ARC RECORD · TAIWAN
I spend one day in Hakka village and one day in Hsinchu alley.
If you've seen enough of the night markets and famous observatories on your trip to Taiwan, next time it's worth slowing down to accommodate the size of the town. This article is an itinerary for three consecutive nights in Hsinchu city and a one-day trip to Beipu. The focus is on eating around the temple, building bricks, and drinking tea. We did not combine sightseeing in Taipei, and assumed arrival at Taoyuan Airport in the morning and departure after 18:00 on the last day. It is suitable for two adults who decide on the bus time and move rather than looking forward to traveling in a city with tight transportation options.
This is a suggested itinerary based on official tourism and facility data. This is not a direct visit review or real-time reservation quote. Travel times are estimates for planning purposes, and the times below are visit goals set separately from facility business hours.
3 NIGHTS · 4 DAYS
The route I follow one day at a time
From the airport to Hsinchu downtown, accommodation around Dongmen
- 01Assume you arrive at Taoyuan Airport around 10:00. After entering the country, take the airport MRT towards Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station.
- 02After arriving at Hsinchu Station by THSR, transfer to the adjacent TRA Liujia Station to take a train to downtown Hsinchu Station. Allow 3-4 hours from the airport to your accommodation, including waiting, transfers, and lunch.
- 03We aim to arrive at your accommodation around 15:00. If it is before check-in, ask to store your luggage and check the room opening times according to the hotel information.
- 04In the late afternoon, take a short walk around the Dongmun Gate and surrounding commercial districts. Dinner is chosen on the way back to the accommodation and does not have to travel far.
It's easy to make a mistake if you think of the stations named Hsinchu as one. When buying tickets, distinguish between THSR Hsinchu, TRA Ryuza, and TRA Hsinchu.
Spend a day on Beipu's architecture and Hakka tea
- 01From your accommodation, go towards THSR Hsinchu Station and take tourist shuttle number 5700 to Beipu Laojie. Set the exact departure time first and calculate the trip to the station.
- 02Allow approximately 1.5–2 hours each way from downtown Hsinchu to Beipu, including transfers and waiting, for planning purposes. These are not confirmed travel times and will vary depending on the bus you select.
- 03In the late morning, walk through the alleys around Chitian Palace and Jin Guangpu. For private buildings such as Tianshui Temple, we focus on the exterior and only select exhibits that are accessible.
- 04After lunch, make a reservation to drink or make lei tea. When you choose an experience, check not only the business hours, but also the minimum number of people and the time required.
- 05Arrange a round-trip bus service in advance, aiming to depart town around 15:00–16:00. Don't aim for the last bus, check the previous and next buses together.
According to the official tourist information, number 5700 is the route connecting THSR Hsinchu·TRA Zhubei and Beipu. Check departure stop directions and weekday/holiday timetables. If the bus doesn't fit, replace it with a pre-booked vehicle and revise your travel budget.
Eat at Hsinchu Shenghuang Temple and rest in the city.
- 01In the morning, visit the area around the Hsinchu Holy Emperor Mausoleum. Separate the worship space from the food sales area and keep the movement path of those worshiping clear.
- 02Two people share stir-fried rice noodles and meatball soup. Rather than deciding on several restaurants at once, decide on your next order after eating.
- 03After lunch, rest at your accommodation or hang out at a cafe in town. Unlike Beipu, today it does not move according to the bus departure time.
- 04In the afternoon, I choose to take a walk towards Hsinchu Park. If you want to visit a museum, check the operating days and exhibitions separately, and if it is raining heavily, switch to an indoor schedule near your accommodation.
If you're a traveler who wants to visit a lot of sights, this day may feel slow. The purpose of this article is not to cram Taipei's alternative tourist attractions, but to stay in a small town.
Return home comfortably by high-speed rail and airport MRT
- 01After breakfast, check out and prepare to go to the airport. There is no re-entering Beipu on the last day.
- 02If you are leaving after 18:00, plan to depart your accommodation at 10:30–11:00. Move in this order: TRA Hsinchu → Liujia, THSR Hsinchu → Taoyuan, Airport MRT.
- 03Plan on at least 3 hours to get to the airport, including transfers and waiting, and aim to arrive 3 hours before your international flight departs.
- 04If you have a lot of luggage or need to take stairs or transfer, compare quotes for booking a car from your accommodation to the airport. We maintain sufficient departure time to account for road congestion.
If there is a rail disruption, please choose another transportation method according to official instructions and airline check-in deadlines. The example times are not actual train reservation tickets.
PLAN WITH A REASON
Why travel in this order
Why not stay in Beipu
Beipu is a day-long tour of the alleys and tea culture. Staying overnight in Hsinchu allows you to leave your downtown dining options without having to carry luggage. If your only goal is to stay in town, you'll need to do additional research into restaurants open for dinner and transportation for the next day. The advantage of this itinerary is that you only change the visiting environment while maintaining one accommodation.
If the bus does not fit, reduce the number of visits
If you see Beipu and connect to other mountain attractions on the same bus, you may have fewer return service options. This article does not include hiking Mt. Shiou or visiting a separate ecological park. On the day you reserve a tea experience, make sure to allow walking time and waiting time from the end of the experience to the stop. If your companion walks slowly, it is easier to decide to travel by car first.
Between weekend mood and weekday relaxation
Business hours at specific stores vary depending on the day of the week and circumstances. Even if you expect quiet streets on a weekday, whether the tea experience you want will happen is another matter. First check the experience you want to do and then choose a visit date. Even if you go to see a historic house, the interior is not always an open exhibition hall, so respect the fences and guide lines.
EAT ALONG THE ROUTE
Meals to choose from within the route
DAY 2 · After lunch
Beipu Leicha
Hakka Leicha, made by grinding tea and various ingredients, is arranged during breaks. The experience of ordering a drink and making it yourself are different, so make a distinction when making a reservation. If there are restrictions on ingredients such as nuts, ask the store before ordering.
Check the official introduction ↗DAY 3 · Around Seonghwangmyo
Hsinchu Rice Noodles
These are local foods introduced by Hsinchu tourist guides. Order a plate of stir-fried rice noodles first to check the portion size, so you can try other snacks as well. Even if the food is the same, the portion size and taste vary from store to store, so we did not make it a schedule that requires you to visit a specific store.
Check the official introduction ↗DAY 3 · With rice noodles
meatball soup
This is a menu that can be compared around Seonghwangmyo Shrine. Have a light lunch by sharing a bowl of soup and fried noodles. If you have restrictions on soup ingredients or meat, check without judging just by the menu name.
Check the official introduction ↗DAY 3 or DAY 4
Zhuqian pastries — a snack before departure
This is a traditional snack from Hsinchu and is introduced in the tourism office information. If it is for a gift, check the raw materials and storage period, and follow the guidelines of your country for food import conditions. Rather than purchasing it itself, you can think of it as a snack you can taste in small quantities locally.
Check the official introduction ↗The restaurant is a candidate for your schedule. Please check again at the branch you plan to visit for business availability, reservation availability, and menu prices. Even if the business name is the same, if the location is different, the travel time will be different.
WHERE TO STAY
4 accommodations to choose from depending on your stay
Comparisons were made based on the property's location and official description. Breakfast, airport pickup, parking, and auxiliary facility operations vary depending on the reservation plan and travel date, so please check before payment.
CITY STAY · Old city center walk
SOL Hotel, Hsinchu
Hsinchu Cultural Street No. 10
Official accommodation information ↗- A trip that suits you well
- A trip where you walk and stay around the city's alleys and restaurants.
- Check before selecting
- This is not a hotel in front of a high-speed rail station. Please calculate the trip to the bus stop for Beipu separately.
- meal
- Select a plan by comparing the number of people including breakfast and nearby breakfast establishments.
CITY HOTEL · City center hub
Ambassador Hotel Hsinchu
Hsinchu city
Official accommodation information ↗- A trip that suits you well
- Travelers who want to combine hotel facilities and dining out in the city.
- Check before selecting
- Please check the Hsinchu branch on the reservation screen. Compare rooms with the same room size and additional bed requirements.
- meal
- When planning to use a hotel restaurant, check the operating hours and reservation conditions first.
CITY HOTEL · Stay overnight in the city center
Lakeshore Metropolis
No. 177 Minsaeng Road, Hsinchu
Official accommodation information ↗- A trip that suits you well
- If you want to mix dining and shopping downtown.
- Check before selecting
- This is a different property from Lakeshore Hsinchu Resort. Don't confuse the location just by looking at the same brand name.
- meal
- Compare the total price for a breakfast-inclusive plan and a room-only reservation.
RESORT ALTERNATIVE · Family relaxation
Lakeshore Hotel Hsinchu
Hsinchu Qingqiao Lake Area
Official accommodation information ↗- A trip that suits you well
- When family rest in a hotel is more important than walking downtown.
- Check before selecting
- It is different from the route of consecutive nights in the city in the main text. If you choose, add vehicle costs and time to travel to Seonghwangmyo and Station and check the conditions for children's facilities.
- meal
- As the proportion of hotel meals may increase, the cost of breakfast and dinner are looked at together.
BUDGET WORKSHEET
Calculation example for setting a budget for one person
The total is NT$11,000 per person. Assuming the room costs NT$2,500 per night, it is NT$9,500, and if the room costs NT$5,500 per night, it is NT$14,000. Buses and railways are standard, and Beipu-only vehicles and direct airport vehicles may exceed this allocation. For car experience, please modify the reserve allocation after receiving the actual reservation price.
The above amount is an assumed budget allocation for editorial purposes and is not the inquiry fee for the above hotel or restaurant. Airline tickets, shopping, alcoholic beverages, massages, and additional experiences not allocated separately in the ticket were excluded. Recalculate by reflecting the tax, service charge, breakfast, and cancellation conditions on the reservation screen.
SOURCES & UPDATES
Official resources to check before booking
Taiwan Tourism Bureau · Beipu historical streets and traffic ↗Taiwan Tourism Office · Hsinchu Holy Tomb · Food ↗Taiwan Agricultural Tourism Hsinchu Hakka Culture ↗Taiwan Tourist Shuttle · Route 5700 ↗Taiwan high-speed rail, timetable, reservation ↗Taiwan Railway · Timetable · Reservation ↗Data confirmation date:2026. 09. 08. Weather, traffic, temporary closures, and facility-specific notices take precedence over schedule examples.
Featured photo:Yuriy kosygin / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0· Beipu street architecture taken on May 11, 2014. Some parts are cropped to fit the screen, and the photo's Share Alike license is maintained.