Hukou

Húkǒu (湖口) is a township in northwestern Hsinchu County. It was connected to Taipei by railway in the twilight of the Qing dynasty era, making it a commercial hub for the area. A bridge pier from that era still stands but the original station was demolished long ago. After the Japanese moved the station west to Xinhukou in 1929 the original settlement declined, preserving Hukou Old Street with its red brick arches and southern Fujianese shophouses. Fuxing Theater was established in 1951 to entertain soldiers at nearby military bases but quickly lost business when the army opened its own cinema.