Hukou

Hukou (湖口) is a town in northwestern Hsinchu County, Taiwan, known for its well-preserved Hukou Old Street (湖口老街), one of the finest surviving examples of Japanese-era commercial architecture in Taiwan. The town also has a significant military presence due to the nearby Hukou military base, and is an important industrial area.

The climate is humid subtropical. October to March are the most comfortable months. The historic old street is the main draw.

By Plane

Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is about 40 km north. A taxi takes about 40 minutes and costs around NT$1,000–1,300.

By Train

Hukou Station (湖口車站) is on the TRA west coast line. From Hsinchu Station, it takes about 15 minutes (NT$30–50). From Taipei, about 1 hour.

By Car / Road

Hukou is accessible via Freeway 1 (Hukou exit). From Hsinchu City, drive north for about 15 minutes. Buses connect Hukou to Hsinchu and Taoyuan.

The old street area is walkable. The newer part of town is spread out. Taxis and local buses connect the station to the old street.

• Hukou Old Street (湖口老街) — A beautiful preserved street with Baroque-style facades, traditional shops, and temples.

• Hukou Mazu Temple — A historic temple on the old street.

• Hukou Military Base — One of Taiwan's largest military bases, visible from the surrounding hills.

• Hukou Hakka Village — Traditional Hakka settlement areas.

• Walk the full length of Hukou Old Street and photograph the architecture.

• Visit the small museums and cultural centres on the old street.

• Sample Hakka snacks from the traditional shops.

• Explore the surrounding Hakka villages.

• Hakka restaurants on the old street serve traditional dishes. NT$150–350.
• Street food stalls offer Hakka meatballs, rice cakes, and other snacks. NT$30–80.
• Modern eateries are concentrated near the station area.

Tea shops on the old street serve traditional Taiwanese tea. Bottled water is recommended.

• Budget: Simple guesthouses, NT$800–1,200.
• Mid-range: For more options, Hsinchu City or Zhubei are 15 minutes south.

• Traditional Hakka snacks and preserved foods.
• Local crafts from shops on the old street.

• Hsinchu City — 15 km south (15 min by train). Historic city with the City God Temple.
• Zhubei — 10 km south. Modern town with the Hsinchu HSR station.
• Xinpu — 8 km east. Persimmon town with a delightful old street.
• Yangmei — 8 km north (across the border in Taoyuan). A railway town.
• Taoyuan — 25 km north. City with the international airport.