East Gate is the last major survivor of Hsinchu's old city wall, a granite Qing-era gate now stranded in a traffic circle at the heart of the city. The arched gateway is modest in size, but it gives Hsinchu a clear centre and a visible link to the walled settlement that stood here before the railway and science park changed the city.
Come in the evening if you can. The gate is lit, the traffic softens into a blur, and the surrounding streets lead quickly toward the temple quarter and snack stalls.