Zhongzheng Gate (East Gate) Introduction
The Yingxi Gate of Zhuqian City is located in the East District of Hsinchu City. Zhuqian City (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. It was established in 1733 by Xu Zhiming, the Tamsui District Magistrate, using bamboo from Chizhu as the foundation. By the ninth year of the Daoguang era (1829), the brick city was completed, featuring four 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 implementation of urban street planning during the Japanese colonial period, the city walls and towers were demolished in 1902, leaving only the East Gate—Yingxi Gate, which has since been designated as a national historic site. The semi-circular archway is constructed from Quanzhou white stone, and the double-eaved, hipped-roof tower along with the moat protects Zhuqian City. In 1999, the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza was renovated into a public square with funding from the Council for Cultural Affairs' historical space beautification project, and the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) was named the Heart of Hsinchu, serving as a spiritual stronghold for the people of Hsinchu City. The suspension bridge measures approximately 8.3 meters in length and 1.6 meters in width, accessible from both ends along Xinyi Road. Since Yingxi Gate (East Gate) is located within a roundabout, the government planned the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza to bring the public closer to the gate. The elongated Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza uses steps to guide visitors and connects the walkways on both sides of the moat and urban streets. The glass flooring embedded with neon tubes makes the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza even more enchanting at night, while the oval-shaped city walk provides a pedestrian pathway connecting the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) Plaza and the pedestrian underpass of the moat, allowing visitors to appreciate the Yingxi Gate (East Gate) from different perspectives.
