Entering a few arbitrary origins and destinations in Hsinchu City on Google Maps gave me the impression that the city (or the county) has a local bus service. But this September 2014 thread added a few scruples to the other pan of the scale:
However, there’s also this:
Do you reckon the bus situation may have improved since September of 2014?
Edited to add:
The link in the first post of the 2014 thread appears dead, but it seems to work if you put “www.” in front of it (and it may also work if you just plug hcbus.com.tw into the URL box of your browser):
Greetings. I have been living in Hsinchu for nearly 5 years, and the public transit here has become a little better. Some bus stops have digital signs to indicate when the next bus will arrive. However, you will find that some buses aren’t as timely as Google Maps may indicate (e.g., GM says every 10 minutes and a bus doesn’t arrive for 20 followed by one or more buses immediately). However, an app for Android (and possibly iOS) exists to help with this: BusTracker Taiwan. It will help you find buses times and routes, train schedules, and, when in Taipei, MRT information. You will want to get an EasyCard, which you can purchase at most convenient stores, and this will allow you to ride buses, local trains (not the high-speed rail), and the Taipei Metro without having to fumble for cash; you simply purchase an EasyCard and add cash when you see fit.
Good luck with the move, and welcome to Taiwan.
Cordially,
柯明 Timothy H. Click, Ph.D.
Dong District, Hsinchu
Yes, i heard that the transportation around got better compared previously. Actually i really do hope by the time i move over the constructions will be done else it will be quite messy though
Like… EVERYTHING. It’s like Octopus card in Hong Kong, but better (debatable statement). You can pay with it at any convenience store and several supermarkets (PX-Mart, Carrefour, Wellcome), use it to rent a bicycle from bike sharing system, pay at several tourist locations (Maokong Gondola, Taipei Zoo etc), use it to ride trains across the whole country (even express ones but without a seat and expect the most fancy ones - Taroko and Puyuma expresses). Practically every bus (including intercity ones) in Taiwan accepts it, with some exceptions (like the bus which goes from Hsinchu to Taipei via Longtan, they don’t).
I use mine for supermarkets to avoid small change piling up, but since small change still occasionally piles up, I deposit it to EasyCard in remote (this takes a while and guy tossing coins into machine for 10 minutes may anger people) MRT station in Taipei once in a season. Those machines even accept smallest denominations - 1NTD, and that’s definitely “In your face, Singapore and Hong Kong”, where you cannot add such small value to your similar card.
I’d suggest getting a bicycle. I got an old crappy one for just 500NTD (his some nice pink/purple patterns on the frame too ). But it will pay for itself within a month over using a ubike/bus every day. I like to think the extra exercise does me good although riding alongside busy Taiwanese traffic and breathing in the scooter fumes and smog maybe not so much…
You can’t go for a license unless you have a Taiwanese ID that’s valid for at least one year.
I’d also suggest going with the dorms. Not that the rent is expensive in Taiwan but still by renting your own place you’ll be paying more than half in one month of what you’d pay for a semester in a dorm. It also gets pretty lonely here, by myself and away from the university. If you do want to rent best you get a local friend to help you. I don’t think it’s that hard to find something with a minimum period of 6 months. If you can read some chinese have a look here https://rent.591.com.tw/?kind=0®ion=6
The only night market I know of is at the city god temple but I found that pretty disappointing. The weekend flower market around the zoo is nice though. Bought a pot plant for my room
Saw this advertised cheap place recently for 11000.
HSINCHU CITY LOOKING FOR ROOMMATE
NEW beautiful, fully furnished apartment with excellent location in Hsinchu city?
Available: MASTER bedroom with private bathroom.
Location: building right across from Cotsco.
Price: 11k (+ two month deposit)
Extras: building has pool, parking, sauna, cinema, lounge area with free coffee and snacks and more.
). But it will pay for itself within a month over using a ubike/bus every day. I like to think the extra exercise does me good although riding alongside busy Taiwanese traffic and breathing in the scooter fumes and smog maybe not so much…