Tsinghua University has partnered with Cypress Technology to launch the "Hsinchu Literary Walk" project, with the official signing ceremony taking place on the 8th. The project, spearheaded by the Tsinghua Innovation Center and the Bachelor’s Program of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, will collaborate with local groups to plan five literary walking routes by the end of the year. Additionally, a "Hsinchu Walk" app will be developed, featuring interactive guides incorporating augmented reality (AR) and reality-based games, inviting the public to discover the beauty and cultural charm of the Greater Hsinchu area while walking.

With the support of Cypress Technology, the first phase of the "Hsinchu Literary Walk" project aims to plan five themed routes by the end of the year, covering literary topics such as Zhubei, Hakka, and indigenous culture. These include: the "Qing Scholar’s Path to Success" in the Old City District, allowing participants to experience a day in the life of a Qing Dynasty scholar through Hsinchu’s streets; the "Leisure Ride in Donghai Caves" in Zhubei, where cycling through paddy fields introduces participants to Hakka culture and the history of irrigation canals; the "Exploring the Hundred-Year-Old Nanpu River" in Nanpu, where one can appreciate the natural scenery of the Daping River basin and the Hakka-Indigenous cultural blend; the "Yuemai River Terrace Exploration" in Emei, providing insights into the history of exports during the Japanese colonial era; and the "Mataya Trail" in Jianshi, which highlights the natural ecology of indigenous mountain paths. Each of the routes can be completed within two hours.

The second phase of the project aims to establish 30 walking routes over the next three years, covering the East, North, and Xiangshan Districts of Hsinchu City, as well as the 13 towns and townships of Hsinchu County.

During the signing ceremony, Atayal elder Pasang Yumin (Chiou Te-Chang) and students from the Bachelor’s Program of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences led guests, dressed in walking attire and holding hiking poles, on a simulation of the "Mataya Trail" in Jianshi—one of the five literary walking routes. This route combines village walks with indigenous literature, and guests experienced the traditional mountain-entry ceremony, partaking in millet wine, reciting prayers, and tasting tribal delicacies such as maqaw sausages and bamboo shoots.

Tsinghua University Vice President Lü Ping-Chiang expressed that sustainability has been a key policy focus at Tsinghua in recent years, with the goal of extending efforts from the campus to the Greater Hsinchu area. The "Hsinchu Literary Walk" project, in collaboration with Cypress Technology, is a flagship initiative within this vision. Lü especially thanked Cypress Technology for its support in creating a "university-business-local community" collaboration platform, marking a significant step toward balanced urban-rural development in Hsinchu.

Cypress Technology Chairman Kuan Hsin, who is an avid walker with a daily step count of 10,000, shared that he arrived in Hsinchu for his studies 40 years ago and never left. He noticed that many young people, like himself, have come to Hsinchu to build their careers, but are largely unaware of the area's beautiful landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Thus, he encouraged his colleagues at Cypress to join in the exploration of the literary walk routes, uploading photos and sharing feedback to help improve the project.

Project leaders Lee Tien-Chien, Chen Chih-Fan, and Chang Chi-Ying shared that the Hsinchu Walk app will feature positioning guides, multimedia tours, interactive elements, and recording functions. To make the walks more engaging, the student team from the College of Humanities will design reality-based games and puzzles. Users will also be able to upload photos, leave reviews, and even generate personalized videos, allowing them to document their walking experience. In the future, the app is expected to offer multi-language versions to cater to international tourists.