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Hsinchu 新竹
—  Provincial city  —
Hsinchu City · 新竹市 Zhu (竹市)
Flag
Nickname(s): 風城 The Windy City
Coordinates: 24°49′N 120°59′E / 24.817°N 120.983°E / 24.817; 120.983
Country	Republic of China
Region	Northwestern Taiwan
City seat	North District
Government
- Mayor	Lin Junq-Tzer (林政則)
Area
- Total	104.0964 km2 (40.2 sq mi)
Population (October 2008)
- Total	404,109
- Density	3,879.97/km2 (10,049.1/sq mi)
Bird	European Magpie (Pica pica)
Flower	Azalea
Website	http://en.hccg.gov.tw/ (English)

Japanese-built Hsinchu Railroad Station in circa October-November of 1957, 1958, or 1959

Hsinchu City (traditional Chinese: 新竹市; Hanyu Pinyin: Xīnzhú Shì; Tongyong Pinyin: Sinjhú Shìh; Wade-Giles: Hsin-chu Shih; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sin-tek) is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" (traditional Chinese: 風城; Hanyu Pinyin: Fēngchéng; Tongyong Pinyin: Fongchéng) for its windy climate.

Hsinchu City is administered as a special municipality within Taiwan (ROC). The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the west. Hsinchu City is composed of three districts: North District, East District, and Xiangshan District.

History

In 1626, after Spain occupied northern Taiwan, Spanish missionaries arrived at Tek-khàm (竹塹; sm: zhúqiàn), where the Taokas Taiwanese aborigines lived. During the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Hsinchu. In the 21st year of Guangxu's Regime, Hsinchu Sub Office was established, responsible for independent administration on June 24. In June of the 24th Year of Kuang Hsu's Regime, it altered its local official system again. Hsinchu County was abolished. It was then under the administration of Hsinchu Administration Office, Taipei County. On November 11, 27th Year of Kuang Hsu's Regime, it established the Hsinchu Office. In 1920, under Japanese rule, Hsinchu Street was established, with the founding of Hsinchu Street District Office. In 1930, the city system was applied. It was renamed as Hsinchu City, under the governing of Hsinchu-Chou, with the establishment of Hsinchu City Office. In 1941, its administration district was expanded, merging with Xiangshan and Qiu Kang, and became a part of Liu Jia Zhuang.

In 1945 the incoming Kuomintang (KMT; Chinese Nationalists) established the Hsinchu City Government to govern Hsinchu-Chou. In 1946, the Take Over Committee dissolved and Hsinchu County Government was formed. Hsinchu County Government was moved to Taoyuan. As the administrative districts were readjusted, it became a Provincially governed city, using the original Chou office as its legal office, with seven district offices. In February of the same year, representative congress was formed in every district. On April 15 the City Congress was formed. Provincial Representatives were elected from the city legislators, to become legislative bodies of different levels. On August 16, 1950, the administrative districts in Taiwan were re-adjusted once more, demarcating 16 counties and 5 provincially governed cities.

In June 1982, under the President's order, the Xiangshan Township of Hsinchu County would merge into Hsinchu City, and the new entity would become a special munisipality. The new government of Hsinchu was legally established on July 1, 1982, with 103 lis, and 1635 lins. The City Government is located on 120 Chung Cheng Road, the former Hsinchu-Chou Office.

In end of June 1983, there were three Bureaus (Civil Service, Public Works, and Education), four Departments (Finance, Social Welfare, Compulsory Military Service, and Land Affairs), four offices (Secretary, Planning, Personnel, and Auditing), and 49 sections (units, teams) under the City Government's organization to provide services for various urban affairs. Affiliate institutions include the Police Department, Tax Department, and Medicine and Hygiene Department.

By the end of 1982, the city was classified into east, north and Xiangshan districts. The east, north and Xiangshan district administration offices were posted on October 1 and then they were formally established on November 1 in the same year.

From 1994 to 1999, as Taiwan made its transition from authoritarian rule to modern democracy and the mostly pro forma provincial level of government began to be dissolved, regulations were established for formal Hsinchu City self-government. A deputy mayor, consumer officer, and three consultants were added to the city government. In 2002 the city added a Bureau of Labor and transferred the business of the Compulsory Military Service to the Department of Civil Service.

Administration

Hsinchu has 3 districts (區 qu):	District		Population	Land area
			as of 2008	km²
	■ Dong-qu	東區	193,310	33.5768
	■ Bei-qu	北區	142,624	15.7267
	■ Xiangshan-qu	香山區	71,453	54.8491

Economy

A street in downtown Hsinchu

The city is the base for high technology industry in Taiwan. Hsinchu Science and Technology Industrial Park is home to 360 high tech companies including TSMC, Philips, United Microelectronics Corporation, Holtek, AU Optronics and Epistar. As a result, the city has the highest income level in Taiwan.

The purpose of the park is to attract high tech investment to Taiwan and to make the area the economic center for the information industry. The park is designed to cater for high quality R&D, production, work, life and also recreation. From its establishment in 1978, the government has invested over NT$30 billion on software and hardware ventures. In 2001, it developed 2.5km2 of land in the Park and 0.5km2 in southern Hsinchu, attracting 312 high-tech companies' investments. Viewing the performance of Hsinchu Science and Industrial Park in the past 21 years, it can be said that it holds a decisive position in the economic development in Taiwan, with international acclaim.

Although the semi-conductor and related electronic businesses have been doing well, they face fierce competition from Japan, Korea, the United States and Singapore. This has resulted in lower profits and over-supply of some electronic products such as memory and semi-conductors. Therefore manufacturers, government, academia, and the R&D sectors all recognize the challenges faced by Taiwan's high-tech development. The government has endeavored to upgrade Hsinchu Science Park into a global manufacturing and R&D center of high-end products. They also plan to intensify the cooperation among the manufacturing, academic, and research sectors by introducing incubation centers, in order to elevate the technological standard in the park. Further, through the development of the northern, central, and southern industrial park and its satellite sites, it hopes to sow the seeds of high tech business in all of Taiwan, leading to a vigorous era of high tech development.

Hsinchu's economy is estimated to be an annual $4 Billion GDP, with a per capita of $11,000 in US dollars. [1]

Education

National Hsinchu University of Education

National Tsing Hua University

National Chiao Tung University

International and American Schools (grade school and secondary school)

• Pacific American School
• Hsinchu Dutch International School
• Hsinchu American School

Elementary Schools

• Sagor Bilingual School

Colleges & Universities

• National Chiao Tung University
• National Tsing Hua University
• Chung Hua University
• Hsuan Chuang University
• Yuanpei Institute of Science and Technology
• National Hsinchu University of Education

Secondary Schools

• National Experimental High School
• National Hsinchu Senior High School
• National Hsinchu Girls' Senior High School
• Shu Guang Girls' Senior High School

Main Attractions

• Hsinchu Municipal Glass Art Museum
• Hsinchu Municipal Zoo
• Eighteen Peaks Mountain Park
• Chenghuang Temple Night Market

quote from Tourism Bureau, MOTC, R.O.C.

Transportation

• bus

Local delicacies

• Hsinchu Style Ba wan
• Rice noodles
• Pork meatballs

Notable natives

• Chi Cheng, the Olympic medalist in track & field.
• Yuan T. Lee, the 1986 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry.
• John Chiang, Taiwanese politician.
• Lin Cho-liang, Taiwanese American violinist
• Hebe Tian, member of S.H.E
• David Wu, member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the state of Oregon since 1999.
• Cyndi Wang, Singer
• Chen Qiaoen, Singer, actress, 7F Member

Climate

Hsinchu's climate is marine tropical.^[1] The city is located in a part of the island that has a rainy season that lasts from February to September, with the heaviest time coming late April through August during the southwest monsoon, and also experiences meiyu in May and early June.^[2] The city succumbs to hot humid weather from June until September, while October to December are arguably the most pleasant times of year. Hsinchu is affected by easterly winds off of the China Sea. Natural hazards such as typhoons and earthquakes are common in the region.^[3]

Transportation

• bus

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Hsinchu is twinned with:

• Richland, Washington State, United States of America
• Cupertino, State of California, United States of America
• Plano, State of Texas, United States of America
• Cary, State of North Carolina, United States of America
• Beaverton, State of Oregon, United States of America
• Okayama, Okayama, Japan

See also

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

• Taiwan
• Administrative divisions of the Republic of China
• Township (Taiwan)
• List of cities in the Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Republic of China

References

External links

• Hsinchu travel guide from Wikitravel
• Hsinchu City Government Official Website
• Hsinchu Science Park

Administrative divisions of the Republic of China (Otherwise known as Taiwan). Central municipalities Taipei City · Kaohsiung City Taiwan Province Counties Changhua · Chiayi · Hsinchu · Hualien · Kaohsiung · Miaoli · Nantou · Penghu (Pescadores) · Pingtung · Taichung · Tainan · Taipei · Taitung · Taoyuan · Yilan · Yunlin Cities Chiayi · Hsinchu · Keelung · Taichung · Tainan Fujian Province Counties Kinmen · Lienchiang (Matsu Islands) Note: On December 25, 2010 the pink highlighted administrative divisions are scheduled in restructuring or merger into Central municipalities status. See the various entries.

From Wikitravel

East Gate

Hsinchu (新竹; Xīnzhú) [1], 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 'Chuchang', 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 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. Originally, production was 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 [2] (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.

Get in

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 100km/h and on number 3 110km/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. NB: 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.

• 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.
• The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) has a Hsinchu stop located in the neighbouring city of [Chubei] (竹北; zhúbĕi) and is approximately 30 minutes by taxi from the city centre. The journey from Taipei takes approximately 30 minutes [3].

• 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.

• The central reservations of Wenhua, Xinyi and Sanmin roads have been converted into 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.
• Eighteen Peaks Mountain is a crescent of mountains circling the eastern and southern suburbs of Hsinchu. It is a great place for hiking and offers panoramic views of Hsinchu city and beyond. To get there drive along Guang Fu Road, turning left onto Nanda Road, and then onto Baoshan Road. This will lead to the mountains.
• Hsinchu Botanical Garden, Baoshan Road (near the Tsing-hua University) has some great hiking trails and provides the opportunity to become acquainted with more than 300 varieties of Taiwan's indigeneous flora.
• Green Grass Lake (Qing-cao Hu) off Ming-hu Road is a parkland surrounding a lake - a great place to relax and watch water fowl gliding with the clouds.
• Hsinchu Zoo, 279 Kungyung Road. [4] This is the oldest and smallest zoo in Taiwan, founded by the Japanese in 1936. The zoo is recently and very tastefully renovated and proudly displays 250 animals and 70 species, including tigers, crocodiles, monkeys, bears and all kinds of birds. The grounds are lovely and garden like and the animals seem to be having a good time. A great place to bring children. Entrance is only 10 NT. Open 8.30 to 5.00 all year, but not Mondays and Chinese New Year's Eve.

Food stands around the City God Temple

• City God Temple(城隍廟;chénghuángmiào) - Built in 1748. Located on the corner of Zhongshan Road and Dongmen Street, is a typical Taoist temple with lots of colorful frescoes.
• East Gate (東門) - Constructed from granite and with a distinctive arched entrance, the historic East Gate is the city center's most well known landmark. It is located at the junction of Dongmen and Zhongzheng Roads.
• Hsinchu Railway Station - Built in 1913 in the classic Baroque style that was popular in Taiwan at the beginning of the 20th century. There is nothing to see inside, but the facade provides a good backdrop for souvenir photographs of the city.

• The Craft Glass Museum, 2 Dongda Road, sec 1. Tel:+886 3 562-6091 [5] A gallery dedicated to Hsinchu's long association with the craft of glass making. It is in the park directly behind the railway station. Open: Wed to Sun 9AM-5PM (ticket office closes at 4:30PM)
• The Municipal Image Museum, 65 Zhongzheng Road. Tel:+886 3 528-5840~2 [6] The museum is in the renovated former movie theater building, and in addition to images and documents of film and theater in Taiwan, the museum also has an auditorium where movies and plays are performed. Open: From Wed to Sun 9:30AM-12 noon, 1:30-5PM, 6:30-9PM. Production times: Wed to Fri 7:10~9PM, Sat and Sun 10AM, 2PM and 7:10PM.
• Space, warehouses 3, 4 and 5 Hsinchu Railway Station - a space for art workshops and exhibitions. Also includes a humanistic recreation area with restaurant.

• Hsinchu Playhouse and Gallery, 17 Dongda Road, sec 2 (corner of Beida Road). Tel:+886 3 542-0121. A large concert hall and gallery featuring local and international events.
• Free Music - Bands often perform in the small outdoor auditorium under the East Gate.

• National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road. Tel:+886 3 513-1231. Fax:+886 3 572-1431 E-Mail:cdaisy@mail.nctu.edu.tw. [7]
• Chung-hwa University, 707 Wufu Road, sec 2. Tel:+886 3 518-6175. Fax:+886 3 518-6174. E-Mail:international@chu.edu.tw. [8]

• National Tsing Hua University [9] - a large and prestigious university - specialties include electrical engineering, physical sciences and humanities.
• National Chiao Tung University [10] - a large university offering a high standard of education.
• Chung-hwa University [11]

Buy

What

• Hsinchu is the hometown of a particular form of rice noodles, called Mifen (米粉).

Where

General

• The main shopping center meanders through the roads and lanes from the main train station to Bei-da and Min-sheng Roads. SOGO Department Store is on the corner of Zhong-hua and Mintsu Roads (directly across from the railway station), and the Mitsukoshi Department Store has a large branch next to the Ambassador Hotel.
• Another major shopping center is the Far East Department store (FE21) in Xi-da Road on the corner of Xi-men Street. There is plenty of parking and it also has a wide range of movie theaters.
• The RT-Mart (大潤發, Da-run-fa) on ShiPin lu has everything you possibly could want -- food, electronics, clothes, household articles -- at low prices.
• A night market with a lot of character sprawls through the alleys off Wenchang Road.

Specialist stores

• Asian Handicrafts, 184 Dungmen (East Gate) Street: Tel:+886 3 525-3662. Specialties are jade and Buddhist artifacts.

English Books

• Eslite, corner of Xinyi and Dadong Roads. The best selection of English titles in Hsinchu.
• Caves, Dongda Road. A little far out from the downtown area and has limited selection.
• National Tsing Hua University. Socrates cafe on campus (next to the main library) has a good selection of second hand books, including many English titles and a surprising number of French titles too.

From left to right are rice noodles, meatball soup and stuffed meatball.

Hsinchu is a typical Taiwanese city containing thousands of restaurants, and, because of the relatively large ex-pat community, many offer international cuisine.

Dishes popular with domestic tourists are rice noodles (米粉;mĭfēn), meatballs served in a broth soup(貢丸湯;gòngwántāng) and stuffed meatball (肉圓;Ròyuán). A popular place to eat these dishes is at City God temple. Uncooked rice noodles and meatballs can be purchased here and also near the entrances to freeway's number 1 and 3. Literally surrounding the Chenghuang Temple are numerous small booths selling cheap, local delicacies. This will be a good place to go to sample local dishes.

• Golden Mountain (金山面藝術生活館), 13 Jinshan 13th Street. Tel:+886 3 563-6296 - while the food is good, it is definitely the ambience and architecure of this traditional style restaurant that is the main attraction.
• Yunnan Wind (雲南風), 231 Dongming Street. Tel:+886 3 575-0142 - offers food from the chinese Yunnan province, including spicy hot pots and grilled dishes. Similar to Thai food. Relaxed atmosphere. Located in a small lane off Guangfu Road Sec. 2 across from the Orange Mart.
• Curry Fans (咖哩番), San Min Street 2 No. 13, Hsinchu City. (新竹市東區三民路2巷13號) Tel:+886 35313372 They offers many kind of curries from various country such as Indonesia, Thailand, India and Japan. Has an English menu and is owned by a Taiwanese who speaks very good English.

• The Spice Shop, 11 Shengli Road. Tel:+886 3 523-1817. They have an English menu and they can speak English.

• Yogi House, 97 Shijye Street. Tel:+886 3 515-3696. Veggie and non-veggie meals available. Prices a little high, though comparable to other organic restaurants in Taiwan.

Vegetarian (素食)

As in most major cities in Taiwan, vegetarian buffets are common in many neighborhoods in Hsinchu. The price at a buffet is estimated by the weight of the food on your plate. Rice (there is usually a choice of brown or white) is charged separately, but soup is free and you can refill as many times as you like. NT$90 - NT$110 will buy you a good sized, nutritious meal. The list below is for all-you-can-eat buffets (at these, there is a set charge, usually over NT$250, and the meal includes dessert and coffee/tea) or menu style restaurants:

• City God Temple, 75 Zhongshan Road. Tel:+886 3 5223666 Offers vegetarian fare.
• Green-On, 24 Chuanai Street. Tel:+886 3 5728022.
• Date Tree near National Tsing Hua university is a vegetarian restaurant offering meals from as cheap as NT$50 up.
• There is a vegetarian outlet on Changan Street.

• La Tartinette Tapas Bar' French-Mediterranean cuisine. Address: 84-1 Jen-Ai Street, Hsinchu City Open everyday except Sunday

塔酊小餐館 地中海輕食廚房 地址:新竹市仁愛街84-1號(市政府後面的運河的後面巷子) tel: 035.420.972

• The Lake House also known as 在水一方 is a Western style restaurant located adjacent to Ching-Tsao Lake (the lake of green grass). You can either dine right next to the lake or eat on the third floor where the view is spectacular.(新竹市明湖路1075巷80-1號)1075 Minghu Rd., Hsinchu City . Phone# (03)529-2117

[12] [13]

• Squares is a Western style restaurant located just southwest of the East Gate. The serve hamburgers and western breakfast. They also have some Belgian beers in bottles.(新竹市勝利路38號) 38 Shengli Rd., Hsinchu City

• Mr. Toast is a sandwich shop located close to Tsing Hua University just beside Berkeley Hotel. They serve good grilled cheese sandwiches. Topsellers are California Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak and Italian panini. Ambience is western with great music. They have an English menu and can speak English. They are a having a summer super value meal which cost only 99 NT and includes a grilled sandwich, fries, salad and a drink. Its a great deal especially for students around the area. (新竹市光復路二段276號) Guang Fu Road, Sec. 2, #276, Hsinchu City. 03-571-7373. M-Sa 10:30AM to 9:30PM, Sundays: 12PM to 8PM.

• American Grill in Taiwan is an American style grill located just behind the Shin Kong Mitsukosi department store. They serve flame grilled hamburgers, and sausages. The potato salad is a chef special and a favorite. Also on the menu you will find a selection of deep fried food. The menu is availalbe in both Chinese and English. (民權路24巷11號) No. 11, MinChuan Road, Lane 24. Open Monday through Saturday from 11AM.

[[]]

Night market

The night market at the end of GuangFu Road, 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 vender is not always there. If you really have a craving you can order them and have them delivered by calling 0973200868.

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.

• Pig & Whistle, located near the Ambassador Hotel. Ostensibly a British pub, the Pig carries the widest selection of beers to be found in Taiwan, including Draught Guinness, Hoegaarden (a Belgian selection, in case you're wondering), Tiger Beer, Boddington's, and more. This pub has been closed.

• Flying Pig, located around the corner from the Sol Hotel at Wenhua Street, it has a small veranda to sit outside and watch the passing traffic. Inside it's a large bar with dance floor, pool table and table football. Friday and Saturday evenings always a go.

• Minzu Road , a small road just around the corner of Flying Pig and Sol Hotel, offers various small bars of different styles.

• Gooky Grill Bar & Restaurant 谷奇, No.147 ShenLi Rd. 勝利路147號 (behind FE’ 21 Dept, Store), ☎ 03-5265559, [14]. M-Sa 18:00~2:00. Lively Japanese lounge and an American bar, also has a selection of grill and seafood.  edit

Coffee

All the main chains are represented in Hsinchu, such as Starbucks and Barista. Cafes with more unique character are to be found throughout the city center, especially around Wenhua Road and Sanmin Road - just walk around, you'll find something to your taste.

• Tung Cafe, 2F. 31 Fuhou Steet (on the other side of the moat from Sol Hotel) - with a wide wooden balcony that overlooks the city moat and the surrounding park, Tung Cafe is a great place to relax and unwind. [Currently closed for renovation]
• OPCafé, No. 3, 95 lane, Kuan-hwa Street, ☎ 886-3-5153351 (boss@opcafe.net), [15]. 11AM-12PM. 1 min away from RT Mart - OPcafé is a small and cozy cafe offering coffee, tea, snacks and Belgium beer. They also sell CDs, Zakka. 80NTD~120NTD.  edit
• Louise, 250 Zhongyang Road, ☎ ''+886 3'' 535-8824. A modern, but cozy cafe popular with young up-and-coming types. Located directly across from the Windance Shopping Mall  edit
• Yraropmetnoc (代當), 65, Jincheng 1st Rd., East District, [16]. 2PM-11PM. A simple place with good coffee. The name means counter-contemporary. 100NTD~150NTD.  edit

• Berkeley Hotel, 272 Section 2 Guan-Fu Road. Tel:+886 3 572-8668. English/Japanese speaking staff. Conveniently located between two national universities and the famed Hsinchu Science Park. Value choice for lodging and visiting Hsinchu, Taiwan.

• Golden Swallow Hotel, 13 Minzu Road. Tel:+886 3 522 7151
• Kingdom Hotel, 238 section 1 Kuan-Fu Road Tel:+886 3 563-1155. Operates a free shuttle service between guests' place of work and the hotel.

• Hsinchu Berkeley Hotel, dowontown location. Tel:+886 3 525-1155. A business hotel with a English/Japanese speaking staff, continental breakfast. [17]
• Lakeshore Hotel, Metropolis 1. Tel:+886 3 611-6111. A nice hotel with a great breakfast.
• Sol Hotel Downtown, 10 Wenhua Street. Tel:+886 3 534-7266. [18] - centrally located on the very pleasant tree-lined Wenhua Street adjacent to Hsinchu's historic moat. Terrific restaurant nearby too.

• The Ambassador Hotel. Zhonghua Road. Tel:+886 3 515-1111 - Hsinchu's largest and most luxurious hotel
• Howard Plaza Hotel Hsinchu, 178 Zhongzheng Road. Tel:+886 3 528-2323. [19] - Taiwan's largest domestic hotel and resort chain.
• Lakeshore Hotel, 51, Lane 775, Minghu Road. Tel:+886 3 520-3181. - overlooks a lake.
• Sun-View Motel (also known as Hushan 湖山), 1001, Minghu Road. Tel+886 3 520-3000. [20] The hotel is a short drive from Ching-Tsao Lake.

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

Contact

Dialling code

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

• Hsin-chu Hospital (新竹醫院) - 25, Lane 442, Jinguo Road, Sec. 1. Tel:+886 3 532-6151.

Cope

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

• 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. [21]
• 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 Jetski's, windsurfers and Kite boarding.

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

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Hsinchu

Wikipedia

English

Proper noun

Hsinchu or Xinzhu

1. a city and a county in northern Taiwan, southwest of Taipei

Synonyms

• Xinzhu (based on pinyin)

Translations