Zhukeng City Yingxi Gate (East Gate Yingxi Gate) Introduction
The Yingxi Gate of Zhuzhen Castle is located in the East District of Hsinchu City. Zhuzhen Castle (the ancient name of Hsinchu) is the first brick castle 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 the Tamsui county magistrate Hsu Chih-Min. The brick castle was completed in the ninth year of the Daoguang era (1829) with 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. After the Japanese occupation, due to urban street planning, the city walls and towers were demolished in 1902, and today, the only remaining gate is the Yingxi Gate, which has been designated as a national historic site. The semi-circular archway is made of Quanzhou white stone, and the double-eaved pavilion together with the moat protects Zhuzhen Castle. In 1999, the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza was transformed into a civic plaza with funding from the Cultural Affairs Council's historical space 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 measures 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. As the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) is located within the inner circle, the government planned the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza to bring the public closer to the gate. The elongated plaza uses steps to guide the public and connects the walking paths on both sides of the moat with the urban streetscape. Neon lights are embedded beneath the glass flooring, making the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza even more charming at night. The oval-shaped city walk provides a space for the public to stroll, linking the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza with the underground pedestrian passage of the moat, allowing visitors to appreciate the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) from different angles.
