Zhukeng City Yinximen (East Gate Yinximen) Introduction
The Yingxi Gate of Zhuchang City is located in the East District of Hsinchu City. Zhuchang City (the ancient name of Hsinchu) is the first stone brick city in northern Taiwan and was once the political and economic center north of the Dajia River in northern Taiwan. It was established in 1733 by Xu Zhimin, the county magistrate of Tamsui, using the bamboo from Chihchuk. After the brick city was completed in the ninth year of the Daoguang era (1829), there were four city gates: the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) to the east, the Yishuang Gate to the west, the Gexun Gate to the south, and the Gongchen Gate to the north. Due to urban planning during the Japanese occupation, the city walls and towers were demolished in 1902, leaving only the Yingxi Gate (East Gate), which has been designated as a national historic site. The semi-arched gateway is constructed from Quanzhou white stone, and the double-eaved hipped roof tower, along with the moat, protects Zhuchang City. In 1999, the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Square was transformed into a public square with the support of the National Cultural Heritage Administration's urban beautification project, and the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) was named "The Heart of Hsinchu," serving as a spiritual fortress for the people of Hsinchu City. The suspension bridge is approximately 8.3 meters long and 1.6 meters wide, and it can be seen at the bridgeheads corresponding to both sides of Xinyi Road. Since the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) is located within the inner perimeter of the roundabout, the government planned the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Square to bring citizens closer to the gate. The elongated Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Square utilizes steps to guide the public and connect the walkways on both sides of the moat with urban streets. The glass floor embedded with neon lights makes the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Square even more enchanting at night, while the oval-shaped city walking path provides a space for citizens to stroll, linking the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Square and the underground pedestrian passage of the moat, allowing visitors to appreciate the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) from different angles.
