Most people moving to Hsinchu for work choose between Zhubei and Hsinchu City's East District or old city. But the ring of towns around them is where plenty of people live, and for some it's the better choice: if you work at the Hsinchu Industrial Park in Hukou, a home in Hukou beats a daily drive from the city. If you want a townhouse, more room, or a Hakka market town on your doorstep, look at Zhudong. And if you work on the south side of the city, Xiangshan can make sense.
The common tradeoff is time. Out here you'll depend more on a car or scooter, on one railway line, and on a few main roads that everyone else uses too. Do the commute at your real hour before you commit.
| Town | Where | Rail | Consider it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhudong (竹東) | Hsinchu County, up the Touqian River east of the Science Park | TRA Neiwan Line | You want a real town with a big market, closer to the hills, and work on the park's eastern side |
| Baoshan (寶山) | Hsinchu County, the hills south of East District; part of the main Science Park | None | You want somewhere quiet and green close to the park, and you drive |
| Hukou (湖口) | Hsinchu County, north of Zhubei along the freeway | TRA main line | Your job is at the Hsinchu Industrial Park, or you commute north towards Taoyuan |
| Xinfeng (新豐) | Hsinchu County, on the coast north of Zhubei | TRA main line | You like the coast and work on the north side, around Hukou or Zhubei |
| Xiangshan (香山) | Hsinchu City, the south-west district along the coast | TRA main line | You work on the city's south side or want to stay in the city system further from the centre |
Zhudong (竹東)
Zhudong Township is a Hakka market town at the foot of the hills, east of the Science Park along the Touqian River, and the gateway to Neiwan and the mountain townships. It grew on cement, glass and the timber and minerals of the hills, and the TRA Neiwan Line reached it in 1947. It's a proper town with its own centre, schools and shops, not a suburb.
- The market. Zhudong Central Market (竹東中央市場), on Ren'ai Road, is the county's biggest Hakka traditional market, with more than 400 stalls spilling into the streets around it, and Hakka food like ban tiao (粄條), rice dumplings and salty tangyuan. The county lists it as open daily 06:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 21:00.
- The train. Zhudong Station (竹東車站) is on the Neiwan Line. Trains run west to Zhuzhong, where you can change to the Liujia Line for the HSR station or TRA Hsinchu, and east up the valley to Neiwan. → Neiwan and the Neiwan Line
- Local produce. The Zhudong farmers' association shop sells the town's organic rice and other local produce.
Who should consider it: people who want more space, a house, or a town with its own life, especially if they work on the Science Park's eastern side. The catch is the road west into the park and the city, which is the main way in and gets busy at rush hour.
Baoshan (寶山)
Baoshan Township, in the hills south of East District, is the county side of the main Hsinchu Science Park: part of the park is in Baoshan. Away from the park it's rural and hilly, with reservoirs and walking trails, including a loop path around the Baoshan reservoir. Who should consider it: people who want quiet and green close to the park and are happy to drive everywhere. There's no railway, and you'll go into East District or Zhudong for most shopping. → Short hikes near the city
Hukou (湖口)
Hukou Township sits north of Zhubei along the freeway and the main railway line. It's home to the Hsinchu Industrial Park (新竹工業區), run by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Park Administration, which is a different place from the Science Park. If your job is there, living in Hukou or nearby saves you the drive from Zhubei or the city. The township also has the Hukou Old Street (湖口老街), about 300 metres of red-brick Taisho-era shophouses with arcades, a Catholic church at one end and Sanyuan Temple at the other, now a quiet street of homes, cafés and small shops. → Xinpu, Guanxi and the Hakka towns
Who should consider it: people working at the industrial park or commuting north towards Taoyuan, and anyone who wants to be on the main railway line further out.
Xinfeng (新豐)
Xinfeng Township is on the coast north of Zhubei, on the main railway line. Its coast has a seaside promenade lined with wind turbines and the Xinfeng Mangroves (新豐紅樹林), a wetland at the mouth of the Hongmao River with boardwalks among the mangroves, fiddler crabs and mudskippers, popular with families. Who should consider it: people who like the coast and work on the north side of the urban area, around Hukou or Zhubei. → The coast and cycling
Xiangshan (香山)
Xiangshan District is Hsinchu City's third district, south-west of the centre along the coast. It's quieter and more spread out than East and North districts, with the Xiangshan Wetland (香山濕地), a big tidal mudflat with raised walkways for crab-watching, and the southern half of the coastal bike path. Because it's in Hsinchu City, you stay in the city's school and bus system. Who should consider it: people working on the city's south side, or who want the coast and the city's services together. The drive to the Science Park or Zhubei crosses the whole city.
Before you choose a town further out
- Drive or ride the commute at the hour you'll actually do it, ideally on a wet morning.
- Check the train if you'll use it: the Neiwan and Liujia lines run less often than the main line. → Trains
- Ask which school your address belongs to, and whether there are places. A nearby school doesn't guarantee one. → Families and schools
- Think about shopping: Costco and the big malls are in East District and Zhubei.
→ Where to live · Commuting to the Science Park · All neighborhoods
Sources: Hsinchu County tourism (新竹縣旅遊網): Zhudong Central Market, Zhudong Station, Zhudong farmers' association shop, Baoshan reservoir loop, Hukou Old Street, Xinfeng Mangroves; Industrial Park Administration, Hsinchu Industrial Park service center; Hsinchu City tourism (Xiangshan Wetland); Taiwan High Speed Rail, Hsinchu Station (Zhuzhong transfer); Hsinchu Science Park Bureau. Checked November 2026.