Hsinchu City

Hsinchu is a city in northern Taiwan, southwest of the capital city of Taipei. It’s known for its ornate Hsinchu City God (Cheng Huang) Temple, lined with food stalls. Close by is Yin Hsi East Gate, a 19th-century structure once used as an entrance to the city. Hsinchu Zoo houses hippos, Bengal tigers and Malay bears. Southeast of the center, trails cross the forested Shibajian (18 Peaks) Mountain.

The area was settled by Taiwanese indigenous peoples, with the settlement bearing the Hokkien name Tek-kham. The city was founded by Han settlers in 1711, and was renamed to its current form in 1878. During the Japanese Era, the city was made the seat of Shinchiku Prefecture, named after the city. The Republic of China regained control of Hsinchu after World War II.

In 1980, the Taiwanese government established the Hsinchu Science Park, a major industrial park, currently one of the world’s most significant centers for semiconductor manufacturing, industrial and computer technology development. The park contributes a major proportion of Taiwan’s GDP. This made Hsinchu a vital economic hub for the worldwide semiconductor industry; the headquarters of TSMC, world’s largest independent semiconductor foundry, and United Microelectronics Corporation, are both located in the park.