Hsinchu City Cheng Huang Temple Plaza Weekend Pedestrian Zone Pilot Expanded

Hsinchu City's popular attraction Cheng Huang Temple gathers street food and draws large crowds. To free people from competing with vehicles for the road and provide a friendlier, more comfortable space, the Hsinchu City Government began trialing the "Cheng Huang Temple Plaza Weekend Pedestrian Zone" on the 22nd. Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien announced that after conducting an on-site survey of public usage needs, the pilot scope of the pedestrian zone would be expanded: the sections of Beimen Street and Dongmen Street adjacent to the plaza would be converted into a pedestrian zone. Beimen Street from Zhongshan Road to the Dongmen Street entrance and Dongmen Street from Zhongshan Road to Zhongyang Road intersection would be closed to vehicles. In addition, the FOCA Formosa Circus would perform hourly flash mob shows, and in the future various arts and cultural groups would also perform on an irregular basis, inviting everyone to visit the temple entrance and join the lively fun.

Mayor Lin Chih-chien said that after expanding the pedestrian zone, it could accommodate more tourist crowds, and the public would also enjoy a more complete walking space, no longer competing with vehicles for the road. For families with children, parents could more confidently bring their children to Cheng Huang Temple to worship and explore the temple entrance for street food, and the quality of tourism would be greatly improved. By walking, the public could also slow down and appreciate the Dragon Carp Pond, said to be located on a site of excellent feng shui.

The Hsinchu City Government stated that the improvement of Cheng Huang Temple Plaza is part of the Walking City Plan, which includes the Station Front Plaza, Dongmen City Roundabout, Long'en Canal and Hsinchu Green Park Way, among other locations. Cheng Huang Temple Plaza can be said to be the most challenging part of the entire plan, because the area around the temple courtyard has had mixed pedestrian and vehicle traffic for many years, and there are also large crowds. This renovation aims to give the area around Cheng Huang Temple a completely new look and allow the public to enjoy the temple entrance more comfortably and safely.