新竹為北臺灣一大都會，設治三百年來，歷史頗多曲折，城市也與時俱進，而今已成科技密集與學府林立之名城。本單元以地圖為主軸，展示從明鄭至今日，新竹城之變化。
A major metropolis in northern Taiwan, Hsinchu has endured vicissitudes over the last three hundred years of governance, but also kept up with the times and become widely known for high density of technology companies and academic institutions. This section primarily exhibits maps to demonstrate how the city has evolved from the Kingdom of Tungning (1661–1683) up to the present day.
淡水廳初設時，人才尚少。殆至乾隆年間建立明志書院，學子有機會親炙碩儒。讀四書、誦五經，從此文風漸盛。士子咸思有朝一日能夠榮登科甲，無不日課時文，青燈黃卷，準備在科考中大展身手。道光三年，鄭用錫會試中式，為臺灣入清治理以來首位進士，竹塹人文光照全臺。鄭用錫致仕返鄉後，又講學於明志書院，培育下一代士子。本單元展示鄭氏、書院與科舉文物，「讀書真種子」於此滋養傳承。
There were few scholars in the early days when Tanshui Ting (淡水廳) was first established. It was not until the latter half of the 18th century when Ming-Chih College (明志書院) was founded that students had the opportunity to meet with learned teachers and study the Four Books and The Five Classics. The cultural milieu began to thrive in the city. Many students took classes during the day and practiced writing throughout the night, all hoping to attain the honor of passing the imperial examination. In the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823), Zheng Yongxi became the first Jinshi (進士) from Taiwan since the Qing administration governed the island. His feat sent waves of joy across Taiwan, immediately catapulting Tek-chhàm as the city of scholarly achievements. Later on Zheng taught at Ming-Chih College to inculcate the next generation of scholars after resigning from his official post and returning to his hometown. From Zheng Yongxi, Ming-Chih College to the imperial examination, this section consists of related artifacts to show the burgeoning of the true seed of intellectual development in Hsinchu.
新竹自鄭用錫與林占梅兩人先後設立北郭園與潛園後，文風大振，雲蒸霞蔚，燦然可觀。兩園自十九世紀中葉起，即成了北臺灣文人與藝能之士雅集的勝地，厚積書畫傳統。書為心聲，畫乃心圖，一地之創作精神莫不於其地之書畫顯現之。本單元展覽從前清至光復前後，新竹文人的書畫，兼及他們與中、日友人的酬酢唱和之作。新竹作為綰結四方之樞紐，溝通兩岸及臺日關係之名城，於茲可見。
The cultural scenes in Hsinchu flourished after Zheng Yongxi built Beiguo Garden and Lin Zhanmei built Qian Garden. Beginning from the mid-19th century, the two gardens had been gathering places for literati and artists in northern Taiwan. Calligraphy, a literal expression of the heart, and painting, a pictorial representation of the heart, by local residents are indicators of a city’s creative energy. This section presents calligraphies and paintings by literati in Hsinchu, as well as works arising from their friendship with the Chinese and Japanese from the period just before the Qing dynasty up to the time around the liberation of Taiwan in 1945. These works show Hsinchu as an important hub that connects the world and fosters interactivity among Taiwan, China, and Japan.