Hsinchu County is located in the northwestern part of Taiwan and boasts a rich Hakka culture. It borders Taoyuan City to the north, Miaoli County to the south, and is adjacent to Yilan County and Taichung City in the southeast. To the west, it faces the Taiwan Strait and shares a border with Hsinchu City. The total area of the county is approximately 1,427 square kilometers, with a landscape dominated by hills, plateaus, and mountains, except for the alluvial plains formed by the middle and lower reaches of the Fengshan River and Touqian River.
Industrial Development
Hsinchu County was primarily an agricultural region in its early days. However, with the establishment of the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Hsinchu City in the 1970s and the founding of the Hsinchu Science Park in the 1980s, which spans the eastern district of Hsinchu City and Baoshan Township in Hsinchu County, the region gradually evolved into a key hub for Taiwan's high-tech industry. Additionally, in the 1990s, the Hsinchu Industrial Park in Hukou Township transitioned from traditional industries to an emerging high-tech cluster, attracting a significant influx of population and making Hsinchu County one of the core economic development areas in northern Taiwan.
Topographical Overview
The terrain of Hsinchu County mainly consists of mountains and hills, with relatively few plains. The elevation gradually decreases from the southeast to the northwest. The Xueshan Mountain Range is located in the southeastern part of the county, forming the border with Yilan County and Taichung City, with an average altitude of about 3,000 meters. Near Zhubei City, the elevation drops to 20 to 30 meters. The plains, hills, and plateaus each have distinct features:
Hsinchu Plain
Located in the western part of the county, between the Fengshan River and the Touqian River, it covers most of Zhubei City, as well as parts of Xinpu Township, Guanxi Township, Qionglin Township, Zhudong Township, and Hengshan Township. This area is the primary agricultural production zone and commercial center of Hsinchu County.Hukou Plateau
Situated in the northern part of the county, it stretches in an east-west direction, covering Xinfeng Township, Hukou Township, and parts of Xinpu Township and Guanxi Township. The area is mainly used for dryland farming, tea, and fruit production. The Hukou Industrial Park has become a crucial high-tech industrial cluster in the county.Hilly Region
This region primarily covers Xinpu Township, Guanxi Township, Qionglin Township, Hengshan Township, Zhudong Township, Beipu Township, Baoshan Township, and Emei Township, with tea and fruit cultivation as the main agricultural activities.Mountainous Area
Mostly located in Jianshi Township and Wufeng Township, with parts of Guanxi Township, Hengshan Township, Zhudong Township, and Emei Township also falling within the mountainous region. The southwestern end of Wufeng Township, in the Yebakan River basin, is part of Shei-Pa National Park, which boasts abundant natural scenic resources.
Climate Overview
Hsinchu County has a subtropical monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of approximately 22.8°C. The coldest month is January, while the hottest month is July. The average annual rainfall is around 1,675.6 millimeters. During the winter months, from January to March, strong continental cold air masses can bring cold waves, often causing temperatures to drop 1 to 3 degrees lower than those in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, posing a risk of cold damage.
With its favorable geographical environment and advantages in the high-tech industry, Hsinchu County has become an important economic and cultural development hub in northern Taiwan.
