'Hsinchu Stroll' New Routes Launched; First 100 Guests Staying at Partner Accommodations Receive NT$1,000 Subsidy

The Hsinchu County Government continues to promote its "Hsinchu Stroll" tourism brand. Through the concept of "following scents," it guides travelers to explore Hsinchu County's unique aromas and culture. This year, four brand new itineraries have been launched: "Wufeng Stroll," "Beipu Stroll," "Hengshan Stroll," and "Zhubei Stroll." Partnering with local quality accommodation providers, they offer a limited subsidy of NT$1,000 for 100 guests to encourage them to stay an extra night. Today (the 5th), a promotional press conference was held where County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke, along with councilors and others, jointly lit up the "Scent Hotel" sign, announcing that registrations for the four routes are open starting today. County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke stated that this is the fourth year the county government has organized "Hsinchu Stroll." This time, "scent" is again the main theme of the tours. In the past, routes launched were always fully booked immediately upon opening for registration, proving extremely popular. To allow travelers to leisurely wander and discover more local stories, the county government has also specifically partnered with several unique accommodations this year, including "Shanshuiwu Homestay," "Chuankezhuang," "Fuchengfangyuan," "Qiyuan Manor," "Jiyueshanzhuang Homestay," "Zhumeng Coffee Homestay," and "Wangyunjia Homestay." Participants of the "Hsinchu Stroll" itinerary who stay at a partner accommodation will receive a maximum subsidy of NT$1,000 per room. This subsidy is limited to 100 rooms. Everyone is welcome to seize this opportunity, register enthusiastically, and come "Stroll Hsinchu." Director Chen Ying-chou of the Department of Transportation and Tourism pointed out that "Wufeng Stroll" leads travelers deep into the Atayal tribe, where they can stroll along the Maibalai Ancient Trail, experience the healing atmosphere of the forest, try their hand at making bamboo crafts, and personally prepare a Makauy-flavored afternoon tea. "Beipu Stroll," on the other hand, focuses on tea culture and pottery. Travelers can mold pottery cups at Beipu Qing Space and enjoy tea tasting at an elegant tea ceremony, savoring the charm of Hakka tea culture. "Hengshan Stroll" begins with the story of the Neiwan Railway, following the wild grass forest trail, exploring the magical uses of wild herbs, and blending unique aromatic purifying sea salt. "Zhubei Stroll" takes visitors to Zhubei's only organic lime farm, where they can experience the charm of freshly picked and squeezed fruit, personally press sugarcane juice, and make lime vinegar, taking home the sweet and sour essence of Zhubei. The Department of Transportation and Tourism explained that "Hsinchu Stroll" itineraries are mainly half-day or full-day tours, with fees ranging from NT$600 to NT$2,800. This allows travelers flexibility in using their holiday time to explore the unique aromas of various townships. Additionally, this time, they specifically collaborated with local Hsinchu potters. They used a mixture of local Hsinchu field soil and high-quality pottery clay to fire "bisque diffuser stones" as souvenirs. Four different designs were created based on the colors of the field soil obtained, symbolizing the diverse styles of the four tours. Participants who join one route itinerary will receive one, leaving travelers with a meaningful collection. Registrations for the four new routes are open starting today. Sessions are scheduled every weekend from April until the end of September. For more activity details, please visit the "Hsinchu County Fun" Facebook fan page.