Hsinchu is one of northern Taiwan's oldest cities, a windy, prosperous place halfway between Taipei and Taichung. It is best known today for the science park that anchors Taiwan's semiconductor industry, but the centre still has older layers: Qing temples, a surviving city gate, Japanese-era civic buildings, and food stalls packed around the City God Temple.
The city is not as immediately seductive as Taipei or Tainan. Its appeal is more local: a compact old core, easy rail access, a good food culture, and several green escapes close enough to reach between meals. East Gate is the obvious landmark, while City God Temple is where the city feels most alive.
Hsinchu also has a real craft identity. Glassmaking grew here during the Japanese period and later became one of the city's signature industries; the Craft Glass Museum gives that history a home. When the weather is clear, Eighteen Peaks Mountain and Green Grass Lake make the city feel greener than its industrial reputation suggests.