Hsin-chu

Hsin-chu, shih (municipality) and seat of Hsin-chu hsien (county), northwestern Taiwan. It lies southwest of Taipei and about 6 miles (10 km) from the island’s west coast, on north-south highway and railway lines that parallel the coast. Hsin-chu was first settled and walled in the 18th century; it received its modern name in the 19th century, when a regular administration was first established. It was an important military base during the Japanese occupation (1895–1945), from...