View source for Hsinchu

{{Short description|City in Northern Taiwan}}
{{About|Hsinchu City|the neighboring county with the same name|Hsinchu County}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Expand Chinese|date=September 2020|topic=geo}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Hsinchu
| settlement_type    = [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|City]]
| native_name        = {{lang|zh-Hant-TW|新竹}}{{efn native lang|tw|name=word1
  |t=新竹市
  |p=Xīnzhú Shì
  |m=Sin-tik Tshī
  |s=Xín-zùg Sii
  |h=Sìn-zhug Shi<sup>+</sup>}}
| official_name      = Hsinchu City
| other_name         = Shinchiku (Japanese reading)
| nickname           = ''Windy City'' ({{lang|zh-Hant-TW|風城}}) or ''Chu City'' ({{lang|zh|竹市}})
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 280
| image_style = 
| perrow = 1/2/2/2
| image1 = 新竹火車站(巴洛克風格).jpg
| image2 = 新竹市役所..DSC 7588+.jpg
| image3 = ROC flags at Hsinchu Municipal Government Hall 20181008.jpg
| image4 = Former wall moat of Tik-tshàm City Walls (cropped).jpg
| image5 = 陳才寶-竹塹城迎曦門.jpg
| image6 = Hsinchu Zoo aerial photograph.jpg
| image7 = 新竹 城隍廟 - panoramio (1).jpg
}}
| image_caption      = Clockwise from top: [[Hsinchu Railway Station]], [[Hsinchu City Government]] Building, Hsinchu City East Gate, [[Hsinchu Chenghuang Temple]], [[Hsinchu Zoo]], Hsinchu City Moat Park, Hsinchu City Art Gallery and Reclamation Hall
| image_flag         = Flag of Hsinchu City.svg
| image_seal         = Emblem of Hsinchu City.svg
| seal_type          = Logo
| coordinates        = {{coord|24|49|N|120|59|E|region:TW|display=it}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{ROC-TW}}
| subdivision_type1  = Province
| subdivision_name1  = [[Taiwan Province]] ''(government suspended)''
| subdivision_type2  = Region
| subdivision_name2  = [[Northern Taiwan]]
| seat               = [[North District, Hsinchu|North District]]
| parts_type         = [[District (Taiwan)|Districts]]
| parts              = 3 districts
| p1                 = [[East District, Hsinchu|East]]
| p2                 = [[North District, Hsinchu|North]]
| p3                 = [[Xiangshan District, Hsinchu|Xiangshan]]
| established_title  = First mentioned as Tek-kham
| established_date   = 1626
| established_title1 = City established
| established_date1  = 1711
| established_title2 = Renamed to Hsinchu
| established_date2  = 1878
| established_title3 = Part of [[Shinchiku Prefecture]]
| established_date3  = 17 April 1895
| established_title4 = Reconstituted as a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]]
| established_date4  = 9 November 1945
| established_title5 = Demoted to [[county-administered city]] within [[Hsinchu County]]
| established_date5  = 1 December 1951
| established_title6 = Provincial city status restored
| established_date6  = 1 July 1982
| governing_body     = {{unbulleted list
  |[[Hsinchu City Government]]
  |[[Hsinchu City Council]]}}
| leader_party       = [[Taiwan People's Party|TPP]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Hsinchu|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Andy Chiu]]
| total_type         = 
| iso_code           = TW-HSZ
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:《中華民國統計資訊網》縣市重要統計指標查詢系統網|url=http://statdb.dgbas.gov.tw/pxweb/Dialog/statfile9.asp|access-date=9 July 2016|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612002357/http://statdb.dgbas.gov.tw/pxweb/Dialog/statfile9.asp|archive-date=12 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 104.15
| area_rank          = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|20 out of 22]]
| population_as_of   = March 2023
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:新竹市統計月報|url=http://dep-auditing.hccg.gov.tw/web/SG?command=display&pageID=23220&page=view&PX=|publisher=Hsinchu City Government |access-date=9 July 2016|language=zh-tw}}{{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| population_total   = 453536
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank    = [[List of administrative divisions of Taiwan|15 of 22]]
| timezone           = [[National Standard Time]]
| utc_offset         = +8
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 300
| area_code          = (0)3
| blank_name         = Bird
| blank_info         = [[Eurasian magpie]] (''Pica pica'')
| blank1_name        = Flower
| blank1_info        = [[Azalea]]
| website            = {{official URL}}
| pushpin_map        = Taiwan
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Taiwan
| image_map          = Taiwan ROC political division map Hsinchu City.svg
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| c = {{linktext|新竹}}
| p = Xīnzhú
| tp = Sinjhú
| w = {{tone superscript|Hsin1-chu2}} <!--|l=New [[Bamboo]]-->
| gr = Shinjwu
| mps = Shīnjú
| myr = Syīnjú
| bpmf = ㄒㄧㄣ ㄓㄨˊ
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|x|in|1|.|zh|u|2|}}
| poj = Sin-tek
| tl = Sin-tik
| phfs = Sîn-chuk
| kanji = {{linktext|新竹}}
| hiragana = しんちく
| katakana = シンチク
| revhep = Shinchiku
| kunrei = Sintiku
| l = New Bamboo
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Former names
| altname = Zhuqian
| t2 = {{linktext|竹塹}}
| p2 = Zhúqiàn
| w2 = {{tone superscript|Chu2-ch‘ien4}}
| l2 = [[Bamboo]] [[natural barrier]]
| poj2 = Tek-khàm
| tp2 = Jhúciàn
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|zh|u|2|.|q|ian|4}}
| bpmf2 = ㄓㄨˊ ㄑㄧㄢˋ
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Nicknames
| altname = Windy City
| t2 = {{linktext|風城}}
| p2 = Fēngchéng
| w2 = {{tone superscript|Feng1-chʻeng2}}
| tp2 = Fongchéng
| myr2 = Fēngchéng
| gr2 = Fengcherng
| mps2 = Fēngchéng
| bpmf2 = ㄈㄥ ㄔㄥˊ
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|f|eng|1|.|ch|eng|2}}
}}

'''Hsinchu''' ({{efn native lang|tw|name=word1}} {{zh|t=新竹|p=Xīnzhú}}<!--Chinese in infobox-->) is a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|city]] located in northwestern [[Taiwan]]. It is the most populous city in Taiwan that is not a [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]], with estimated 450,655 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ris.gov.tw/app/portal/346|title=中華民國 內政部戶政司 全球資訊網|last=中華民國內政部戶政司|date=1 May 2018|website=中華民國內政部戶政司|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> Hsinchu is a coastal city bordering the [[Taiwan Strait]] to the west, [[Hsinchu County]] to the north and east, and [[Miaoli County]] to the south. Hsinchu is nicknamed the ''Windy City'' for its strong northeastern [[monsoon]] during the autumn and winter seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hccg.gov.tw/en/home.jsp?id=24&parentpath=0|title=Natural climate|date=22 January 2016 |agency=[[Hsinchu City Government]]|access-date=4 November 2022 }}</ref>

The area was originally settled by the [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian]] [[Taiwanese indigenous peoples]], with the settlement being named "Tek-kham" by the [[Hoklo]] immigrants. The city was founded by [[Han Chinese]] settlers in 1711, and renamed "Hsinchu" in 1878. During [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]], the city was named "Shinchiku" and was the seat of [[Shinchiku Prefecture]]. The prefecture encompassed present-day Hsinchu City and County, as well as entire [[Taoyuan, Taiwan|Taoyuan]] and Miaoli. After the ROC rule in 1945, the urban area of Hsinchu was organized as a [[provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]].

In 1980, the Taiwanese government established the [[Hsinchu Science Park]], an industrial centre for [[Semiconductor device fabrication|semiconductor manufacturing]]. The headquarters of [[TSMC]], a semiconductor foundry, [[MediaTek]] and [[United Microelectronics Corporation]], are all located in the park.<ref>{{cite news |title=TSMC tops list of corporate taxpayers with NT$55bn |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2022/07/15/2003781769 |access-date=1 July 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=July 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Lisa |title=MediaTek profit up on higher demand |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2024/02/01/2003812902 |access-date=1 July 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=February 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Lisa |title=UMC net profit falls 30.8% on slow demand |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2024/02/01/2003812904 |access-date=1 July 2024 |work=Taipei Times |date=February 1, 2024}}</ref>

Besides its industry, Hsinchu is a cultural center of Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?post=157728&unit=20,35&unitname=Taiwan-Review&postname=Culturally-Connected|title=Taiwan Review-Culturally Connected|author= Kelly Her|website=[[Taiwan Today]]|date= 1 July 2019|access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref> The [[Chenghuang Temple of Hsinchu]], built in 1747, is a common prayer destination. The research institutions of [[National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University]] and [[National Tsing Hua University]] are both located near the science park.

{{anchor|Etymology|Toponymy|Name}}

==Etymology==
''Hsin-chu'' is the [[Wade-Giles]] [[romanization of Chinese|romanization]] of the [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] pronunciation of the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name {{nowrap|{{lang|zh|{{linktext|新竹}}}}}}. The same name is rendered ''Xīnzhú'' in [[Hanyu Pinyin]] and ''Sinjhú'' in [[Tongyong Pinyin]].

This name refers to the settlement's original Hokkien name ''Tek-chhàm'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|{{linktext|竹塹}}}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=竹塹 Tik-tshàm |url=https://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/result_detail.jsp?n_no=40084&curpage=1&sample=%E7%AB%B9%E5%A1%B9&radiobutton=1&querytarget=1&limit=20&pagenum=1&rowcount=1 |website=臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 |publisher=Ministry of Education, R.O.C. |access-date=13 November 2020 |language=zh |date=2011}}</ref> meaning "bamboo barrier".<ref name=ewang/> The name may transcribe an aboriginal{{which|date=March 2019}} name meaning "Seashore".{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} The same name is variously recorded as Teukcham,<ref name=eb9>{{Cite EB9 |wstitle= Formosa |volume= IX |pages=415-417 |short= 1}}</ref> Teuxham,<ref name=eb9/> Tekcham,<ref>Page 7, ''Report for the Year 1898 on the Trade of North Formosa'' (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Her Britannic Majesty’s Government, 1899)</ref> and Teckcham;<ref>Page 180, ''The Island of Formosa: Past and Present'' (Macmillan & Co., 1903)</ref> its Mandarin pronunciation appears as Chuchien.<ref name=ewang/>

Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2018 |title=Hsinchu Taiwan – The Windy City of Food and Fun |url=https://asianwanderlust.com/en/hsinchu-taiwan/|access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=Asian Wanderlust}}</ref> and "The Garden City of Culture and Technology" by its tourism department.<ref name=ewang/>

==History==
{{main|History of Hsinchu}}

===Early settlement===
The area around Hsinchu City was inhabited by the [[Taokas people|Taokas]] aborigines{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Hsinchu |url=https://www.traveltill.com/destination/Taiwan/Hsinchu/history.php?page=1 |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=TravelTill}}</ref> when the [[Spanish Formosa|Spanish occupied northern Taiwan]] in the 17th century. [[Roman Catholicism on Taiwan|Catholic missionaries]] reached the settlement of Tek-kham in 1626. The Spanish were expelled by [[Dutch Formosa|the Dutch]] a few decades later.

===Qing Dynasty===
[[Taiwan under Qing rule|Under the Qing]], a Chinese town was established at Tek-kham by {{ill|Wang Shih-chieh (settler)|lt=Wang Shih-chieh|zh|王世傑 (金門)}} and other [[Han Chinese|Han]] settlers in 1711.<ref name=ewang>{{citation |last=Wang |first=Erika |date=25 October 2007 |contribution=Hsinchu Owns Rich History, Culture, and Natural Resources |contribution-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028050546/https://www.chinapost.com.tw/supplement/2007/10/25/128155/Hsinchu-owns.htm |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw |title=China Post |publisher=China Post |location=Taipei |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030231521/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/ |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=live }}.</ref> Wang and his party of over 180 people were natives of [[Kinmen]] who first camped alongside what is now Dongqian Street in [[East District, Hsinchu]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |title=Taiwan in Times: Hsinchu's first Han settler |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2022/10/02/2003786271 |access-date=2 October 2022 |work=Taipei Times |date=2 October 2022}}</ref>

As part of the reorganization of Taiwan by [[Shen Baozhen]], the [[viceroy of Liangjiang]], Zhuqian [[Subprefecture (China)|Subprefecture]] (i.e., Tek-kham) was raised to the level of a [[county (China)|county]] and renamed Xinzhu (i.e., Sin-tek or Hsinchu) in 1878.<ref>{{citation |last1=Davidson |first1=James W. |author-link=James W. Davidson |title=The Island of Formosa, Past and Present: History, People, Resources, and Commercial Prospects: Tea, Camphor, Sugar, Gold, Coal, Sulphur, Economical Plants, and Other Productions |year=1903 |publisher=Macmillan |url=https://archive.org/details/islandofformosap00davi |location=London |ol=6931635M |oclc=1887893 |page=211 |access-date=12 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108025015/https://archive.org/details/islandofformosap00davi |archive-date=8 January 2015 |url-status=live }}.</ref> When Taiwan [[Taiwan Province#Qing Dynasty|was made a province]] in 1887, Hsinchu was made a part of [[Taipeh Prefecture]].

===Japanese rule===
[[File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-6550512-shinchiku-2221-ii.jpg|left|thumb|Map of Hsinchu (labeled as SHINCHIKU) and surrounding area (1944)]]
During the [[Japanese Taiwan|Japanese occupation]] following the [[First Sino-Japanese War]], the city{{mdash}}known at the time as Shinchiku{{mdash}}was among the province's most populous. In 1904, its 16,371 residents ranked it in [[List of cities in Taiwan|7th place]], behind [[Keelung]] and ahead of [[Changhua City|Changhua]] ("Shoka"). Shinchiku was raised to town status in 1920 and city status in 1930. At the same time, it became the seat of [[Shinchiku Prefecture]]. In 1941, its prefecture was expanded, annexing [[Xiangshan District, Hsinchu City|Xiangshan]] ("Kōzan"). Jiugang ("Kyūminato") and Liujia ("Rokka") merged to become [[Zhubei]] ("Chikuhoku").

===Republic of China===
The [[Kuomintang|Nationalist]] government of the [[Republic of China]] established the [[Hsinchu City Government]] in 1945 to oversee all of what had been Shinchiku Prefecture under the Japanese.

In 1946, the Take-Over Committee dissolved and replaced by the [[Hsinchu County Government]], located in [[Taoyuan District|Taoyuan]]. As the administrative districts were readjusted, Hsinchu was granted [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city status]]. It used the old prefecture office as its city hall at 120 {{nowrap|Chung Cheng}} Road. In February 1946, representative congresses were formed for seven [[district (Taiwan)|district]] offices. On 15 April, the city congress was formed. Provincial representatives were elected from among the city legislators.

On 16 August 1950, the [[administrative divisions of Taiwan|administrative districts on Taiwan]] were re-adjusted once more, demarcating 16 [[county (Taiwan)|counties]] and 5 [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial cities]].

In June 1982, under presidential order, the [[Xiangshan District, Hsinchu|Xiangshan Township]] of [[Hsinchu County]] merged into Hsinchu City. A new municipal government was formally established on 1 July 1982, comprising 103 [[village (Taiwan)|villages]] and 1,635 neighborhoods. These were organized into the East, North, and Xiangshan [[district (Taiwan)|districts]] by 1{{nbsp}}November.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 February 2011|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4,29,31,45&post=6187|title=Rezoning Taiwan|publisher=Taiwan Today|access-date=9 December 2020}}</ref> By June 1983, the new government consisted of 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 various sections. The Police Department, Tax Department, and Medicine and Hygiene Department were considered affiliate institutions.

From 1994 to 1999, as Taiwan made its transition from authoritarian rule to a [[representative democracy]] and the mostly ''pro forma'' [[Taiwan province|provincial level of government]] began to be dissolved, regulations were established for the self-government of Hsinchu. 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 Compulsory Military Service to the Department of Civil Service.

A movement is underway from 2021 to have Hsinchu City and [[Hsinchu County]] to be upgraded to the nation's seventh [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202112240025 | title=Amendment paving way for Hsinchu city-county merger clears first hurdle - Focus Taiwan | date=24 December 2021 }}</ref>

==Geography==
The city is bordered by [[Hsinchu County]] to the north and east, [[Miaoli County]] to the south, and the [[Taiwan Strait]] to the west.

===Climate===
Hsinchu's [[climate]] is [[humid subtropical]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Koppen]]: Cfa). 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 [[East Asian rainy season|heavy "plum rains"]] in May and early June.<ref>{{cite web |title= Monthly Mean Days of Precipitation |work=Climate Data |publisher=ROC Central Weather Bureau |url=http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V4e/climate/Data/table2_e.html |access-date=8 March 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051203145112/http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V4e/climate/Data/table2_e.html |archive-date = 3 December 2005}}</ref> 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 [[East China Sea]]. Natural hazards such as [[typhoon]]s and [[earthquake]]s are common in the region.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rescuers hunt quake survivors |date=21 September 1999 |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/453087.stm |access-date=31 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402132228/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/453087.stm |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Recent Earthquakes Near Hsinchu, Taiwan, Taiwan |url=http://earthquaketrack.com/tw-04-hsinchu/recent |access-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720102309/http://earthquaketrack.com/tw-04-hsinchu/recent |archive-date=20 July 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Earthquakes Today |url=http://www.earthquakenewstoday.com/in/hsinchu/ |access-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502172825/http://www.earthquakenewstoday.com/in/hsinchu/ |archive-date=2 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Hsinchu City (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1938–present）
|Jan record high C = 30.3
|Feb record high C = 30.6
|Mar record high C = 33.8
|Apr record high C = 34.1
|May record high C = 35.5
|Jun record high C = 37.4
|Jul record high C = 38.0
|Aug record high C = 39.4
|Sep record high C = 38.8
|Oct record high C = 37.9
|Nov record high C = 34.4
|Dec record high C = 31.1
|year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 19.1
| Feb high C = 19.4
| Mar high C = 21.6
| Apr high C = 25.6
| May high C = 28.9
| Jun high C = 31.5
| Jul high C = 33.2
| Aug high C = 32.8
| Sep high C = 31.2
| Oct high C = 28.0
| Nov high C = 25.1
| Dec high C = 21.1
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 15.7
| Feb mean C = 16.0
| Mar mean C = 18.0
| Apr mean C = 21.9
| May mean C = 25.2
| Jun mean C = 27.9
| Jul mean C = 29.3
| Aug mean C = 28.9
| Sep mean C = 27.3
| Oct mean C = 24.4
| Nov mean C = 21.5
| Dec mean C = 17.7
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 13.1
| Feb low C = 13.4
| Mar low C = 15.2
| Apr low C = 18.9
| May low C = 22.2
| Jun low C = 24.9
| Jul low C = 26.0
| Aug low C = 25.8
| Sep low C = 24.4
| Oct low C = 21.8
| Nov low C = 18.8
| Dec low C = 15.1
| year low C = 20
|Jan record low C = -0.1
|Feb record low C = 3.5
|Mar record low C = 3.4
|Apr record low C = 4.9
|May record low C = 11.7
|Jun record low C = 14.7
|Jul record low C = 20.2
|Aug record low C = 18.9
|Sep record low C = 14.7
|Oct record low C = 9.5
|Nov record low C = 6.6
|Dec record low C = 4.0
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm =75.7
| Feb precipitation mm =123.0
| Mar precipitation mm =159.8
| Apr precipitation mm =161.9
| May precipitation mm =249.0
| Jun precipitation mm =252.0
| Jul precipitation mm =120.2
| Aug precipitation mm =197.1
| Sep precipitation mm =174.5
| Oct precipitation mm =53.6
| Nov precipitation mm =51.1
| Dec precipitation mm =57.7
|year precipitation mm= 
| Jan humidity = 78.3
| Feb humidity = 80.4
| Mar humidity = 79.6
| Apr humidity = 78.4
| May humidity = 78.1
| Jun humidity = 77.0
| Jul humidity = 74.3
| Aug humidity = 75.9
| Sep humidity = 74.5
| Oct humidity = 73.8
| Nov humidity = 75.5
| Dec humidity = 76.3
|year humidity = 76.8
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 9.8
| Feb precipitation days = 11.3
| Mar precipitation days = 13.5
| Apr precipitation days = 12.7
| May precipitation days = 12.0
| Jun precipitation days = 10.6
| Jul precipitation days = 7.9
| Aug precipitation days = 10.7
| Sep precipitation days = 8.9
| Oct precipitation days = 5.5
| Nov precipitation days = 6.8
| Dec precipitation days = 8.0
|year precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 106.7
| Feb sun = 91.0
| Mar sun = 101.0
| Apr sun = 111.6
| May sun = 145.4
| Jun sun = 185.0
| Jul sun = 240.6
| Aug sun = 209.7
| Sep sun = 193.5
| Oct sun = 190.0
| Nov sun = 144.8
| Dec sun = 126.1
|year sun =
|source 1 = Central Weather Bureau<ref name= CWB>{{cite web |url = https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/C/C/Statistics/monthlymean.html |title = Monthly Mean |publisher = [[Central Weather Bureau]] |access-date = 29 November 2022 |archive-date = 9 December 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221209115926/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V8/C/C/Statistics/monthlymean.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs1>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_18.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordhighs2>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最高氣溫統計(續) |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017235603/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_19.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlows1>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_20.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計 |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=CWBrecordlow2>{{cite web |url=https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf |title=氣象站各月份最低氣溫統計(續) |publisher=Central Weather Bureau |language=zh |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=19 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219055306/https://www.cwb.gov.tw/Data/climate/Statistics/pdf/sort_21.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

==Government==
[[File:邱臣遠副市長 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Andy Chiu]], the incumbent [[Mayor of Hsinchu]]]]
[[File:新竹市政府.JPG|thumb|[[Hsinchu City Government]]]]
[[File:新竹市議會.JPG|thumb|[[Hsinchu City Council]]]]

{{Historical populations
|type = Taiwan
|footnote = Source: {{cite web|url=https://www.ris.gov.tw/app/portal/346|publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan)|Ministry of the Interior]]|title=Populations by city and country in Taiwan|date=May 2018}}
|1985 	|304010 
|1990 	|324426 
|1995 	|340255 
|2000 	|368439 
|2005 	|394757 
|2010 	|415344 
|2015 	|434060 
|2020   |451412
|title=Populations by city and country in Taiwan}}

Hsinchu City is administered as a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|city]]. [[North District, Hsinchu City|North District]] is the seat of Hsinchu City which houses the [[Hsinchu City Government]] and [[Hsinchu City Council]]. The incumbent acting [[Mayor of Hsinchu|Mayor]] is [[Andy Chiu]] of the [[Taiwan People's Party]].

===Administrative divisions===
Hsinchu has 3 [[District (Taiwan)|districts]] ({{lang|zh-hant|區}}):<ref>{{cite web|date=16 June 2011 |script-title=zh:臺灣地區鄉鎮市區級以上行政區域名稱中英對照表 |url=http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |page=13|publisher=Online Translation System of Geographic Name, [[Ministry of Interior of the Republic of China|Ministry of Interior]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325205328/http://placesearch.moi.gov.tw/translate/Admin1000616.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hccg.gov.tw/en/home.jsp?id=23&parentpath=0,10|title=Geographic location|date=22 January 2016 |publisher=Hsinchu City Government|access-date=7 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021161947/http://www.hccg.gov.tw/en/home.jsp?id=23&parentpath=0,10|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
!Map!!colspan=2|Name!!Chinese!![[Taiwanese Hokkien|Hokkien]]!![[Taiwanese Hakka|Hakka]]!!Population (March 2023)!!Area (km²)
|-
| rowspan=7 | [[File:Districts of Hsinchu-Taiwan.png|120px]]
| bgcolor=004A80| ||[[East District, Hsinchu|East]]||{{large|{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|東|區}}}}||{{linktext|Tang}}||bgcolor=pink|Tûng
| align=right|222,223|| align=right|33.5768
|-
| bgcolor=F7CC1D| ||[[North District, Hsinchu|North]]||{{large|{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|北|區}}}}||{{linktext|Pak}}||Pet
| align=right|152,504|| align=right|15.7267
|-
| bgcolor=C5FF49| ||[[Xiangshan District, Hsinchu|Xiangshan]]||{{large|{{linktext|lang=zh-tw|香山|區}}}}||{{linktext|Hiong-san}}||bgcolor=pink|Hiông-sân
| align=right|78,809|| align=right|54.8491
|}
Colors indicate the common language status of [[Taiwanese Hakka|Hakka]] within each division.

===Politics===
The city was historically [[Pan-Blue Coalition|pan-Blue]]{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} but in recent years,{{When|date=October 2024}} the [[Pan-Green Coalition|pan-Green]] coalition has started to rise in popularity. As a result, local factions have decreased in power, and political parties have greater importance in local elections.<ref>{{Cite book |last=林 |first=清察 |url=https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010332133 |title=台灣與大陸政治評論集 |date=2006-05-15 |publisher=秀威資訊 |language=zh-tw}}</ref>{{Nonspecific|date=October 2024}}

Hsinchu City elected a [[Kuomintang]] legislator, [[Cheng Cheng-chien]], as its representative in the [[Legislative Yuan]] during the [[2020 Taiwan general election]], flipping the seat from the [[Democratic Progressive Party]]. Cheng won reelection in the [[2024 Taiwanese legislative election|2024 election]].

In July 2024, then-Mayor [[Ann Kao]] was suspended from her duties and sentenced to prison for violating the Anti-Corruption Act and the Criminal Code.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Jono |date=2024-07-26 |title=Kao Hung-an exits TPP and stripped of mayoralty |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5908569 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Taiwan News |language=en}}</ref> Deputy Mayor Andy Chiu subsequently assumed the duties of Mayor.

==Economy==
The [[Hsinchu Science Park]] has around 360 companies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3159648|title=Hsinchu highest salary in Taiwan, Taichung lo...|website=Taiwan News|date=10 May 2017 |access-date=2 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043956/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3159648|archive-date=6 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The purpose of the park is to attract high-tech investment to Taiwan. Since its establishment in 1978, the government has invested over {{Currency|30 billion|TWD|passthrough=yes}} in software and hardware ventures. In 2001, it developed {{convert|2.5|km2|abbr=on}} of land in the park and {{convert|0.5|km2|abbr=on}} in southern Hsinchu.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

The semiconductor and related electronic businesses have faced competition from South Korea and the United States. This has resulted in lower profits and an oversupply of some electronic products, such as memory and semiconductors.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2020, Hsinchu was classified as a "Sufficiency" level [[global city]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |website=GaWC - Research Network |publisher=Globalization and World Cities |access-date=31 August 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Image:NTHU entrance.JPG|thumb|National Tsing Hua University]]
[[Image:North Gate, NCTU Kuang-Fu Campus 20060121.jpg|thumb|National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University]]

Hsinchu City is one of the most focused educational centers in northern Taiwan. It has six universities in this concentrated area, and among these universities, [[National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University]] and [[National Tsing Hua University]] are focused on by the government of Taiwan. Other public and private educational institutions in the city included 33 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 12 high schools and a complete secondary school.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

'''International schools''' (grade school and secondary school)
* Pacific American School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificamerican.org|title=Pacific American School|website=www.pacificamerican.org|access-date=7 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630072832/https://pacificamerican.org/|archive-date=30 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Hsinchu International School]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hdis.hc.edu.tw|title=Hsinchu International School|work=hc.edu.tw|access-date=7 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509204715/http://www.hdis.hc.edu.tw/|archive-date=9 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Hsinchu American School]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://has.hc.edu.tw/|title=Hsinchu American School|work=hc.edu.tw|access-date=9 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221073542/http://www.has.hc.edu.tw/|archive-date=21 December 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''High Schools'''
* [[National Experimental High School]]
* [[National Hsinchu Senior High School]]
* [[National Hsinchu Girls' Senior High School]]
* [[Hsinchu Kuang-Fu Senior High School]]

'''Universities'''
* [[National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University]]
* [[National Tsing Hua University]]
* [[Chung Hua University]]
* [[Hsuan Chuang University]]
* [[Yuanpei University of Medical Technology]]
* [[National Hsinchu University of Education]]

==Tourist attractions==
[[File:新竹漁港碼頭區.jpg|thumb|[[Hsinchu Fish Harbor]]]]
[[File:Hsinchu Baseball Stadium front.jpg|thumb|[[Hsinchu Baseball Stadium]]]]Some tourist attractions in Hsinchu include:
* [[Aqueduct Museum of Hsinchu City]]
* [[Black Bat Squadron Memorial Hall]]
* [[Chenghuang Temple of Hsinchu]]
* [[Glass Museum of Hsinchu City]]
* [[Hsinchu City Art Site of Railway Warehouse]]
* [[Hsinchu CKS Baseball Stadium]]
* [[Hsinchu Museum of Military Dependents Village]]
* [[Hsinchu Fish Harbor]]
* [[Hsinchu Zoo]]
* [[National Hsinchu Living Arts Center]]
* [[17 Kilometer Coastal Scenic Area]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dep-tourism-en.hccg.gov.tw/web/SG?pageID=24245|title=Theme Tours - Department of Tourism Hsinchu City Government|work=hccg.gov.tw|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004044103/http://dep-tourism-en.hccg.gov.tw/web/SG?pageID=24245|archive-date=4 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[:zh:青草湖 (台灣湖泊)|Green Grass Lake]]
* Chenghuang Temple Night Market – Most of the old stands in [[Chenghuang Temple of Hsinchu|Cheng-huang Temple]] are of 50-year-old history, known snacks here include Hsin-chu meatballs, pork balls, spring rolls, braised pork rice, cuttlefish thick soup, rice noodles, and cow tongue-shaped cakes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Experience the True Heart of Taiwan |url=http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/lan/Cht/ManagerWord/index_new.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616023934/http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/lan/cht/managerword/index_new.asp |archive-date=16 June 2008 |access-date=21 May 2008 |website=taiwan.net.tw}}</ref>
* Neiwan Old Street – Traditional [[Hakka]] restaurants that serve ginger-lily-flavored glutinous rice dumplings, Hakka tea, and Hakka rice cakes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neiwan Old Street travel guide of hot destinations (Sinotour)–Taiwan travel hotels, Hsinchu County tourism, Neiwan Old Street |url=http://sinotour.com/tourguide/hsinchu/neiwan-old-street.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105065305/http://sinotour.com/tourguide/hsinchu/neiwan-old-street.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |access-date=5 November 2013}}</ref>

==Sports==
Taiwan's [[Chinese Professional Baseball League]] has a professional baseball team, [[Wei Chuan Dragons]], based in Hsinchu.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dragons |url=https://en.cpbl.com.tw/team?ClubNo=AAA |website=CPBL |publisher=Chinese Professional Baseball League |access-date=1 January 2023}}</ref>

Major sporting events held by Hsinchu include:
* [[1997 World Youth Baseball Championship]]
* [[2005 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships]]

==Transportation==
[[File:Hsinchu Station 20210204.jpg|thumb|[[Hsinchu railway station]]]]
[[File:Hsinchu Bus Station 20161210 02.jpg|thumb|Hsinchu Bus Station]]

===Rail===
Hsinchu City is mainly served by [[Hsinchu railway station]], along with five other minor TRA stations on both the [[Western Trunk line]] and the [[Neiwan line]]. There is also an [[Hsinchu HSR station|HSR station]] in nearby [[Zhubei]], [[Hsinchu County]] on [[Taiwan High Speed Rail]].

=== Cycling ===
Hsinchu City has recently created a series of cycling routes. Hsinchu is home to many cycling clubs.

=== Sea ports ===
Fishing ports are located at [[Nanliao Harbor|Nanliao]] Street, North District, and [[Haishan Fishing Port|Haishan]], Xiangshan.

=== Airport ===
[[Hsinchu Airport]] is located in the North District and is mainly used as a military airbase. The nearest [[international airport]] is [[Taoyuan International Airport]], which is located 58&nbsp;km away from the city.

== Notable natives ==
* [[Chi Cheng (athlete)|Chi Cheng]], the 1968 Olympic bronze medalist in track and field
* [[Yuan T. Lee]], 1986 [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Nobel Laureate in Chemistry]]
* [[Chiang Hsiao-yen]], Vice Premier (1997)
* [[Lin Cho-liang]], Taiwanese American violinist
* [[Hsieh Su-Wei]], Taiwanese tennis player and former World No. 1 in doubles
* [[Hebe Tien]], solo artist and member of the [[S.H.E]]
* [[David Wu]], member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] for the state of [[Oregon]] from 1999 until 2011.
* [[Cyndi Wang]], singer
* [[Joe Chen|Chen Qiaoen]], singer, actress, 7F Member
* [[Lü Shao-chia]], Taiwanese conductor
* [[Monster (musician)|Wen Shang-Yi]], guitarist and leader of the band [[Mayday (Taiwanese band)|Mayday]]

== International relations ==
{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Taiwan (Republic of China)}}

=== Twin towns – sister cities ===
Hsinchu is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.hccg.gov.tw/web/SG?pageID=25441 |title=Sister Cities |website=Hsinchu City Government |access-date=15 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215124419/http://en.hccg.gov.tw/web/SG?pageID=25441 |archive-date=15 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; background:#FFFFEF; float:left;"
|-
! City
! Region
! Country
! Since
|-
| [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]]
| [[Oregon]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| 1988
|-
| [[Cary, North Carolina|Cary]]
| [[North Carolina]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| 1993
|-
| [[Cupertino, California|Cupertino]]
| [[California]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| 1998
|-
| [[Richland, Washington|Richland]]
| [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| 1988
|-
| [[Plano, Texas|Plano]]
| [[Texas]]
| {{flagu|United States}}
| 2003
|-
| [[Okayama]]
| [[Okayama Prefecture]]
| {{flagu|Japan}}
| 2003
|-
| [[Puerto Princesa]]
| [[Palawan]]
| {{flagu|Philippines}}
| 2006
|-
| [[Fairfield, New South Wales|Fairfield]]
| [[New South Wales]]
| {{flagu|Australia}}
| 1994
|-
| [[Chiayi City]]
| [[Taiwan]]
| {{flagu|Taiwan|name=Taiwan}}
| 2002
|-
| [[Airai]]
| [[Airai]]
| {{flag|Palau}}
| 2011
|}

{{clear}}

== See also ==
* [[Administrative divisions of the Republic of China]]
* [[List of cities in Taiwan]]

== Notes ==
=== Words in native languages ===
{{notelist-ur}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Hsinchu|voy=Hsinchu|collapsible=collapsed}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|en}}
* {{Osmrelation|2849488}}

{{Cities in Taiwan}}
{{HsinchuDistricts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hsinchu| ]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in China]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in Taiwan]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Provincial cities of Taiwan]]