Hsinchu Station Introduction
In 1886, Liu Ming-chuan, based on the needs for coastal defense, development, and transportation, received approval from the Qing court to construct the Taiwan Railway in 1887. The Keelung-Hsinchu railway was completed in 1893, with a ticket office established at the foot of Pillow Mountain. During the early Meiji period, the Japanese railway team, noticing the winding routes of the railways built during the Qing Dynasty, began to modify the old routes. The newly built station was named Hsinchu Station, which was a simple wooden station built in the Japanese style. The new railway was opened in 1908, and the new station (Hsinchu Station) was completed in 1913, which is the Hsinchu Railway Station we see today. Hsinchu Railway Station is located on Zhonghua Road in Hsinchu City and is the only train station in Taiwan without a sign. The architectural style combines Western characteristics, with a steeply sloping gambrel roof and skylights. Additionally, structural stress points, such as the columns, wall corners, and openings, have been reinforced with stone, giving the entire building a complex yet dignified appearance, serious but approachable architectural flavor. The clever design has made the railway station a gateway to Hsinchu and a city landmark. Hsinchu Railway Station is also the oldest existing major train station in Taiwan, strategically located not only as a transportation hub but also as the most prosperous area in Hsinchu City, and it was designated as a national historic site in 1998.
