Jhubei: Hakka Heritage and Canal Landscapes

Jhubei can be explored through two very different themes: the Hakka history of Xinwawu and the open canal landscape of Dongxing Canal Park. Historic halls and a rural cultural landscape add to these perspectives. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Jhubei, these highlights can help you first decide what kind of stay interests you: cultural history, landscapes or time outdoors.

Xinwawu: Hakka Heritage and Cultural Landscape

The history of Xinwawu is also a story of preservation. The site in the Liujia area was included in the land expropriation for preparations to build the high-speed railway in 1990. Thanks to the efforts of history and culture researchers and Liujia residents, it was preserved and became Taiwan’s first Hakka Cultural Preservation Area. This background makes Xinwawu a special focus for travellers interested in the history and cultural context of a place.

The name also points to a specific historical context. During the Jiaqing period, Zhongxiaotang public hall was built in Mangtoupu, Zhubei. It was built later than the nearby Lin ancestral hall in the Liuzhangli settlement and was therefore called Xinwawu. The name and history of the site are thus connected to a particular hall and to its chronology in comparison with another historic building.

The site’s development continued through cultural work. In 2006, the Council for Hakka Affairs began operating in Xinwawu and promoted the restoration and renovation of the buildings. From 2011, the Hsinchu County Cultural Affairs Bureau took over the work on site. It supported the adaptive reuse of the buildings, guide training, seasonal themed programmes, small festival performances and cultural events. The offerings therefore bring together different aspects of cultural preservation: buildings, interpretation and events.

The landscape of the Hakka Cultural Preservation Area includes the northern rice-paddy ecology and education area, as well as the northern and western irrigation canals. Different plants are grown there depending on the season, making the rural Hakka landscape tangible. For your trip planning, this provides a distinct focus alongside the history of the buildings: the seasonal cultivation of fields and canals is also part of what defines Xinwawu.

Historic Halls in Jhubei

Wenli Hall is another historic point of interest. It was built in 1832, after Lin Shengbao (Qiuhua), son of Lin Guobao, passed the provincial military examination in 1831. A flagpole was erected in honour of the family name. Together with Dafu Di, the hall was known as the “Southern and Northern Halls” and served as a gathering hall for the Lin family. The examination success, the honouring of the family name and the communal use each provide a distinct point of reference in the building’s history.

Wenli Hall and Xinwawu represent different historical themes. Xinwawu is about preserving Hakka heritage and the cultural work that followed, while Wenli Hall is about an examination, the honouring of a family name and its role as a gathering place for the Lin family. If you would like to explore cultural history through more than one building, you can consider these different stories as distinct ways to engage with Jhubei.

Canal Landscapes and Time Outdoors

Dongxing Canal Park in Zhubei is characterised by open canal scenery and an ecological setting. It is used for walks, relaxation and family picnics. This offers a different focus from the historic halls: here, the emphasis is on landscapes and outdoor recreation. For families who would like to plan time together outdoors alongside cultural activities during their trip, these uses provide a practical point of reference.

You do not have to rank these interests. For Jhubei, you can first consider whether you would like to focus mainly on the history of Hakka cultural preservation, the seasonally planted cultural landscape, or walks and picnics by the canal. These different highlights can help you refine your trip idea before looking for a holiday rental in Jhubei.

Discover more destinations: Wufeng Township, Xinpu Township, Guanxi Township, Hsinchu, Emei Township, Beipu Township, Jianshi Township, Hengshan Township

Go to the main travel overview: Hsinchu.