As I sat onboard the crowded train heading westward from Taipei, I couldn’t help but wondering whether I’d made a mistake. I was jet-lagged and worse, I was freezing, having made the mistake of trying to kill my jet-lag with an early morning hike up Xiangshan mountain, but in August: I was covered in sweat by the time I came down, in spite it being before 9 AM.
And yet, how else was I going to spend this vestigial day? Certainly, laying around my hotel room in the capital wouldn’t do any good; I didn’t have space in my trip (which was merely a touch-down period before jetting off to Japan) to head somewhere further afield.
Which reminds me—I haven’t yet told you where I was headed, which is probably for the best. Hsinchu is definitely worth visiting, even if most people would never consider a trip there.
How to Get to Hsinchu
As I foreshadow in the introduction to this peach, reaching Hsinchu (which, in spite of how its written in English in Taiwan, is actually pronounced closer to Shin-joo) from Taipei is straightforward, if not entirely pleasant. I don’t recommend taking a high-speed train here; as is the case with many destinations in Taiwan, this will spit you out at an “HSR” station pretty far outside of town.
Instead, you’ll want to ride a local-ish train from Taipei Main Station to Hsinchu Station. I say “local-ish” because if you book at least an hour or two in advance, you can general score a reserved seat onboard a limited express train (the Tze-Chiang is the most common one you’ll see), affording you a modicum of comfort. However, do be warned that this train remains extremely crowded and cluttered regardless.
My Favorite Things to Do in Hsinchu
Admire Hsinchu Station
Initially, when I began staring down the idea of a day trip to Hsinchu, among the first items on my list was the mountain village of Smangus. Unfortunately, even if I’m reserved a car (and I hadn’t), it would’ve required a drive of more than an hour from Hsinchu Station. Thankfully, the station (which was built by the Japanese in the 19th century) was worth the journey from Taipei all on its own.
Continue to Yin Hsi Gate
After exiting the station, I quickly moved onto the next place on my list of what to do in Hsinchu: Yin Hsi Gate. Although I knew it wouldn’t be as grand or as picturesque as the gates of Taipei, certainly not in broad daylight, it nonetheless set the stage for my next stage of exploration. Certainly, by the time I finished up here, I was glad I’d pushed through my avoidant impulse to have avoided the trip all together.
Try local delicacies at Chenghuang Temple Night Market
Initially, to be sure, I hadn’t expected much from the Chenghuang Temple Night Market—it was daytime, as I just mentioned, after all. And yet in addition to the fact that the market was almost completely intertwined with the structure of the temple, to incredible visual effect, it was also a great place to try Hsinchu specialties like “short” rice noodles and crystal dumplings, sometimes also known as ba-wan (hence the “8” stamped on top).
(And visit Hsinchu City God Temple itself as well)
It won’t come as a surprise to you that many people include the City God Temple on their Hsinchu itinerary—this is common, no matter which city in Taiwan you’re visiting. What you might not know is that Hsinchu’s is said to be the most important of all such temples in Taiwan, as the local man who helped me order the foods above explained to me after having assisted me. “It’s my pleasures,” he told me, with the most adorably unknowning smile.
Get some fresh air at Nanliao Fishing Harbor
I would imagine that the Nanliao Fishing Harbor is a perfectly fine place to visit on a “normal” day. When I was there, however, the Hsinchu International Kite Festival was taking place, to glorious effect. What’s funny is that I didn’t plan this—it was a total coincidence—and yet the visual kaleidescope over the port area helped to cement what a great decision I’d made in coming to Hsinchu after all.
Hsinchu: Day Trip or Overnight Destination?
Most travelers don’t visit Hsinchu at all, so if you’re even considering a trip here, you should pat yourself on the back. In general, because of how rare it is to visit Hsinchu at all, as well as its closeness to Taipei, it simply doesn’t make sense to stay the night here. You’d be pulling yourself away from the creature comforts of the capital; you may very well feel some FOMO once night falls.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind the idea of a quieter evening and also find the Taipei to Hsinchu train as unpleasant as I do, there’s an argument to be made for staying in Hsinchu. This is especially the case if you can snag a room at a nice local accommodation such as Sol Hotel, or one of the higher-quality Airbnbs in the area. In any event, I’d recommend trying to book a place to stay before deciding.
Other FAQ About Visiting Hsinchu
What is there to do in Hsinchu?
Hsinchu doesn’t have a ton to do, but boasts many interesting attractions in a short radius. If you’ve got limited time, I’d suggest walking from Hsinchu Station (itself an architectural marvel) to the Hsinchu City God Temple which, in addition to being the highest-ranking such temple in all of Taiwan, is surrounded by expansive food and retail markets.
Why do tourists skip Hsinchu?
Tourists skip Hsinchu for two reasons—and I don’t think that the first (Hsinchu’s lukewarm reputation) is the most important one. Rather, there are simply too many other amazing places to visit in Taiwan, and most tourists don’t have enough time for all of them. Therefore, Hsinchu simply sits low on the totem pole.
How long should I spend in Hsinchu?
Realistically, you are going to visit Hsinchu for the day (either to and from Taipei, or as a stop between Taipei and Taoyuan or Taichung), rather than overnight. However, if you do happen to stay overnight, it’s unlikely that you will sleep more than one night here.
The Bottom Line
Is Hsinchu worth visiting? Yes, although I’m almost embarrassed to admit how long it took me after my first trip to Taiwan to finally make it here. The so-called “Silicon Valley of Taiwan,” Hsinchu is a popular place to live, but is less-than-popular among tourists. Which is a shame: There’s a lot on offer here, from the moment you arrive the gorgeous Japanese-built railway station. I’m still not sure if I’d ever sleep here, but it’s definitely worthwhile as a day trip from Taipei, or as a stop en route from the capital to somewhere else in Taiwan. Speaking of which, if you need personalized help planning your Taiwan adventure, I do hope you’ll consider hiring me to help.
