「一府、二鹿、三艋舺」反映出臺灣由南向北發展的歷史現象。臺北府城，為清政府執政期間，最後規劃、籌建之城池。臺北建城，始於清光緒五年（1879），成於光緒十年（1884）。居指算計，至今早有百多年的歲月了。百餘年來，臺北市的興起、發展似有它的必然性，卻又帶點傳奇性。艋舺、大稻埕、城內三市街，以此三區為核心，逐步向東、南、北三個方向擴展而塑造今日的大臺北市。

在書中共五個篇章：《臺北的興起》述介農、工、商業優越的自然條件；及臺北府城的興建與都市雛形的奠立。《市政的演進》講述行政制度的演變及由官治而自治的演變過程。《經濟的發展》可見臺北市從清末、日治時期的農、工、商業發展，到如今的資訊現代化。《文教的進步》從清代的書院、府縣儒學，到如今的學前教育、初等教育、職業教育、高等教育文化水準的提升，展現文學氣質的臺北城。《社會生活的變遷》從生活方式、物質生活、精神宗教生活等三個層面，展現多元化的臺北。

「美不美，鄉中水，親不親，故鄉人」。人有生命史，城市亦然，自誕生、成長以至成熟必有一段曲折的歷程。書中多幅的臺北古地圖，及多張發人深省的老照片，透過簡單卻有深度的文字介紹，更倍覺臺北城的親切。(郭恆如)

Tainan, Lukang, and Mengchia were among the three most important settlements in early Taiwan. The distribution of these settlements reflected the fact that the history of Taiwan had originated from the south. Taipei was the last city planned by the Qing Dynasty government. The establishing of Taipei city began in 1879 and was completed in 1884, which makes Taipei a hundred year old city today. In the past hundred years, the development of Taipei has been important yet also quite legendary. The districts of Mengchia, Dataocheng, and Chengnei expanded towards the east, south, and north, which constitute the Taipei Metropolitan today.

The book has 5 chapters. “The Rise of Taipei” describes its competitive natural environment for agriculture, industries, and businesses, as well as the forming and construction of the Taipei City. “The Evolution of the City Government” illustrates the evolution of the administration. “The Economic Development” shows the transformation of Taipei from its agriculture, industries, and businesses during the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese Occupancy to the information technology industry nowadays. “The Advancement in Education and Culture” provides a description on the development from the schools in Qing Dynasty to the high education level nowadays. “The Changes in Social Life” looks at the Taipei City from the aspects of lifestyles, material life, and spiritual life.

The many ancient maps of Taipei and old pictures of the city enclosed in the book have brought the readers closer to the city’s history( Jay Emily Wang)