Taipei vs. non-Taipei

Residents of Taipei have a sense of superiority over the rest of Taiwan. Those "native" residents of Taipei who recognized it are critical of this attitude. Those "new" residents of Taipei whose hometowns are elsewhere have also criticized this attitude because they have heard degrading comments regarding non-Taipei places and people.

Many questions arise from people's perception of this attitude. What constitutes "Taipei"? Does it refer to Taipei city? Or formerly Taipei County 台北縣, but now New Taipei City 新北市? A colleague from Chang-hua 彰化 explains that everyone north of Miao-li 苗栗 feels that they are "Taipei resident" 台北人. This would include Taipei City, New Taipei City, Tao-yuan 桃園, Hsin-chu 新竹, and Keelung 基隆. What constitutes "Taipei resident" 台北人? Is it lifestyle? Can one become one, or does she/he need to be born in the area? Taipei residents often complain that non-Taipei places are less developed, thus hinted at a sense of uncivilized place and people. But non-Taipei residents sometimes fight against this "Taipei residents' sense of superiority" by claiming to have cheaper and better foods.

What sparked this identity probably has to do with Taiwan's politics and economy. The "North" is more urbanized, with great public transportation system concentrated in the capital. The "North" is also more politically "blue" (see my post on "Election in Taiwan" to get a brief intro to "blue" vs. "green" in Taiwan), as in pro-KMT (Chinese Nationalist Party). People in the "North" also speak more Chinese Mandarin. In contrast, the "South" is less urbanized and less-developed public transportation system, and more politically "green." Residents of the "South" speak more Taiwanese hoklo, the native language of over 85% of population in Taiwan.