Journeys in photographs and words.

A little of each town’s story

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Hsinchu rice vermicelli and the Jiujiang wind

From: An apartment in Hsinchu and the steam of the night market

Rice vermicelli lifted with chopsticks, a bowl of soup beside it
Rice vermicelli lifted with chopsticks, a bowl of soup beside it

Hsinchu is nicknamed the "Windy City" for the strength of the Jiujiang wind, which blows around the ninth lunar month (October to November). This wind dries the rice vermicelli and made Hsinchu mifen famous across Taiwan. Rice vermicelli and meatballs are the city's signature products.

Sources: n.yam.com zh.wikipedia.org

This moment in the journey

Rice vermicelli and meatball soup, Hsinchu's specialties

For dinner, Hsinchu's specialties at a local eatery. I left the stalls behind, walked down an alley of closed shutters, and arrived at Rongji on Wuchang Street. Windy Hsinchu is famous for its rice vermicelli.

The noodles I lifted with my chopsticks had a firm, springy bite and were tremendously good. Gongwan tang, meatball soup, is another Hsinchu specialty: bouncy, juicy meatballs bursting with flavor. No wonder the place was full of locals. I had found a great restaurant. Under the glowing sign of a pawnshop, I walked back to the apartment.

Watch this scene on YouTube5:20

Read this scene in the full journey

People passing through the night stalls
People passing through the night stalls
A night alley of closed shutters
A night alley of closed shutters
The lit-up front of the eatery
The lit-up front of the eatery
Meatball soup with three meatballs
Meatball soup with three meatballs
The table with bowls of rice vermicelli and meatball soup
The table with bowls of rice vermicelli and meatball soup
Customers lined up at the eatery's storefront
Customers lined up at the eatery's storefront
A night street with a glowing pawnshop sign
A night street with a glowing pawnshop sign