Hsinchu

Hsinchu (新竹; Xīnzhú) is a city in the north-western part of Taiwan.

Understand
With a history of almost 400 years, Hsinchu is the oldest city in northern Taiwan. It was originally inhabited by an aboriginal tribe called Taokas who called the city 'Chuchien', and the present name, Hsinchu, was adopted at the end of the 19th century, during the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu. It was also during the later Qing Dynasty that the city was expanded and the city's walls constructed, of which only the Eastern Gate remains.

During the Japanese colonial era (1895 to 1945), Hsinchu was the main administrative center between Taipei and Taichung, and it was during this period that glass production (for which Hsinchu later became famous) was introduced to the city. Production used to be limited to medical equipment, but with the founding of the island's largest glass company in 1954, production was expanded, though still limited to mostly industrial glass. Craft items were added to the list of products in the 1960s, and soon Hsinchu gained recognition as a center of excellence for decorative glass products.

In 1980, the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park (more often called simply 'The Science Park') was founded. The park has been very successful, and hosts companies like TSMC, AU Optronics, UMC and numerous other semiconductor manufacturers. The establishment of the park was a major boost to the economy of the area and as a result, Hsinchu, despite its relatively small population (around 350,000), has some surprisingly high standard hotels and shopping complexes. The average wage of the citizens of Hsinchu is now the highest in Taiwan, surpassing even that of the capital, Taipei.

Hsinchu is a very pleasant city, though definitely not a tourist destination, and most overseas visitors travel here only to attend conferences or business meetings. However, with its abundance of hotels and good transportation links, the city is perhaps the best location to explore the beautiful mountain areas of Hsinchu County.

Due to the constant gusts of wind that blow in from the Taiwan Strait, Hsinchu is often referred to as the Windy City. While the wind keeps the city relatively pollution free, it also makes it a very cold place in the winter, especially around the time of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year celebrations.

By car
Hsinchu is on the main Taipei - Kaohsiung rail and freeway routes, and it takes about one hour and ten minutes to reach the city from Taipei.

Take highway number 1 or 3. There are two toll gates between Taipei and Hsinchu. Books of 9+1 tickets can be bought at the gates with yellow sign at NT$40 each. Tickets can also be bought at post offices for a little less then NT$40. Tickets holders can use gates with a blue sign.

The speed limit on Highway number one is in general 100 km/h and on number 3 110 km/h. Speed cameras are active and there are regular speed traps.

By plane
The nearest airport is Taoyuan International Airport, which is about a thirty minute drive in the dead of night with no traffic and a speeding taxi driver. Safest to allow around an hour from Science Park or a little longer from down-town.

By bus
From Taipei
 * The How-Tai Bus Company (豪泰客運) (NT$110) run a fast, bus company with efficient and very comfortable (extra wide seats with personal video screens) service from Taipei to Hsinchu. In Taipei, the red buses depart every fifteen minutes from bay 22 at the Taipei Bus Terminal (See: Taipei 'Get in'). From Hsinchu, the buses depart from next to the Hsinchu Railway Station (when exiting the station, the bus stop is a two-minute walk to the left, just past the Hsinchu Bus Station), and makes a stop at the National Tsing Hua University bus station en-route to the freeway. If your ticket is not collected before departure, hang on to it. It will need to be given to the driver when getting off. The journey takes between 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

From Taoyuan Taiwan Airport
 * There are no direct buses from Taoyuan Taiwan Airport (Taipei International Airport) to Hsinchu, but the U-bus company offers a link, with passengers changing buses at the 'Jhongli Transit Station'.

From Taichung
 * Taichung Bus (台中客運) and Guoguang Bus (國光客運) connect Hsinchu to Taichung.

By train

 * The TRA (or regular train) station is in the city centre and is a major stop on the main line between Taipei and Kaohsiung/Taichung. It costs from NT$114 to NT$180 for an adult and takes approximately one to two hours to get there from Taipei main station, depending upon the type of train you take.  is located along Zhonghua Rd.
 * The has a Hsinchu stop located in the neighbouring city of Chupei (竹北; zhúbĕi) and is approximately 30 minutes by taxi from the city centre. A local train line (Liujia Line) runs between Hsinchu and Liujia TRA stations (Liujia being located less than 100 m from the THSR station). The THSR also offers a free shuttle service from the station to Hsinchu approximately every 20 minutes. The journey from Taipei takes approximately 30 minutes.

Get around

 * Hsinchu is large enough for a local bus service, which connects the suburbs with the downtown area, though not large enough for taxis to cruise. You'll need to go to the station or a department store to pick one up from a taxi rank - or call, if you can speak Chinese.

Parks and scenic sites

 * The medians of Wenhua, Xinyi and Sanmin roads have been converted into linear parks. These stretches of green are great for taking a leisurely stroll on a sultry summer day or escaping from the office during lunch break. The parks along Wenhua and Xinyi streets are especially pleasant--and quite romantic at night--as they have incorporated the city's historic moat into their design.

Museums and galleries

 * Space, warehouses 3, 4 and 5 Hsinchu Railway Station - a space for art workshops and exhibitions. Also includes a humanistic recreation area with restaurant.
 * The Residence of Hsin Chih-Ping
 * The Residence of Hsin Chih-Ping
 * The Residence of Hsin Chih-Ping
 * The Residence of Hsin Chih-Ping
 * The Residence of Hsin Chih-Ping
 * The Residence of Hsin Chih-Ping

Malls

 * Big City (Big City遠東巨城購物中心) - 229 Zhongyang Rd
 * Far Eastern Hsinchu Store (新竹大遠百) - 323 Xida Rd
 * Crystal City Shopping Plaza (晶品城購物廣場) - 18 Linsen Rd
 * TAROKO SQUARE (大魯閣湳雅廣場) - 91-2 Nanya St

Specialist stores

 * Xinfuzhen Trading Co. (新復珍商行) - 6 Beimen St - *sells pastries*
 * Hai Rui Meatballs (海瑞貢丸) - multiple locations - *fish balls restaurant*
 * Nanxing Rice Noodles (南興米粉) - multiple locations - *rice noodles*

English books

 * Eslite Bookstore, corner of Minquan and Zhongyang Roads. The best selection of English titles in Hsinchu.

Eat
Hsinchu is a typical Taiwanese city containing thousands of restaurants.

Local specialties
Local dishes popular with domestic tourists include rice noodles (米粉; mĭfēn), meatballs served in a broth soup (貢丸湯; gòngwántāng) and stuffed meatball (肉圓; ròuyuán). There are numerous small booths selling these inexpensive delicacies in the area around the Chenghuang Temple, both fresh and uncooked.


 * Double Star Tianbula (雙星甜不辣) - 42 Datong Rd
 * Feilong Meat Balls (飛龍肉圓) - 104 Ximen St
 * Fuye Crispy Red Bean Cake (富爺脆皮紅豆餅) - 3 Dongshan St
 * Golden Fortune Seafood (金運海鮮) - 10 Dongda Rd, Section 4, Lane 204
 * Miaokou Duck Rice (廟口鴨香飯) - 142 Zhongshan Rd
 * Shijia Fish Balls (石家魚丸) - 27-28-29 Xingxue St
 * Shiji Fish Balls (石記魚丸) - 44 Xingxue St
 * Zhushanyi Noodles (竹山意麵) - 13 Aiwen St

International cuisine
Because of Hsinchu's relatively large expat community, there are also many restaurants that offer international cuisine.


 * Buono Bella Italian Restaurant (波諾義大利料理) - 525 Nanda Rd
 * Shengbodian (勝博殿) - multiple locations - Japanese tonkatsu
 * Uomachi Japanese Donburi (魚町日式丼飯) - 170 Dongda Rd, Section 2 - Japanese donburi

Night markets
The night market at the end of GuangFu Road (Garden Street), otherwise rather disappointing, has a very popular shop selling food from Singapore. It is located close to the entrance of the night market. The curries and fried noodles start from around NT$60. The night market here is one of the few places to find real homemade American-style cookies but the vendor is not always there. If you really have a craving you can order them and have them delivered by calling 0973200868.

There's a night market on NanDa Road behind the train station every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow the crowds, you can't miss it.

Drink
Most restaurants, pubs, and even high-class hotels carry a paltry selection of beer, consisting mainly of Heineken, Kirin, Taiwan Beer and one of a variety of mass-marketed, mass-produced American beers (Budweiser, Coors, etc.) In some bars also the German Erdinger is available.

Bars
Hsinchu has no shortage of bars. Here are some of the most well-known ones:


 * Coach PUB (黃包車PUB) - 33-39 Minzu Rd
 * BAR SPEAKEASY - 587 Jingguo Rd

Cafes

 * Flying tree house CAFE (飛行樹屋咖啡) - 17 Guangfu Rd, Section 2, Lane 18

Stay safe
Hsinchu is one of the safest cities you'll probably ever visit and street crime is extremely rare. However, in case of an emergency, English speaking police officers can be contacted at the main foreign affairs police department: Tel+886 3 524-2103. Otherwise, like elsewhere in Taiwan, emergency numbers are:
 * Police: 110
 * Ambulance, Fire brigade: 119

Dialling code
The area dialling code for Hsinchu is 03. From overseas, dial +886 3 XXXXXXX.

Hospital

 * Hsin-chu Hospital (新竹醫院) - 25, Lane 442, Jinguo Road, Sec. 1. Tel:+886 3 532-6151.
 * Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu (馬偕醫院新竹分院) - 690, Guangfu Rd, Sec. 2. Tel:+886 3 611-9595.
 * Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu (國泰綜合醫院新竹分院) - 678, Zhonghua Road, Sec. 2. Tel:+886 3 527-8999.

Cope
Visa applications and extensions can be made at the Foreign Affairs Police Bureau, 1 Chungshan Road. Tel:+886 3 522-4168

Go next

 * Shih-tou Shan (Lion's Head Mountain) is a mountainous area on the borders of Hsinchu County and Miaoli County famous for its Buddhist temples and scenery.
 * Shei-pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) spans mountains and rivers offering some great hiking, climbing and relaxation.
 * Located near Hsinchu City is the Little Ding-Dong Science Park (小叮噹科學遊樂區). It is the only outdoor science theme park in Taiwan.
 * Chi'ding Resort Beach, half an hour south of Hsinchu along route 61, has a basic beach. Closed during typhoons. This area has a very flat beach area great for skim boarding. The resort has jetskis, windsurfers and kite boarding.