Hsinchu

Hsinchu (also romanized as Xinzhu), officially known as Hsinchu City (Chinese: 新竹市), is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate. Hsinchu is administered as a provincial city within Taiwan.

History

In 1626, after Spain occupied northern Taiwan, Spanish missionaries arrived at Teckcham (竹塹; zhúqiàn; Tek-khàm), where the Taokas Taiwanese aborigines lived. The city was first settled by Han Chinese in 1711. In 1878 during Qing rule, Teckcham Subprefecture was converted into a district and renamed Hsinchu. After Taiwan Province was established in 1887, Hsinchu was a part of Taipeh Prefecture.

Empire of Japan

By 1904, the city population was 16,371, ranked 7th, following Keelung and followed by Shoka. In 1920, under Japanese rule, Shinchiku Cho was upgraded to Shinchiku Town. In 1930, the town was renamed as Shinchiku City, under Shinchiku Prefecture. In 1941, its administration district was expanded, annexing Kōzan village (modern-day Xiangshan), whereas Kyūminato village (旧港庄) and Rokka village (六家庄) became Chikuhoku village (竹北庄, modern-day Zhubei) under the same district.