Inside HsinchuLiving in Hsinchu & Zhubei

Neighborhoods

Hsinchu's neighborhoods

One urban area, two local governments: Hsinchu City south of the Touqian River, Zhubei to the north, and the county towns around them. Most people who move here for work end up choosing between Zhubei and East District.

If you're new, start with one fact: "Hsinchu" is two places. Hsinchu City (新竹市) is a city with three districts. Hsinchu County (新竹縣) is a separate county that wraps around it, and its seat, Zhubei City (竹北市), sits just across the Touqian River (頭前溪) from the city. On the ground the two run together, but they have different governments, different schools offices, different bus systems and, on typhoon days, separate decisions about closing work and school.

Jason lived in Zhubei for several years, so that's the side we know best and write about in most detail. The short version of what we'd tell a friend: if your job is in the Science Park and you have kids, look at Zhubei and East District first. If you want an older, denser town where you can walk to dinner, look at the old city centre. If you need space or a cheaper rent and don't mind a longer drive, look further out.

Where things are

Picture the urban area from the coast inland:

  • The coast. Hsinchu City's shoreline runs south from the fishing port at Nanliao (南寮) to the Xiangshan (香山) wetlands. Zhubei has its own beach to the north of the river mouth.
  • The old city. Inland from the port is the old walled town, with the City God Temple, the East Gate and the moat, and TRA Hsinchu Station on its southern edge. It sits across North District (北區) and the western edge of East District (東區).
  • The universities and the Science Park. East District runs south-east from the old city past the two big universities on Guangfu Road (光復路) to the main Hsinchu Science Park, which carries on over the county line into Baoshan (寶山).
  • Zhubei. North of the river, Zhubei stretches from its old town and TRA station near the coast, through the county-government district, east to the newer towers around HSR Hsinchu Station at Liujia (六家).
  • The ring of towns. Zhudong (竹東) lies up the Touqian River to the east, Hukou (湖口) and Xinfeng (新豐) to the north along the railway and freeway, and Xiangshan to the south-west inside the city.

Good to know: the HSR station and the city's main railway station are about 10 km apart. HSR Hsinchu Station is in Zhubei; TRA Hsinchu Station is in the old city. The TRA Liujia Line links them. → The HSR station and how to get from it

The areas, one by one

How to choose

Choose by where you'll spend your weekday mornings, then by school, then by everything else. The urban area is small on a map, but the river crossings, Guangfu Road and the roads into the Science Park fill up at rush hour, so a home 6 km away on the wrong side of a bridge can feel further than one 10 km away on the right side. Before you sign anything, do the trip at the hour you'll actually make it.

  • Where is the job, exactly? Name the site: the main Science Park, the Biomedical park by the HSR station, an industrial park, a university, a hospital.
  • Will you drive, ride a scooter, or need a bus or train? Hsinchu has no metro, and outside the centres a car or scooter does most of the work.
  • Do you need a particular school? A nearby school doesn't mean a seat, and city and county schools are run separately.
  • Do you want to walk to things? The old city is the most walkable; the newer districts are built around wide roads and parking.
  • How often will you go to Taipei? Then the HSR station matters, and so does where you'd park or how you'd get to it.

→ Where to live, by commute and family · Commuting to the Science Park · Renting in Hsinchu

Sources: Hsinchu County Government; Hsinchu City Government tourism site (district addresses of the old-city landmarks); Taiwan High Speed Rail, Hsinchu Station; Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, work and school closures by city and county. Checked November 2026.

Questions

Is Zhubei part of Hsinchu City?

No. Zhubei City is the seat of Hsinchu County, a separate local government. It sits directly across the Touqian River from Hsinchu City and the two work as one urban area, but schools, buses, permits and typhoon closures are handled separately.

Which area is closest to the Science Park?

East District in Hsinchu City, especially Guanpu, Jinshan and the streets off Guangfu Road. Part of the main park is in Baoshan, Hsinchu County. Zhubei is across the river, and the drive in depends on your bridge and the time of day. → East District

Where is the HSR station?

In Zhubei, Hsinchu County, at Liujia. It is not in Hsinchu City and not at the TRA station in the old city; the two stations are about 10 km apart.