ZHUBEI, Hsinchu County — A major nighttime safety upgrade has been completed along Xinglong Road in Zhubei, with the city finishing the second phase of its streetlight replacement project and extending its distinctive “Zhubei Light” system farther along the riverside corridor.
The Phase 2 project extends the upgraded lighting from Xinglong Road Section 3 to Section 5, adding 58 Zhubei Light fixtures. The city also installed nearly 100 new two-level “music note” lights along the sidewalks, designed to improve visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.
From dimmer sodium lamps to a brighter riverside corridor
Xinglong Road is an important riverside route for Zhubei residents, serving both daily commuters and people who use the area for evening recreation and running.
City officials said traditional high-pressure sodium lamps previously provided relatively dim lighting along parts of the route. The second phase therefore goes beyond simply replacing road lamps by introducing lighting specifically designed for pedestrian areas.
The new two-level fixtures are designed to serve two purposes: the higher light provides illumination for the roadway, while the lower fixture directs light toward the sidewalk.
Officials say the arrangement is intended to improve nighttime visibility without treating pedestrians and vehicles as if they require the same type of lighting.
The “Zhubei Light” expands to Section 5
The project continues an earlier transformation of Xinglong Road.
In the first phase, the city replaced lighting along Xinglong Road Sections 1 through 3, installing 87 Zhubei Light fixtures. The city government described the distinctive lighting design as part of its broader effort to combine infrastructure improvements with a recognizable urban identity.
Phase 2 now pushes the same design farther toward Section 5, creating a more continuous lighting environment along the riverside road.
The project is particularly significant for people who use the area after dark, as Xinglong Road has become a popular route for nighttime exercise and running.
Nearly 100 sidewalk lights target nighttime safety
One of the most noticeable changes is the addition of nearly 100 pedestrian-oriented fixtures along the sidewalks.
The high-and-low configuration—described as “music note” lights—is intended to illuminate both the road and pedestrian spaces. The design also gives the riverside corridor a more consistent visual character after dark.
The project is therefore being presented not only as a streetlight replacement but also as an upgrade to the area’s nighttime public space.
A project that goes beyond the city’s road jurisdiction
Zhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang said Xinglong Road is an important gateway along the city’s waterfront, but noted that the road itself is not under the municipal office’s direct jurisdiction.
Despite that, the city allocated funding for the lighting improvements, citing the need to improve nighttime safety and the quality of the riverside environment.
The project fits into Zhubei’s wider effort to modernize older street lighting. Earlier in 2026, the city also promoted a broader LED upgrade that replaced more than 700 older sodium lamps in areas including Jiafeng, Jiasheng, Aikou and Liujia.
More than brighter streets
For Zhubei, the Xinglong Road project represents a shift in how public lighting is being used.
Instead of focusing solely on illuminating vehicle lanes, the city is combining road lighting, pedestrian safety, nighttime recreation and urban design into one infrastructure project.
With Phase 2 now complete, the upgraded corridor stretches farther along the Touqian River and gives nighttime users a brighter and more recognizable route.
For residents and runners who regularly pass through Xinglong Road after sunset, the biggest change may be simple: a road that once felt relatively dim is becoming a more clearly defined nighttime public space.
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