New Highlight for Hsinchu Check-ins: Station Plaza Revamp Complete, Now Visually Open and Performance-Friendly

▲ Renovation of the Hsinchu Railway Station plaza landscape. (Photo / Provided by Hsinchu City Government, same below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The first phase of the Hsinchu Railway Station plaza landscape renovation project was launched on the 15th. The station plaza has been transformed into a visually open space, with Zhonghua Road converted into a flat walkway. This not only enhances safety but also allows wheelchair users to easily navigate the wide, level sidewalk between Lin Sen Road and Zhongzheng Road. Additionally, a temporary pick-up and drop-off zone has been set up along the Zhonghua Road side to alleviate long-standing space shortages in the station’s peak-hour pickup and drop-off areas.

To build a pedestrian-friendly city,the “Grand Station Plan”serves as the blueprint for the renovation of the pedestrian plaza in front of the railway station and the station plaza. A total of NT$32 million has been invested, and the first phase of the project has now been completed and launched today. Mayor Lin Chih-chien stated that the new pedestrian walkways, along with barrier-free and pedestrian-vehicle separated designs, will improve pedestrian safety.

▲ The long-dark underpass exit has now been transformed into a tree-lined walkway with a YouBike station installed.

In addition,the sidewalk on the Zhongzheng Road side of the station plaza has had the Miaoli Bus stop relocated, returning the space to pedestrians.The previously dark, damp, and often unsafe underpass exit near the station plaza has been turned into a tree-lined walkway with a YouBike station, making it safer and more convenient for pedestrians and YouBike riders traveling between Zhongzheng Road, Minzu Road, and Lin Sen Road—without having to cross the busy Zhonghua Road.

The station plaza is a popular spot for young people to perform, gather, and chat. Even during construction, student groups were eager to inquire about renting the space after completion. Now that it’s open, it’s expected to become a hotspot for youth performances and gatherings—and a new check-in highlight at the station.

Mr. Zhang, a wheelchair user, said his family used to struggle when traveling between SOGO and Lin Sen Road due to an uneven wheelchair ramp that was time-consuming and difficult to use. With the new wide, flat sidewalk, the whole family can now easily move around the station area, which is much more convenient.