By 1881, trade passing through the port of Tanshui outstripped the combined amount handled by the ports of Anping (Tainan) and Takou (Kaohsiung), thus marking a northward shift of Taiwan's economic center of gravity. Military conflict in 1874 and again in 1884 spurred the Qing court to place much greater importance upon Taiwan, and this change afforded Taipei still greater opportunity to establish itself as Taiwan's capital city.
一八八一年，淡水港的貿易額已超過南部安平與高雄的總和，成為清季台灣最主要的港口，經濟重心的北移，悄悄改變北台灣的社經地位。兩次列強的挑釁事件，清朝對台灣愈加投注關愛眼神，更給了台北成為首府的機會。