P’ing-tung

P’ing-tung, also called (until 1920) Akow, shih (municipality) and seat of P’ing-tung hsien (county), southwestern Taiwan. It is located 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Kao-hsiung city, in the southern part of the western plain. Founded in the early 18th century, the city is situated west of the Kao-p’ing River. It is in an agricultural region that produces sugarcane, rice, bananas, tobacco, and fruits. P’ing-tung city is one of Taiwan’s leading sugar-refining centres. Other industrial products include metal goods, machinery, chemicals, and alcoholic beverages. The South Link railway connects P’ing-tung city with the cities of T’ai-tung to the east and Kao-hsiung to the west; the city is connected by highway with O-luan-pi on the southern tip of the island. P’ing-tung city is the seat of the National P’ing-tung Polytechnic Institute (founded 1954) and has junior colleges for teacher training, pharmacology, nursing, and technology. The San-ti-men Bridge is about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of the city. Pop. (2007 est.) 215,962.