regions being rapidly developed and urbanized, but it also improved the growth and development of commerce in Kaohsiung.
Since being developed into an industrial and commercial society, Kaohsiung has promoted itself as a city mainly of service industries. These developments have significantly influenced the business districts in the city. The execution of urban planning has contributed to the exploitation of suburban areas and to an increased population, and eventually the formation of the new business districts. With all of the municipal construction and transportation planning, these new business districts have become the business centers. The previous business districts have degenerated and have been replaced by newer ones. These new areas have been formed by a succession of urban plans by the government. In other words, the business districts in Kaohsiung City were formed by urban planning.
The formation and expansion of business districts have a significant influence on urban development and should not be underestimated. Kaohsiung is a long and narrow city from north to south, and the north-south railway of Taiwan passes through central Kaohsiung. With this geographic and transportation situation, integrating the different business districts and developing them while keeping them in balance will be the important issues for future research.
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