NTHU Announces New Routes in Phase Two of Hsinchu Culture Walk
2025.06.23
Phase 2 of the Hsinchu Culture Walk is now underway.
Hsinchu Culture Walk, a joint project implemented by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan, VisEra Technologies, and various local organizations, announced on June 23 the launch of five new routes in the second phase of the project, inviting people to take a walking tour around Hsinchu with literature as their companion.
NTHU senior vice president Ping-Chiang Lyu (呂平江) said that in recent years NTHU has partnered with some 20 companies in Hsinchu to initiate over 50 sustainable development projects, forming a network of participants covering a wide range of ages and backgrounds. He noted that the culture walk was the result of cooperative learning, creativity, and action, and he hopes to see even more teachers and students stepping forward to participate in the project.
The first phase of the project was launched in August of last year with five routes: the Matai Cultural and Ecological Tour in Jianshi, the Yuemei Fluvial Terraces in Emei, the Donghai Caves in Zhubei, the old section of Hsinchu City, and the Nanpu River. Also developed as part of the project is an interactive guide app with reality games introducing the cultural highlights of the greater Hsinchu area.
Jointly sponsored by VisEra Technologies and the Hsinchu City Cultural Affairs Bureau, the second phase of the project covers Hengshan, Guanxi, Baoshan, Guqi Peak, and the lower reaches of the Touqian River. This phase of the project has received support from Nuvoton Technology Corporation, LOTES Co. Ltd., the Zyxel Group, and SYNTEC Group. The project aims to launch a total of 30 culture walking routes in 16 towns and cities in Greater Hsinchu within four years.
Two of the new routes in the second phase are located in Hsinchu City. Sponsored by Nuvoton, the Gaofeng Nostalgia Walk focuses on sites linked to the literati of the Qing dynasty, the Japanese colonial era, and the Republic of China period in the Gaofeng district of Hsinchu and the NTHU campus. Sponsored by VisEra and the Cultural Affairs and Environmental Protection Bureaus of Hsinchu City, the Xipuzi Wetlands: Embracing the River introduces the ecology of the lower reaches of the Touqian River.
The other three routes are located in Hsinchu County. Sponsored by ZyXEL, the Beryl Fields Walk showcases the olive and citrus industries in Baoshan Township. The A Century-old Private School Tour, sponsored by Lotes, focuses on Hakka scholarly heritage and includes a replica of the Luowu Academy in Guanxi. And the Haizhu Poetry Walk in Hengshan, sponsored by Syntech, introduces Hakka poetry and the mountain village culture of Hengshan Township.
One of the organizers of the project is deputy executive director of the NTHU Resilient and Sustainable Development Center Tien-Chien Lee (李天健), who said that the five routes in the second phase span rural areas, mountain towns, and wetlands, and cover the themes of literature, industry, poetry, and the environment. He explained that those who participated in the planning and investigation of each route first visited the areas themselves, and then introduced it to their family and friends. Only afterwards did they work on presenting the culture and natural beauty of Hsinchu to workers at the Hsinchu Science Park and the general public.
The VisEra employees who worked on the five new routes said that the project combines technology and tradition, and that the interactive app provides an immersive experience by comparing the old with the new. VisEra CEO Robert Kuan (關欣) said that he is pleased to see that various companies have been involved in this project, which is aimed at helping the public rediscover Hsinchu, building cultural confidence, promoting cultural preservation and transmission, and bolstering local and green tourism.
Chief Sustainability Officer at Zyxel Holding Denise Lin (林錦蘭) said that the company was established 35 years ago, and that many of its employees who have worked in Hsinchu for many years are not familiar with the local culture. She became interested in the Baoshan area because of her love for olives, and she said that literary walks make for a fun and meaningful family outing.
CEO of the TSMC Charity Foundation Brad Peng (彭冠宇) said that TSMC has more than 23,000 volunteers, a number of whom will be engaged in taking children from remote areas on culture and nature walks. He added that the company sees the project as a good way to encourage employees to establish a connection between work and the local community.
Lee noted that the reality games for the routes in the project's first phase have received good reviews. He further stated that the project is currently working with design companies to develop commercial products, pointing out that games help to attract more people to visit a locality and get to know it.
The Hsinchu Culture Walk app can be downloaded for free at
https://walking.com.tw/
The first ten routes of the Hsinchu Culture Walk project, a joint project implemented by NTHU in cooperation with various companies and local organizations.
Phase 2 of the Hsinchu Culture Walk is now underway.
Representatives of the sponsors of the Hsinchu Culture Walk project.
Organizers of the project, left to right: Professor Tien-Chien Lee (李天健), Professor Chih-Fan Chen (陳芷凡), and Professor Chi-Ying Chang (張繼瑩).
NTHU senior vice president Ping-Chiang Lyu (呂平江) leading a bicycle tour in Hsinchu.
VisEra manager Bing-shen Chen (陳炳伸, Right) with Yi Liu (劉奕), head of FD Farm, explaining the role of ducks at the Yuemei Fluvial Terraces in Emei.
Yokoyama House director Chih-Chung Chen (陳致中) said that visitors to Huangshan have a good chance of spotting a collared scops owl.
TSMC employees on the Jianshi Matai Cultural and Ecological Tour.
VisEra employees on the Jianshi Matai Cultural and Ecological Tour.
Map of the Leisurely Ride to Donghaiku route.
Map of the Exploring the Yuemei Fluvial Terraces route.
Map of the Jianshi Matai Cultural and Ecological Tour route.
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