Hey there, I’m considering moving to Hsinchu Science Park area for new work. Want to read up all of your thoughts on the area. Pros? Cons? I’m coming from Taipei.
Most importantly, for me at least, how are the Internet connection there? Prices on various broadband SKUs? As my work really revolves on web developments.
24bear, you can find a lot of Hsinchu opinions here with search.
In a nutshell, it’s not as exciting as Taipei but there are things to do. Not sure about Internet comparison, but mine is great and low cost (1yr for 3000NT). 10MBps I think.
[quote=“kaiwen338”]24bear, you can find a lot of Hsinchu opinions here with search.
In a nutshell, it’s not as exciting as Taipei but there are things to do. Not sure about Internet comparison, but mine is great and low cost (1yr for 3000NT). 10MBps I think.[/quote]
You got to be kidding me… 1 YEAR for 3000NT for 10 Mbps??? Which provider???
I hear the hsin chu science park jobs is what everyone is after these days but I gotta warn you, they are also notorious for working extremely long hours (much of the news stories about Taiwan’s high average work hour is from IT, 15 hrs a day everyday is not unusual) so I would weight the options and see if you like the long hours. They do pay really well though from what I understand.
Yes, many do work long hours here in Hsinchu. But working very long hours isn’t that bad if the work’s in line with your own interests or desires. The problem (at least in our company, and from what I’ve heard from a few collegues around the Science Park) is that there’s been trend for many to work longer hours merely because of peer pressure/competitiveness nonsense (i.e. what if the boss see’s me leave earlier than you, etc.) or in response to the bosses demands in order to let him/her to look better in front of their superiors (i.e. you must work overtime to show my superiors what a good of a manager I am). In either of these scenarios it is your mere presence at the office that is rewarded, where productivity is ignored.
As for higher pay in terms of salary - not really. Heck, for the most part of last year I probably would have done better as an entry level English teacher in Taiwan. But if you get with the right company, I’ve heard the year-end stock bonuses can yield very high overall compensation – occasionally higher than those you would get from the US or Europe.
About the internet in Hsinchu, in this past month I’ve seen advertisements for 10Mbps internet from a small company here for around NT$3k/year for the service. I’d be careful in dealing with such small companies, especially if you rely on it for your work – reliability of service may not be the best. We had one such company start up near our apartment complex. They were in business for around 1 year, then disappeared.
[quote=“24bear”][quote=“kaiwen338”]24bear, you can find a lot of Hsinchu opinions here with search.
In a nutshell, it’s not as exciting as Taipei but there are things to do. Not sure about Internet comparison, but mine is great and low cost (1yr for 3000NT). 10MBps I think.[/quote]
You got to be kidding me… 1 YEAR for 3000NT for 10 Mbps??? Which provider???[/quote]
No joke. HFnet is the provider.
Can you give me a link? I can’t seem to find them online.
Can you give me a link? I can’t seem to find them online.[/quote]
It’s in your PM…
All cons no pros…don’t come. If you’re just arriving, turn back.
I’m kidding of course. The Science Park and surrounding areas is a place for work, not really suitable for any other aspect of life. Transportation is inconvenient, the rain is acidic, and shit is expensive…not much to speak of in terms of fun either. I usually go to Taipei on the weekends. In terms of work, it really depends on where you work and what you do. The average work day here is probably about 10-12 hrs and relatively stressful. From my experience Taiwanese people aren’t very pleasant to work with either. “Team” and “patience” and “helpful” are concepts that exist in small amounts in Taiwan, especially when you are working with low-EQ engineering folks. In the end, if it’s something you really want to do then you probably won’t care about all of the above. Good luck!
EQ = Expat Quotient ??
[quote=“mikshoton”]All cons no pros…don’t come. If you’re just arriving, turn back.
I’m kidding of course. The Science Park and surrounding areas is a place for work, not really suitable for any other aspect of life. Transportation is inconvenient, the rain is acidic, and shit is expensive…not much to speak of in terms of fun either. I usually go to Taipei on the weekends. In terms of work, it really depends on where you work and what you do. The average work day here is probably about 10-12 hrs and relatively stressful. From my experience Taiwanese people aren’t very pleasant to work with either. “Team” and “patience” and “helpful” are concepts that exist in small amounts in Taiwan, especially when you are working with low-EQ engineering folks. In the end, if it’s something you really want to do then you probably won’t care about all of the above. Good luck![/quote]
That bad huh? You nailed it for the team, patience and helpful concepts that lacks in many Taiwan workers - that made me pretty much want to leave the work in Taipei; but in my new position I won’t really need to deal with that anymore… hopefully.
Well, the broadband prices in Hsinchu are the same prices as in Taipei…I mean, the providers are all nationwide and offer pretty much the same price…
I am not sure what kind of place you are looking for, but when I lived close to the Science Park, the rentals were fully furnished with channel 4 and broadband internet…
There is nothing much to do in the Science Park…the truth is, I got up, I went to work, and came back around 10~11PM…I barely remember staying in my studio apartment, or having any time after work to do anything…and my weekends were spent in Taipei…
I hated Hsinchu…but what can you do? All the high tech jobs are there…oh well…
[quote=“Pluck-A-Duck”]There is nothing much to do in the Science Park…the truth is, I got up, I went to work, and came back around 10~11PM…I barely remember staying in my studio apartment, or having any time after work to do anything…and my weekends were spent in Taipei…
[/quote] Is there anything to do in Taiwan actually? I mean it gets dark here at 6 PM.
Personally I’ve never felt like going to bars/pubs/clubs so I don’t miss that in Hsinchu.
What can you do in Taipei that you couldn’t do in Hsinchu?
Personally I go as far away as possible from Taipei and Hsinchu on most weekends (mountains, sea side, Taichung seem nicer places to be). I found Hsinchu is well situated between Taipei and Taichung. The supermarkets cover all my needs (there’s Jasons for meat and Orange Market for quite decent bread). Carrefour in Zhubei and RTMart in Hsinchu for the rest.
Anyone commute regularly from Taipei to Hsinchu Science Park?
How long does it take you? By what means of transportation?
Is it worth the commute for you?
If so, why? The pay and reputation of the company you work for there are that much better than what you could find in Taipei? There are no comparable jobs for you in Taipei?
Do you commute because you have family happily settled in to your Taipei neighborhood so you don’t want to move to Hsinchu, or because you suspect life in Hsinchu would suck, or something else?
Hi Folks,
My wife and I have been living in Taichung for the last ten years.
My wife is taking over a business in Hsinchu in October and we will be moving there in the new year.
She will be commuting by train until then.
We have a 14month old son.
I’m hoping some good folks can provide any Forumosa links (or first hand thoughts) that give some recent information regarding the housing, recreation, dining, lifestyle, childcare / child education options in Hsinchu.
#1 Housing: Are there any secure gated communities in Hsinchu that provide Western style houses (2 floors + lots of space + front yards + backyards) with park facilities, a pool with a relative central location where we might find rental property? Taichung has several such communities, one of the best being located in Dong Hai. Many expats who work for companies like Corning, Nike etc… and their families live there.
#2 Recreation: In Taichung I spend a lot of my time in the winter cycling in the very excellent mountains which surround the city and into Nantou County. Taichung is a road cyclists recreational / training paradise. Is there any kind of recreational equivalent in Hsinchu? I know there is a wind-surfing beach in Zhu Nan (Miaoli) that is not far away. Anything else to do in Hsinchu?
#3 Dining: Dining out is a big part of our life in Taichung. Taichung has some very good restaurants. Italian, Mexican, Turkish, German, Spanish, French, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian, American style. I know that Hsinchu is smaller than Taichung but are there any good restaurants to speak of? Any names?
#4 Lifestyle: I guess this is kind of vague but I’m wondering if there is any sort of ‘foreigner scene’ in Hsinchu? Foreigner pubs and like.
#5 Childcare: Does anybody know of any excellent day-care facilities in Hsinchu?
#6 Education: We are considering sending our child (children one day) to one of the International Schools in Hsinchu. Does anybody know anything about any of them? I know a great deal about Taipei American School and American School in Taichung but I don’t know anybody who knows anything about the International Schools in Hsinchu.
If anyone can provide any additional information that will give me a ‘sense’ of what life will be like in Hsinchu I’d really appreciate it. I’m sad to leave Taichung but looking at the move as something of an adventure.
Thanks in advance 
Don’t live there so can’t comment on too much but there is an Information for Foreigners centre you might want to check out.
Hsinchu Foreigner Assistance Centre foreigner.hccg.gov.tw
Cycling. Starting at the harbour there is a lovely 17km oceanside bike path, that looked like it was being extended all the way down to the windsurfing area in Jhunan actually. About 35-40km one way? Very nice, of course perfectly flat.
Lots of excellent road riding around Shitoushan/Nanzhuang/Taian, from Neiwan up to the North Cross or down to Guanwu, lovely hot springs in Nanzhuang and Taian. Lots of good hiking around the area. If you like Taichung and Nantou for cycling you won’t be disappointed with Hsinchu and Miaoli.
I think you’re going to be out for restaurants but remember both Taichung and Taipei are only one hour away.