Zhulian City Yingxi Gate (East Gate Yingxi Gate) Introduction
The Yingxi Gate of Zhucheng City is located in the East District of Hsinchu City. Zhucheng City (the ancient name of Hsinchu) is the first brick city in northern Taiwan, once serving as the political and economic center north of the Dajia River in northern Taiwan. It was established in 1733 by Xu Zhimin, the magistrate of Tamsui, using bamboo and other plants for construction. After the completion of the brick wall 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 Hexun Gate to the south, and the Gongchen Gate to the north. During the Japanese rule, urban street planning was implemented, and the city walls and towers were demolished in 1902. Today, the only remaining gate, Yingxi Gate (East Gate), has been designated as a national historic site. The semi-circular archway is made of Quanzhou white stone, while the double-eaved, hip-and-gable roofed gate tower, along with the moat, protects Zhucheng City. In 1999, the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza was transformed into a public square with financial support from the Cultural Heritage Committee, 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, visible from both ends on Xinyi Road. As Yingxi Gate (East Gate) is located within a roundabout, the government planned the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza to bring people closer to the gate. The rectangular plaza utilizes steps to guide people and connects the walking paths along both sides of the moat with the urban streets. The glass pavement embedded with neon lights makes the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza even more charming at night, while the oval-shaped city-walk allows people to stroll, linking the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza with the pedestrian underpass along the moat, offering different perspectives to enjoy the Yingxi Gate (East Gate).
