Six Waves of Migration × Hsinchu Grand Tour
Liberal Arts College SPEC x Arts Center Presents
A Journey Through Time: Exploring Hsinchu’s Immigration History
Six Waves of Migration × Hsinchu Grand Tour
Hsinchu’s history is a rich tapestry woven by generations of immigrants. From the indigenous Taokas and Atayal peoples to early Han settlers (Hokkien and Hakka), Japanese colonial-era urban planners, post-war mainland Chinese migrants, and the influence of U.S. military presence—each era has left its mark. More recently, the city has been shaped by a wave of new immigrants from across Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and beyond, driven by technological advancements.
Through the lens of six waves of immigration, this event series will explore how Hsinchu evolved into the city it is today and what the future may hold.
➤ Event Information:
📍 Meeting Point: Guangfu Campus, 8:30 AM, next to the Grand Auditorium
🎓 Eligibility: Priority given to NYCU students
👥 Capacity: Limited to 40 participants
💰 Fee: Free (A deposit of NT$500 is required in advance. It will be refunded upon full participation.)
📌 First Wave Event: Developer— The Grand Development of Northern Taiwan
| (Tamsui Subprefecture Office and City) Date & Time: April 19, 2025 (Saturday), 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Embark on our inaugural journey through the venerable old town of Hsinchu. This event offers a meticulously guided tour through the historic Central Market and selected sections of the Bamboo Fort, coupled with an immersive culinary workshop. Participants will traverse the entire expanse of the Brick Fortress and gain profound insights into the developmental legacy of the Tamsui Subprefecture. In addition, the tour features an on-site visit to the relics and models of the former Tamsui Subprefecture Office, and an exploration of significant historical landmarks—including the North Drum Tower, Yingxi Gate, Pinghe Street, Dark Alley, the East Gate of Bamboo City, Kaitai Fudi, Dongning Temple, and the ancient moat—that collectively illuminate the rich tapestry of Northern Taiwan’s past. |
📌 Second Wave Event: Pioneers— Preserved Mustard Greens in the Great Zhúqiàn Region
(Exploring the Frontier Beyond the Historic City Walls)
Date & Time: May 17, 2025 (Saturday), 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Following our first journey into the heart of Hsinchu’s old city, we now invite you to venture deeper into the Guanxi region to explore the rich Hakka heritage of the greater Zhúqiàn area — a legacy of cultivation, scholarship, and resilience..
📌 Third Wave Event: Guardians — A Day as an Atayal
| Ethnic Groups: Atayal, Han Chinese, Japanese Date & Time: Sep 27, 2025 (Saturday), 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 📍 Field Exploration of Historical Sites Led by Professor Yuan-Chang Li, we will visit Jianshi Elementary School, the Atayal Cultural Museum, Jianshi Township Office, the local police station, and the Presbyterian Church—gaining insights into the Atayal people’s history, education, and ways of preserving their cultural heritage. |
📌 Fourth Wave Event: Comrades — Braised dishes, dumplings, and stories from the military dependents’ villages
Ethnic Groups: Mainlander, Japanese, Hakka, Indigenous, American
Date & Time: Oct 26, 2025 (Sunday), 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Another side of Hsinchu tells a story woven from war, migration, and the pursuit of belonging. After the war, large numbers of military dependents moved in, and neighborhoods filled with military, civil service, and police housing rapidly took shape. At its peak, Hsinchu City had as many as 47 officially registered military dependents’ villages. These villages were not merely residential spaces—they are living archives of history, witnessing the tides of an era and preserving the collective memories of generations of comrades in fate.
In this fourth installment of the series, we will explore Hsinchu’s dense clusters of military villages and wartime relics—from the “ Liu-Ran Big Chimney ” that transformed into a residential community, to landmarks like the Great Chimney, the Widows’ Building, Jiangong Elementary School (formerly an Army dependents’ school), the Chiang Kai-shek Shrine, Jianmei Road (once a U.S. military village), General Village, and Ligong New Village.
Each of these sites holds the shared memories of people bound by history and circumstance.
The rise of the Hsinchu Science Park was no coincidence.
At its core were engineers and scientists who studied abroad and chose to return to Taiwan — many of whom were alumni of National Chiao Tung University.
From campus laboratories to national research institutes, from ITRI to the Hsinchu Science Park, NCTU alumni have built the foundation of Taiwan’s semiconductor and technology industries through expertise and practice. They integrated Silicon Valley experience, global perspectives, and local commitment to create Taiwan’s own “Science City” in this windy region.
This represents a new kind of movement—
not leaving, but returning;
not one-way migration, but global mobility;
not a single community, but a convergence of cultures.
This wave, we call the Integrators.
This program is curated and led by Professor Yuan-Chang Lee, guiding us from university history into the development of the Science Park and its industrial landscape, to understand how knowledge transforms into the driving force of a city.
.📌 Wave Fifth: Integrators — The Science Park & Science City
Ethnic Groups: Technologists, People from Various Provinces, International Communities
Date & Time: March 21, 2026 (Saturday) 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Field Exploration | How Knowledge Shapes the City
Starting from the lawn in front of the library, we will visit the University History Exhibition Hall and the Nano Center (guided in groups), exploring how the campus became the source of technological innovation.
Following the NYCU–NTHU trail, we will walk through key landmarks including West Campus, the Natural Gas Research Institute, Bo’ai Gate, the “Drink Water, Remember Its Source” monument, the Bamboo Art Museum, and the central lawn—witnessing the intersection of university history and urban development.
☕ Industry & Humanity | Technology Beyond Chips
Participants will join small groups for alumni-led hand-drip coffee sessions and “Shih-Min Afternoon Tea,” hearing stories of entrepreneurship and long-term contributions within the Science Park.
Lunch will feature Indian cuisine, reflecting the everyday multiculturalism of this global science city.
💬 Dialogue & Reflection | How Does Integration Happen?
We are honored to invite Senior Former Curator Wu Yu-Ai of the NYCU Development Museum, and Mr. Chen Chun-Hsiu, Executive Director of the NCTU Alumni Association, for a dialogue. Through perspectives of archival curation and industry practice, they will revisit the formation of the Science Park and the critical role of alumni.
When education, technology, and global talent converge—
Who shapes this city?
And how might we become the next wave of integrators?
This is not just a campus tour, but a journey of understanding—
how Hsinchu evolved from a migrant city into a key node in the global technology landscape.
We invite you to join us on this Science City journey and step into the era shaped by NCTU alumni.
📌 Sixth Wave Event: Newcomers (Spring 2026)— At Hukou, One Family from Across the Seas
Ethnic Groups: Hakka, Mainlanders, Southeast Asian Communities
Date & Time: April 19, 2026 (Sunday) 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
💎 Earn Liberal Arts Credits!
This event counts as 2 hours under the “Community Activities” category. Completing the assigned task within the deadline will grant 3 hours recorded in the Student Learning Portfolio.
📖 More details: https://reurl.cc/Q5qD5q
🔑 Unlock the key pieces of Hsinchu’s history—join us on this journey through time! ✨
Follow SPEC & ARTS Center to continue exploring Hsinchu’s history through the Six Waves of Immigration!
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