Zheng Cheng Gates Introduction
The Yingxi Gate of Zhucheng is located in the East District of Hsinchu City. Zhucheng (the ancient name of Hsinchu) is the first brick city in northern Taiwan and was once the political and economic center north of the Dajia River in northern Taiwan. In 1733, Hsinchu County magistrate Xu Zhimin constructed the city using bamboo. After the brick city was completed in the 9th year of the Daoguang era (1829), it had 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. During the Japanese occupation, due to urban street planning, the city walls and towers were demolished in 1902, leaving only the Yingxi Gate standing, which has been designated as a national historical site. The semi-circular archway is built with Quanzhou white stone, and the double-eaved hip roof protects Zhucheng along with the moat. In 1999, with funding from the Council for Cultural Affairs, the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza was renovated into a public square and was named "The Heart of Hsinchu," becoming a spiritual bastion for the people of Hsinchu City. The suspension bridge is approximately 8.3 meters long and 1.6 meters wide, visible from both ends along Xinyi Road. As the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) is located within a circular area, the government planned the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza to bring the public closer to the gate. The elongated plaza uses steps to guide visitors and connects the pathways on both sides of the moat with urban streetscape. Neon lights embedded under the glass pavement make the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza even more enchanting at night, while the oval-shaped city walking path allows citizens to stroll and connects the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza with the pedestrian underpass of the moat, offering different perspectives to appreciate the Yingxi Gate (East Gate).
