"In the old days, Hsinchu people got wealthy through land or savings," observes a local journalist, "but then technology became the route to sudden wealth." Hsinchu began to appear frequently in the headlines for its high income levels and surging prosperity, while the golden lure of its residents 'spending power attracted a succession of leading department stores, hotels and shopping malls to the city.
「老新竹人因為土地或儲蓄而致富；新新竹人則因科技而暴發」，一位當地記者觀察，那幾年，新竹屢屢因居民所得之高、財富成長之快而躍上報端。金光閃閃的消費能力，也吸引了全國性的百貨、飯店、大型購物中心等相繼入駐新竹。