Hsinchu County, Administrative division in northwestern Taiwan
Hsinchu County is an administrative division in northwestern Taiwan that extends from coastal plains to forested mountain ranges between Taoyuan and Miaoli. The terrain shifts from flat valleys in the west to steep ridges and river gorges in the eastern interior.
Indigenous Taokas, Saisiyat, and Atayal groups lived across these valleys until Han Chinese settlers arrived in 1711 and established farming communities. During Japanese rule the area became part of Shinchiku Prefecture and saw new roads and railways built through the mountains.
Local markets sell Hakka food specialties like lei cha and pickled vegetables that families still prepare following generations-old recipes. Temple festivals here follow a distinct calendar tied to agricultural cycles that reflect the area's farming heritage.
Coastal towns sit separate from mountain villages connected by winding roads that can become difficult after heavy rain. Some highland settlements lie far from regular bus routes and require private transport to reach.
The science park drew thousands of engineers starting in the 1980s and turned rural townships into crowded suburbs within a single generation. Some old farmhouses still stand beside modern research buildings creating an unusual contrast between past and present.
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