Guanxi

Guānxi (關西) is an urban township located in northeastern Hsinchu, Taiwan. 90% of its approximately 26,000 residents are Hakka. The township’s economy centers on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of Chinese mesona (仙草), strawberries, tea, citrus, and mushrooms. Beyond its agricultural significance, Guanxi preserves considerable historical and cultural heritage through sites such as Luowu Academy, a traditional courtyard complex that once served as a rural school; several abandoned brick kilns in the hills around town, which utilized the region’s clay-rich soils for manufacturing in the mid-20th century; historic entertainment venues such as Guanxi Diyi Theater; and numerous Japanese colonial era residences and other structures.