Hsinchu City Hall Introduction
Hsinchu Prefectural Hall is located on Zhongzheng Road in Hsinchu City, and it is now the Hsinchu City Government. After the Japanese army occupied Hsinchu in 1895, the initial public constructions were mostly inherited from the Qing Dynasty's public facilities. It wasn't until 1904 that Hsinchu's district officials, including Zheng Rulan, requested a new hall building, which was eventually completed in 1925 and began operation at the end of the following year. The Hsinchu Prefectural Hall features a two-story, M-shaped brick structure in a mixed style of Western and Eastern architectural elements, predominantly Western in style with an Eastern-style wooden-frame sloped roof. The entrance is designed with a prominent portico using dual columns to enhance ceremonial significance, complemented by two small towers that make the entire entrance quite striking. Inside the hall, one can see Western-style arcades and Roman columns, exuding a grand atmosphere. Currently, in addition to maintaining the restoration of the Hsinchu Prefectural Hall's main structure, the city government is planning for adaptive reuse of the space to dynamically preserve the hall, showcasing new vitality of the historic site. The Hsinchu Prefectural Hall connects to several other notable landmark buildings and public spaces in the city center, enhanced by the pedestrian walkway landscaping project on Zhongzheng Road, which improves nighttime lighting and street furniture. The streetscape of Hsinchu City has significantly improved, and there are plans to integrate arts, music performances, and community participation in cultural activities, establishing a plaza in front of the city government, aspiring for the Hsinchu City Government Plaza to become a hub for cultural activities in the city. The Hsinchu City Government actively promotes surrounding commercial activities, optimizing the public utility of the spaces around the city hall, with hopes that the Hsinchu Prefectural Hall will develop into a vibrant space filled with artistic charm for the residents of Hsinchu City.
