Hsinchu launches 197th anniversary program to revive its historic walled city

Hsinchu is turning its old markets, streets and long-established shops into a living guide to the city’s past. The city government and the Central Market business association have launched “Zhucheng Brick-and-Stone City 197,” a program designed to bring residents and visitors through the historic district by way of cultural walks, market experiences, local food and neighborhood activities.

The program marks the 197th anniversary of the founding of Zhucheng, the historic name associated with Hsinchu’s walled city. It also opens the run-up to a broader series of events for the city’s 200th anniversary in 2029. Organizers want cultural memory and local industries to work together, turning the old city’s history into momentum for its future development.

The area around the Central Market once served as the seat of Tamsui Subprefecture during China’s Qing dynasty and became an important administrative center in northern Taiwan. Over time, it developed into a lively market district. The Hsinchu City Hall building, formerly the Hsinchu Prefecture Hall, is also approaching its centenary. Officials described the market, streets and old shops as historical witnesses whose stories extend beyond monuments and written records.

Food provides one of the program’s main links to that history. The 10-course “Hsinchu Magistrate’s Banquet” features local dishes including Hsinchu red-fermented-rice meatballs, pork meatballs with rice noodles, glutinous rice dumplings and pickled mustard greens. Organizers say the dishes connect local figures, industries, beliefs and urban development with the flavors of the old city.

Other activities include guided city walks, cultural experiences, market tours and events organized by local businesses. The city government said it would combine cultural, tourism and industrial resources as Hsinchu moves from its 197th anniversary toward 2029, while encouraging visitors to support neighborhood shops and the local economy.