One-Day Trip to Hsinchu Seaside to Watch Fireworks with Mediterranean Vibes

By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Net, Reported by Chen Guanxin

 

This year’s National Day fireworks will be launched off the coast of Nanliao Fishing Port in Hsinchu. But traveling all the way to Hsinchu and heading straight back after just watching the fireworks would be a bit of a waste. On the holiday, why not head out early and take the time to enjoy the Mediterranean-style buildings along the Hsinchu seaside, explore the hidden secrets of the mangrove forest, relax on a leisurely bike ride with the sea breeze in your face, and enjoy the delicious food nearby as well.

This mangrove forest is located on the marshland in front of the estuary of the Hongmao River, where Kandelia obovata and Sonneratia caseolaris grow in mixed clusters. Walking along the elevated wooden boardwalk allows you to venture deep into the mangroves, where you can get a close-up view of the flowers, fruits, and leaves of the mangroves, as well as fiddler crabs foraging back and forth in the marsh. It’s a great place to gain an in-depth understanding of wetland ecology. On the marshland outside the mangroves, there is a large area of white dots that seem to float with the wind, but upon closer inspection, it’s actually an illusion created by the constant movement of tiny crabs entering and exiting their holes.

 

[Info]

Address: Turn into Chi Fu Wang Ye Temple at the 66-kilometer mark of the West Coast Highway, and follow the small dike path to reach the location.

Although it’s a common noodle shop, its exterior, pieced together with natural wood panels, has a modern Japanese feel. Inside, the spacious area features wooden tables and benches as the main furnishings. The walls and shelves are adorned with traditional farming baskets, old electric fans, telephones, and other items. In the innermost corner by the wall, there’s even a mural painted to resemble an old street scene, showing the owner’s thoughtful touches. Owner Mr. Zhang, who has a great interest in cooking, trained at a five-star hotel after his military service and also ran a Chinese restaurant in the United States for nearly six years. Realizing the economic downturn, he opened this affordable noodle shop with the concept that you can enjoy noodles for just 50 NT dollars. Within the seemingly ordinary menu lies the owner’s years of accumulated exclusive cooking skills.

 

[Info]

Address: No. 150, Wenchang Street, Xinfeng Township, Hsinchu County

Phone: 03-557-3241

Along the 17-kilometer coastal area, starting from the northernmost Hsinchu Fishing Port and heading south through the Sea-Viewing Park, the Sea and Sky Viewing Area, Gangnan Canal, Mangrove Park, Style Coast, and Haishan Fishing Port’s ocean-view platform, the entire route cleverly incorporates fishing port scenery, breathtaking sea and sky views, and natural ecology. Paired with the bike path, the feeling of riding with the breeze and enjoying the sea is absolutely wonderful.

Rice vermicelli is a specialty of Hsinchu, and if you want to experience the fun of making your own rice vermicelli, you should visit Lao Guo Leisure Farm. With a history of making rice vermicelli since 1854, the tradition has been passed down to the sixth generation. To preserve the traditional craft of making rice vermicelli, they established the first rice vermicelli museum, which houses ancient tools and utensils used in the process. The museum also introduces the history and production of rice vermicelli through pictures and text.

 

[Info]

Address: No. 102-1, Nanjiang Street, Hsinchu City (at the 85-kilometer mark of Provincial Highway 61 West Coast Expressway)

Phone: 03-537-3075