If you’re planning a stay in Hsinchu, you can have all your transportation fees taken care of for the price of a train ticket (which is around $390 for the fast train return from Taipei). It’s just over an hour to Hsinchu from Taipei so going as a day trip is an option, but if you’re wanting to stay overnight with budget accommodation, I recommend the Golden Swallow Hotel. There’s plenty to do within walking distance of the main train station.
The Hsinchu City Glass Museum and Hsinchu zoo are both located in Hsinchu Park. On the way there, you could check out the residence of Hsin Chih-Ping, who was Hsinchu Junior High School’s principal. It was built in the early 1920′s by the Japanese and has some interesting and quirky architectural features such as the closets for storing sliding porch doors and the heating system for the bath.
The East Gate stands in the center of a roundabout just down from the train station. Hsinchu city was first established in 1733, and a wall with four towers was erected around it in 1826. In the Japanese era the wall and three towers were torn down, leaving just the East Gate, which now stands as a symbol of the city.
The area around the station is bustling with activity at nighttime with bands often playing at the outdoor auditorium and a wide variety of shops to visit. You can check out the traditional snacks of Hsinchu, such as pork meatballs or fried rice noodles, or if you want western-style cuisine you could walk down to Square’s, a small American-style diner at 38 Shengli Rd (on the cobblestone street bordering the “moat” just down from the East Gate). If you go there, I recommend the chicken fajita for $260.
For more info about Hsinchu in English, check out http://wikitravel.org/en/Hsinchu and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsinchu
Established in the Japanese colonization era around the same time as the neighboring glass museum buildings, the Hsinchu zoo is the oldest zoo in Taiwan. For only $10 for adults and free for kids, Hsinchu zoo is a nice budget activity. The zoo is well-shaded and has a relaxed park-like atmosphere and although it is small in size, it has more than 300 distinguished into 120 species which are mostly birds and primates, with crowd-pleasers such as bengal tigers, hippos, orangutangs, and crocodiles.
Cheerful music plays from speakers disguised as rocks throughout the zoo and animals are easily accessible, with one deer roaming freely amongst the visitors.
When we visited, the croc was in the pool right next to the pane of glass and the hippo was thrusting itself out of the water, mouth wide open (although this was probably because it used to getting fed by visitors but I’ll say no more on that subject). With Hsinchu’s cooling wind and the natural shade of the trees, Hsinchu zoo is a fun outside activity even on the hottest of days.
More info here.
The Hsinchu Glass Museum is the first museum in Taiwan to center around the theme of glass. The museum building, which was reconstructed in 1936, was first used as a residence for Japanese royals and government officials. The museum has several areas devoted to glass exhibits and some educational areas for kids.
Around the back of the building, next to a small lake is a cafe which offers light snacks such as the very Taiwanese green tea waffles with red bean ice-cream. They also offer DIY glass projects for kids on a bench overlooking the lake under the shade of a tree.
For $130 each, our little ones came away very satisfied with a picture made from glass pebbles on a small wooden noticeboard.
At the time we visited, glass blowing demonstrations were conducted from 2pm-4pm in the adjacent building.
Miniature glass art pieces are made in the same area and can be purchased for less than $100 at stalls outside the museum. And if you’re going, don’t forget to visit the Hsinchu zoo, which is right next door and only $10 for adults!
A few minutes walk from the main train station, the Golden Swallow Hotel offers budget accommodation in the heart of Hsinchu. Prices range from $800 – $2200. As with most hotels in Taiwan, prices are cheaper during the weekdays. We payed $1800 for a room with two double beds, which would have been around $1500 during the week (Fridays are considered part of the weekend and Sundays not). Check in times during the week are 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock otherwise.
The room we got was tidy with a big flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, and a reasonable bathroom. There are bikes available for use by patrons, and they will store your bike if that’s the way you’re travelling. There are also a couple of computers if you want to get online and wireless if you have your own laptop, and free use of laundry facilities (powder included). Breakfast is included with a choice of toast and spreads or a Chinese-style buffet. There are plenty of things to see and do within walking distance, such as the Hsinchu Glass Museum, Hsinchu zoo, the residence of Hsin Chih-Ping, night markets, Sogo, Eslite, and so on. All things considered, the Golden Swallow Hotel is great value and recommended as a low-budget base for a Hsinchu stopover. If you decide to stay there, you should probably make sure to book well ahead, especially during peak periods.
Address: No.13, Minzu Rd., East Dist., Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel: 03-5227151-3
More info here, with map here.
